17 March 2025  Manila, Philippines – IdeaSpace, the startup accelerator and early-stage venture investment arm of the MVP Group of Companies, today announced the appointment of Alwyn Rosel, a startup ecosystem veteran, as the new Executive Director of IdeaSpace and QBO Innovation, succeeding Jay Fajardo.

Backed by 13 years of industry experience, Rosel has been with QBO Innovation for the last four years, serving as the Deputy Director. She previously held senior positions at startup enablers AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator and UPSCALE Innovation Hub, as well as VXI Global. She also worked at Singapore-based startup and tech media platform e27.

"I am elated to receive the news of my appointment as Executive Director of IdeaSpace and QBO at a time when we are celebrating National Women’s Month. I would like to thank the management for their trust and confidence in me. I take on this challenge and opportunity to serve the startup community. The cornerstone of my work is to sustain the ecosystem so that we help more startups that have immense potential to contribute to the economy and national development," said Rosel.

IdeaSpace and QBO Innovation President Rene “Butch” Meily expressed his confidence in Rosel’s leadership. “Alwyn has been with the QBO and IdeaSpace team for four years. I am confident that she has the dedication and strategic vision to do the job. At the same time, I want to thank Jay Fajardo for his contributions to steering the ship during a crucial time.”

Over the last 13 years, IdeaSpace | QBO has been a cornerstone of the startup landscape, investing over P300 million in resources and supporting more than 35 startups. It has also incubated over 250 startup companies, supported more than 700 organizations, and won 15 awards. Currently, it is conducting 100+ programs and capacity-building activities annually for the benefit of QMMUNITY startups.

Earl Valencia, a co-founder of IdeaSpace in 2012 and currently a member of the National Innovation Council, also expressed support for Rosel’s appointment, saying, “I am so excited for Alwyn to take the leadership for the next phase of QBO and IdeaSpace.  She has spent her entire career supporting early-stage startups and has been instrumental in creating programs to accelerate the innovation ecosystem in the Philippines.”

Rosel will succeed Jay Fajardo, who became instrumental in streamlining the organizational structure and sharpening the strategic vision of IdeaSpace and QBO, defining the distinct roles of each entity for stakeholders and the broader startup ecosystem. During his leadership, he established Ideaspace Ventures, reasserting the organization's position as a committed early-stage investor. In 2024, Ideaspace Ventures supported seven startups and achieved an average portfolio MOIC (Multiple on Invested Capital) of 1.5X over four years.

Additionally, Fajardo strengthened QBO Innovation's position as a leading startup community builder driving innovation, expanding its influential programs across government, academe, international development agencies, and private enterprises.

Reflecting on his tenure, Fajardo said, “I’m very happy to have had the opportunity to lead the remarkable team at IdeaSpace and QBO, reinforcing our role as a pivotal driver of the Philippine startup ecosystem. We believe that the organization has regained clarity in its mission, and now deserves dedicated, full-time leadership to take it to even greater heights.” 

IdeaSpace | QBO remains committed to fostering innovation and supporting startups through key partnerships. It is actively working on the Regional Startup Enablers for Ecosystem Development (ReSEED) Program with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and collaborating on strategic initiatives with Smart-PLDT Innovation Generation and the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines.

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ABOUT IDEASPACE

IdeaSpace is the Philippines’ premier startup enabler behind Ideaspace Ventures, a VC committed to invest in early-stage Filipino technology startups. IdeaSpace was established in 2012 by its Chairman, Manuel V. Pangilinan with the vision of supporting Filipino tech entrepreneurship, and is backed by First Pacific, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), PLDT-Smart, Meralco, and Maynilad, along with various public and private organizations. 

For more information on Ideaspace Ventures, visit https://www.ideaspace.vc/ or @IdeaspaceVentures on social media. 

ABOUT QBO INNOVATION

QBO (‘ku-bo’) is the Philippines’ first public-private initiative focused on providing a platform for the startup community to collaborate, develop talents, and grow. It operates incubation and acceleration programs for startups across multiple stages and industries, and conducts an array of startup ecosystem and community activities to improve access to markets, knowledge, network, capital, and talent.

Created in 2016 through a partnership with IdeaSpace, J.P. Morgan, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), QBO has been an active player in creating a globally competitive ecosystem in the Philippines, fueled by its vision of Filipino startups changing the world.

For more information on QBO, visit their website at qboinnovation.com or follow their social media accounts at @QBOInnovation.