From Watermelon to Breakthrough: PakUAn Crowned Grand Winner at AGRI-TECH GRAND PRIX 2026 Philippines
Agricultural innovation and science-driven entrepreneurship took center stage as Leave a Nest Philippines successfully hosted the inaugural AGRI-TECH GRAND PRIX 2026 Philippines at Quezon City University – Main Campus. The event marked a historic milestone as the first agriculture-focused TECH PLANTER program conducted outside Japan, bringing together researchers, startups, ecosystem partners, and industry leaders committed to advancing deep technology solutions for the agricultural sector.
The AGRI-TECH GRAND PRIX aims to support researchers and technology-driven startups developing solutions that address critical challenges in agriculture ranging from food security and productivity to sustainability and data-driven agricultural intelligence. The program serves as a collaborative platform where innovators can connect with partners for mentorship, technical support, and potential co-development opportunities.
The program opened with welcome remarks from representatives of Leave a Nest Philippines and Quezon City University, highlighting the importance of strengthening the Philippine agri-innovation ecosystem and empowering researchers and entrepreneurs to translate scientific discoveries into real-world agricultural solutions.
For more details on the partners and finalists read more here
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Dr. Isagani M. Taño, OIC Vice President for Academic Affairs of Quezon City University, delivers the Welcoming Remarks for the AGRI-TECH GRAND PRIX 2026 Philippines (left), and Engr. Edilyn Grace Odero, Project Leader of the AGRI-TECH GRAND PRIX 2026 Philippines from Leave a Nest Philippines, shares the vision and opening message of the program (right).
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Dr. Yukihiro Maru, Founder and Group CEO of the Leave a Nest Group, delivers a Special Message highlighting the role of deep technology and collaboration in advancing global innovation ecosystems (left), and Ms. Gillian Santos, Chief Executive Officer of Anihan Technologies, delivers the Keynote Speech on building scalable agritech startups in the Philippines (right).
Following the opening ceremony, selected finalist teams presented their technologies and startup solutions before a panel of judges composed of industry leaders, investors, and ecosystem partners. The pitches showcased emerging technologies aimed at improving farm productivity, strengthening agricultural value chains, enabling better traceability systems, and promoting sustainable food production.
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Representative pitchers from the Finalist teams delivers their exciting pitches for the Demo Day.
Award Recipients
Grand Winner AGRI-TECH GRAND PRIX 2026 Philippines |
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PakUan
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PakUAn is developing a sustainable food innovation that utilizes watermelon peels and rinds as a natural preservative and additive in food products. By transforming agricultural waste into a functional ingredient, the technology supports both food sustainability and value creation from underutilized biomass, contributing to a more circular food system.
As the Grand Winner, PakUAn received a cash prize of PHP 30,000.
Leave a Nest Award |
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CropConnect
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CropConnect received the Leave a Nest Award, granting the team PHP 20,000 and an invitation to represent the Philippines at the Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference Philippines, where the team will present its innovation to an international network of researchers and ecosystem partners. CropConnect focuses on strengthening agricultural traceability and intelligence systems, enabling improved farm data management and coordination within agricultural cooperatives and farming communities.
CPUGAD Award |
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PakUan
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Kape Lumad
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In recognition of its strong potential for development and impact in the agri-food sector, PakUAn was also awarded the CPUGAD Award, which provides startup development support to help accelerate the team’s technology and business growth. The award was also presented to Kape Lumad, recognizing its promising work in supporting sustainable coffee development and empowering local agricultural communities through innovation and value-chain strengthening.
Building an Ecosystem for Agri-Tech Innovation
Beyond recognizing outstanding teams, the AGRI-TECH GRAND PRIX serves as a collaborative platform where researchers, startups, and partners can build long-term relationships. Rather than concluding with the Demo Day, the program marks the beginning of deeper engagement between the innovators and the Leave a Nest ecosystem through mentorship, partnership development, and technological co-creation.
The Leave a Nest Group emphasizes that TECH PLANTER programs are not merely competitions but ecosystem platforms designed to help science-based startups thrive. Awardees are selected not only for the strength of their technologies but also for their potential to collaborate with partners and scale their innovations toward real-world impact.
Through initiatives such as the AGRI-TECH GRAND PRIX, Leave a Nest Philippines continues to strengthen the country’s deep tech startup landscape, fostering a community where scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry partners work together to address the pressing challenges facing agriculture and food systems.
Organizations interested in collaborating with the TECH PLANTER ecosystem and supporting science-driven startups in the Philippines may reach out to [email protected] for partnership opportunities.