Forming and Strengthening Connections: Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 Concludes its 2nd Implementation with Grand Winner, AIMHI

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Demo Day for Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 had taken place last September 26, 2026 within Davao City at the University of Immaculate Conception – Bajada Campus, marking the next step forward in developing the startup ecosystem of Mindanao. Participating in the event would be the latest innovations and research that Mindanao has to offer, ranging from the Agricultural & Food Technology developments to the exploration of resilient AI technologies. Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 has brought together and connected the important players and interested organizations into one venue, in establishing new connections for future collaborations.

The 2nd implementation of the Mindanao TECH PLANTER program would not have been made possible without the support from our co-organizers and esteemed partners. As such, we extend our deepest gratitude to our event partners: Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Davao Region (Philippines), Innovation and Development Accelerators Consortium for Startups (IDEAS) Davao (Philippines), SF Group of Companies (Philippines), IGNYSIA Co. Ltd. (Japan), Japan Tobacco (JT) (Japan), and Wadhwani Foundation (India). Additionally, we would also like to express our gratitude to our co-organizers, DOST Davao Region, and the University of the Immaculate Conception as both Co-Organizer and Venue Host. Without the support of all the partners and co-organizers, this gathering of the innovative minds of Mindanao and the local and global stakeholders would not have been possible.

Additionally, we would also like to express our gratitude to our co-organizers, DOST Davao Region, and the University of the Immaculate Conception as both Co-Organizer and Venue Host. Without the support of all the partners and co-organizers, this gathering of the innovative minds of Mindanao and the local and global stakeholders would not have been possible.

Dr. Mona Laya, Director of Research, Publication, and Innovation Center at the University of Immaculate Conception, delivering the Welcoming Remarks

At the beginning of the program, the guests were warmly welcomed by the venue host representative, Dr. Mona Laya, the Director of Research, Publication, and Innovation Center, University of Immaculate Conception, as she shared her welcoming remarks, showing appreciation for the Leave a Nest and the TECH PLANTER program, and excitement for being able to host such a prestigious event.

Engr. Ronezza Delos Santos, Managing Director of Leave a Nest Philippines, sharing about the history of Leave a Nest and the TECH PLANTER program

Mr. Josemaria Sison, Project Leader, sharing his message to finalists and partners during the Opening Remarks

Building upon the initial momentum, Engr. Ronezza Delos Santos, Managing Director of Leave a Nest Philippines, introduced the vision of Leave a Nest and the history of the TECH PLANTER program, with a strong emphasis on the importance of bringing together like-minded and passionate people in cultivating solutions to the deeply rooted problems in society. Likewise, Mr. Josemaria Sison, Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 Project Leader, also shared a few words of his own about having the courage and will to keep taking the next steps forward in developing the essential technologies and new innovations from Mindanao.

Engr Lorilyn Daquioag, Founder and CEO, GreenVisionsPh / Waste4Good and Grand Winner of Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2025, delivering her Keynote Speech

As the final speaker of the opening ceremony, Engr. Lorilyn Daquioag, the Founder and CEO of GreenVisionsPh (also known as Waste4Good, the Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2025 Grand Winner team) delivered her keynote speech and shared about her story, the role of Mindanao TECH PLANTER in startup development, encouragement to the finalists to showcase their uniqueness, and to always remember the passions behind creating each innovation.

Finalist Pitch representatives and Judges were passionately uncovering different deep issues in Mindanao from the opening ceremony until the pitch presentations and question and answer segments of the Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026

From the 8 pitch presentation finalists who attended the Demo Day event, the team of Artificial Intelligence Meets Human Intelligence Inc (AIMHI), walked away with both the Mindanao TECH PLANTER Grand Winner Award, and the IGNYSIA Award for their innovative technology about developing a construction management assistance app that serves as an AI-powered construction platform that turns project data into clear, actionable insights.

The technology being developed by AIMHI was recognized by the panel of judges as an important management tool that can assist in improving the overall efficiency of construction companies and contractors in Mindanao and the Philippines. In addition, they were also able to recognize the timely relevance and potential of their innovation in improving not only the efficiency but also the transparency of internal management in both the construction companies and within government agencies.

All the awards that have been granted during the Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 Demo Day have been listed below:

GRAND WINNER: AIMHI, Artificial Intelligence Meets Human Intelligence Inc. Award Inclusions: PHP 30,000.00 Cash Prize  Theme: AIMHI Construction App is an AI-powered construction platform that turns project data into clear, actionable insights.

 

LEAVE A NEST AWARD WINNER: AlgaTrop Award Inclusions: Invitation to Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference (HIC) Philippines (with flights & accommodation provision) Theme: Production of agricultural biostimulants from tropical seaweed.

 

IGNYSIA Award Winner: AIMHI, Artificial Intelligence Meets Human Intelligence Inc. Award Inclusions: PHP 20,000.00 Cash Prize  Theme: AIMHI Construction App is an AI-powered construction platform that turns project data into clear, actionable insights.

 

JT Award Winner: Flavours of Bukidnon Award Inclusions: PHP 20,000.00 Cash Prize  Theme: Standardized Probiotic Fermentation Technology for Functional Beverages and Foods.

 

IDEAS Davao Award Winner: BlackGold Food Corporation Award Inclusions: Booth Exhibit at the Davao-ASEAN Startup Week 2026 Theme: BlackGold NutriBar transforms Black Rice into a nutritious snack and empowers farmers.

 

In addition to the recognition given to our latest batch of finalists during the Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 implementation, a Memorandum of Agreement  exchange ceremony between Leave a Nest Philippines and the Department of Science and Technology Davao Region had also taken place, highlighting once more the primary objective of the TECH PLANTER program in creating stronger connections and further developing the startup ecosystem within Mindanao, and expansion and strengthening of the DOST Davao’s innovation hub services and network.

Engr. Ronezza Delos Santos, Managing Director of Leave a Nest Philippines, and Dr. Nathan Ray Alim, Assistant Regional Director Department of Science and Technology Davao Region, hold signed copies of the Memorandum of Agreement

Overall, the 2026 implementation had successfully brought together a new batch of innovative minds while continuing to strengthen already existing bonds between partnered organizations. In this light, Mindanao TECH PLANTER has opened new opportunities for our Mindanaoan innovators, and seeks to follow through in fully realizing the potential that these collaborations have to offer.

Event day photos taken during the Poster and Networking segments of the Mindanao TECH PLANTER 2026 Demo Day Program

Looking forward, the empowerment of the deep tech startup ecosystem in Mindanao and in the other island groups of the Philippines, does not stop with TECH PLANTER. Instead the event serves as the entryway into the full network of partners and events that Leave a Nest has in store. The upcoming events would include the Microbiology Innovation Summit, Visayas TECH PLANTER 2026, Science Castle Philippines 2027, Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference in the Philippines 2027, and so much more.

We invite passionate organizations and individuals to reach out and partner with us for more collaboration opportunities in “Developing Science and Technology for Global Happiness”. For those interested please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at: [email protected]