Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026: Announcing the Local and Global Partners and Judges to Strengthen Mindanao Deep Tech Ecosystem

Local Partners

Department of Science and Technology Davao Region

IDEAS Davao

SF Group of Companies Inc.

Global Partners

IGNYSIA Co., Ltd.

Japan Tobacco Inc.

Wadhwani Foundation

Co-Organizers

Department of Science and Technology Davao Region

University of the Immaculate Conception 

Head Judge

Engr. Ronezza “Ezza” Delos Santos is a licensed Chemical Engineer who graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman. After getting inspired in her internship for Leave a Nest’s TECH PLANTER in the Philippines 2021, she took the challenge to be one of the pioneer members of the company’s Philippine subsidiary. She became one of the Directors of Leave a Nest Philippines in March 2023 and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Environment and Natural Resources Management at the UP Open University. In December 2025, she became the Managing Director of Leave a Nest Philippines. Driven with her passion to unleash the potential of the Philippines and Filipinos for the advancement of the country, she continues to explore collaborations between different stakeholders in different regions through Leave a Nest.

Local Judges

Dr. Nathan Ray A. Alim is the Assistant Regional Director for R&D for Development and Innovation Division (ReDID) at the Department of Science and Technology Region XI. A licensed chemist with expertise in pharmaceutical chemistry, asymmetric synthesis, and analytical techniques, he earned his degrees from Ateneo de Davao University and Kumamoto University, Japan. He has held teaching and research roles at Ateneo de Davao University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and the De La Salle University. Dr. Alim leads initiatives in green mining, grassroots innovation, water filtration, and renewable energy. Formerly a DOST Science Fellow, he integrates science education with innovation, advancing regional development through practical and sustainable technologies under the R&D for Development and Innovation Division of the DOST XI.

Mr. Richard Day is the Chairperson of IDEAS Davao and President of Upgrade Innolab, a nonprofit incubator helping Filipino entrepreneurs build scalable ventures. Under his leadership, Upgrade was recognized as the Outstanding Incubator in Region XI and DOST-PCIEERD’s National Global Startup Incubator of 2024. He is Co-Founder of Experience Science, an edtech company advancing immersive STEM learning. Richard serves as Project Leader and Lead Consultant of Upgrade Education PH. Previously, he was Technology Officer of UMasenso Hub and led Hult Prize incubation initiatives. He also led acceleration for Davao coffee enterprises and heads Circulab Acceleration, supporting circular economy businesses with seed funding up to Php 1.3 million.

Mr. Dom Subang leads Agridom, a precision-service company delivering drone crop spraying, satellite analytics, and on-farm training empowering Filipino farmers to work faster and more profitably without owning equipment. Under his leadership, Agridom has grown from a pilot project into a nationwide platform boosting yields and embedding regenerative practices across thousands of hectares.

Agridom anchors the SF Group of Companies, whose brands—Farmtech Agriland, DJAS Servitrade, Sunfood Marketing, Agridom Academy, and Aerobot Distributions form a complete agritech ecosystem. His farmer-first approach drives real income gains and a more resilient Philippine food system.

Global Judges

Born in October 1979, Mr. Toyohisa Yamada earned a Master of Engineering from the Department of Chemical System Engineering at the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo. Having developed a strong interest in energy issues from an early age, he conducted research on fuel cells and combustion during his university years. He joined IGNYSIA Co Ltd (previously known as Yamada Shokai Co., Ltd.), a gas engineering and construction company, in 2004. In May 2022, he became President and Executive Director. Leveraging the power of engineering, he is committed to enhancing resilience across four key sectors: energy, infrastructure, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and the living environment.

Ms. Shiori Yamashita is the Manager of D-LAB, Japan Tobacco. She is primarily responsible for new business development based on “Delightful Moment”. JT and D-LAB is not limited to a sector, but respects the “Delightful Moment” all over the world, and they think about what we can do for the moment every day. She is looking for people who can create the “Delightful Moment” with amazing technologies and knowledges together. She graduated from University of East Anglia (UK) with a bachelor in business management.

Ms. Mary Rose Ofianga, a Master in Management, is a recognized leader in innovation and entrepreneurship in Mindanao. She has organized multiple Startup Weekends in Davao, launched the first Social Innovation Camp for Health in the Philippines, and led the Davao startup ecosystem mapping. As Program Manager of the Wadhwani Foundation Entrepreneurship Program, she supports student ventures across Southern Philippines. Mary Rose also represents the country globally as a UN IGF MAG member and Asia Representative for Women in Internet Governance, advocating for inclusive innovation and digital empowerment.