CITE Students Showcase Innovation in SparkUp 2025 Culminating Pitching Event
The Technopreneurship 101 class under Engr. Ram Owen Savier J. Licayan, ECT, successfully held its culminating pitching activity, SparkUp 2025, on October 17, 2025. The event gathered Engineering students as they presented innovative, technology-driven solutions before a panel of experts. The program formally opened with an invocation, followed by the singing of the National Anthem, the Midsayap Hymn, and the Notre Dame Hymn.
In his opening message, Engr. Licayan highlighted the importance of technopreneurship in Electronics and Computer Engineering, emphasizing how students can transform technical expertise into market-ready solutions that address real-world problems. He encouraged participants to think as innovators and visionaries, commending them for combining creativity, technical skill, and entrepreneurial mindset—qualities that define future-ready engineers. He also described SparkUp 2025 as a space “where ideas ignite and innovation begins.”
A short presentation from Engr. John Lloyd B. Tamse, ECT, Project Technical Assistant at USMart TBI, followed. He discussed the role of Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) in supporting startups and shared insights about current incubated innovations. The event’s emcee, Ms. Shanshiru Shaynne U. Cabante, then presented the pitching mechanics and introduced the panel of judges: Engr. Edirlyn C. Baño, CCpE, Engr. Florenz Zink C. Tan, ECT, and Engr. John Lloyd B. Tamse, who served as panel chair.
During the pitching proper, student teams delivered comprehensive presentations that identified real-world problems, proposed technological solutions, and outlined business models and market opportunities. Their pitches demonstrated mastery of key concepts such as the value proposition canvas, market validation, competitive analysis, and scalability. The judges provided constructive feedback, highlighting the students’ creativity, practicality, and strong application of technopreneurship principles.
At the end of the competition, four teams were recognized for their outstanding pitches:
- Champion: Team ResQon – ResQon, a barangay-level disaster alert and response system with real-time updates
- 1st Runner-Up: Team Teamporary – AgriRent, an equipment-sharing platform for farmers
- 2nd Runner-Up: Team Huaydu – ProjectXLink, a project management app for engineering workflows
- 3rd Runner-Up: Team Tecknologia – Ecopoints, a gamified app promoting proper waste disposal
In his closing remarks, Engr. Licayan expressed appreciation to the judges, students, and organizers for their dedication and teamwork. He commended the participants’ resilience in preparing impactful innovations despite demanding academic requirements. He emphasized that SparkUp 2025 reflects the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and perseverance among aspiring technopreneurs. The event concluded with a group photo to commemorate the successful activity.