Block Dojo Philippines bets big on blockchain tech startups

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The seed of innovation is now planted with the official launch of Block Dojo Philippines, a 12-week program spearheaded by United Kingdom-based startup incubator Block Dojo.

Powered by global tech firm nChain, the incubator program coming to the Philippines was a promise made by nChain Co-founder and Executive Chairman Stefan Matthews in the province of Bataan for a blockchain event in 2022.

“I made a promise. And that promise was that we would deliver a Block Dojo incubator to Bataan in the first quarter of next year. Tonight, I keep that promise,” Matthews remarked to hundreds of industry players, blockchain enthusiasts, and government leaders who attended the launch at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Establishing Block Dojo Philippines isn’t just about revitalizing the country’s startup sector; it’s also providing an avenue for businesses, regardless of size, to develop services and products with actual use cases that would help the Filipino community thrive, according to nChain Chief Scientist Dr. Craig Wright.

“I want people to have a dream, not because other people in Silicon Valley think it’s a great idea and it will help advertising. But because you think in your local community, you can make money. You can bring back money to your community,” said Dr. Wright.

However, molding a startup into what Dr. Wright envisions isn’t something that is easily done without the support of the right people.

“Building a startup is hard. It’s risky business. Which is exactly why we created the Block Dojo,” noted Alexander Ball, co-founder of Block Dojo.

The incubator program may be a ticket for startups to penetrate the global market, but while the Block Dojo Philippines wishes to support all rising entrepreneurs in the country, it could only accommodate and select up to 10 early-stage companies willing to learn and build on the BSV blockchain, added Ball.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is one with nChain and Block Dojo in supporting this initiative, with Associate Secretary Edwin Ligot saying the incubator program is going to be the key to helping build, upskill, and innovate the Philippines’ talent pool.

nChain Business Development Lead Stephanie Tower agreed with Ligot’s statement, adding that the incubator program would help find investors for successful startups.

“We’re very excited to look for those talents, the entrepreneurs, the Filipino founders nationwide,” stated Tower. “To train them, upskill, crosskill, and really provide that 360 support, not only from the training side, but also really having them become the best version of themselves as entrepreneurs and helping them at the same time get investors.”

For Nila Capital Partners Partner AJ, the establishment of Block Dojo Philippines is an exciting time for the country as it seeks to introduce blockchain technology to a broader market, while blockchain enthusiast Kelly Okoro stressed that the initiative would foster greater collaboration among government agencies and the private sector.

“What they are doing here in the Philippines is pretty amazing. And you know, to me, these amazing people explains a lot about their character and the plans they have for the future,” said Okoro.

Watch: The Philippines is ready for blockchain tech, nChain Chairman Stefan Matthews says