From classroom concepts to market-ready prototypes, 14 local startup ventures showcased their innovations during the Reinnovate Shoes and Other Leathercrafts for Entrepreneurship Startups Technology Business Incubator (ReSOLES TBI) Cohort 2 Demo Day at the Philippine Innovation Hub, Marikina Enterprise Center on Aug. 13, 2026.
Carrying the theme “Where Innovation Becomes Impact,” the event celebrated the culmination of the startups’ incubation journey while fostering critical connections across government, academia, and industry sectors.
Dr. Medardo B. Bombita, ReSOLES TBI Project Lead and Dean of the Graduate School, described the gathering as a “proof of concept” for innovation-driven education. Supported by over 12 million in funding from the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), the ReSOLES incubator aims to help bridge gaps between academic research and market commercialization.
“This Demo Day is not about proving that your idea is perfect,” Dean Bombita said in his opening message to the founders. “To the 14 incubatees, you are not only showing us what you can build next, but also proving that your idea is worth pursuing, worth improving, and worth investing in.”
MPC President Dr. Rene M. Colocar, in a message delivered by Vice President for Corporate Services Dr. Joemel Bautista, praised the 14 startup founders for their perseverance and confidence. He shared that the original version of ReSOLES TBI was to create a space for the students, researchers and community members to develop innovative products and/or services in the market. Pres. Colocar said that MPC is evolving into a home for Filipino innovation, and the college plans to keep backing these startups well beyond the formal incubation phase.
The 14 featured startups represented a broad array of sectors covering sustainable footwear, prosthetic and diabetic footwear, agricultural-waste-based products, indigenous leathercraft, sustainable handbags, modular shoe-making, educational technology, weather and hazard monitoring, transport technology, assistive products, and environmentally friendly consumer products. Among the ventures were Roadtrip Sandals Restoration, Exceed, Xtreme Motion, SAPADALYAS, Nami Leather, FAVP Handbags, OurTown, Modular Shoe Making Area, POLYJEU, AGAHON, PARA, Purse of Happiness, EcoFresh, and ClipN’Carry.
The 14 startup founders pitched solutions to an expert panel through a 30-second video introduction, a five-minute pitch, and a five-minute Q&A session.
The event also saw the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between MPC and the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. to collaborate on the development of specialized prosthetic and orthotic footwear. The ceremonial signing was led by Pres. Rene M. Colocar alongside partner agency representatives, witnessed by Dr. Bombita and former Congresswoman Honorable Stella L. Quimbo.#
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