Isabela State University, in collaboration with ISUPORTSS and the Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network, is calling for student startup teams to join EntrepEd — a structured accelerator pipeline designed to move student-led ventures from idea or academic research to market-ready enterprise. Applications are open now at the link below.

For student innovators in ISU and across the Cagayan Valley region, this is one of the most accessible and well-resourced startup programs currently available at the university level in Northern Luzon.

What EntrepEd Actually Offers

The program is built around the Wadhwani Ignite Program, a globally recognized entrepreneurship curriculum that gives participants access to certified venture coaches, structured business model development, and elite mentorship — all at no cost to the participant. Full scholarship access to Ignite modules and digital tools is included from day one.

Beyond the curriculum, accepted teams get access to ISU's university incubator facilities to develop and test their products, direct mentorship from Certified Ignite Faculty who function as venture coaches, and a global entrepreneurship certificate co-endorsed by ISUPORTSS and the Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network. The certificate is a professional credential that travels with participants beyond the program.

The top teams compete for seed funding and cash prizes, and earn the opportunity to pitch live at SM City Cauayan during the University-Wide Demo Day — a public-facing event that puts student ventures in front of an actual audience.

How the Program Is Structured

EntrepEd runs in three phases. Phase 1 is the intake and assessment stage, where applications are screened and high-potential student ventures are selected. Phase 2 is the Ignite Boot Camp — the core intensive stage where teams receive mentoring, develop their business models, and build their ventures with hands-on guidance. Phase 3 is the Semi-Finals and Grand Pitch, where the university's top-tier startups are selected and compete for the final prizes.

The structure is designed to produce real outcomes at each stage rather than funneling everyone toward a single pitch competition at the end. Teams that do not advance to the finals still complete the Ignite curriculum and earn their certification — which means every participant leaves with something concrete regardless of where they finish.

Why This Program Matters for Northern Luzon

Student startup programs in Northern Luzon have historically been concentrated in Baguio and the Cordillera. An accelerator of this caliber running out of Isabela State University — with international curriculum backing from the Wadhwani Foundation and a demo day at a public venue in Cauayan — puts Cagayan Valley on the map as a region that is actively building the next generation of founders, not just training future employees.

The Wadhwani Foundation operates across Asia and has worked with hundreds of universities to build entrepreneurship ecosystems at the institutional level. ISU's partnership with WEN through EntrepEd connects student founders in Isabela to a network that extends well beyond the province and the region.

For ISU students sitting on a research project, a prototype, or an idea they have been developing, the zero-cost entry point removes the most common reason for not applying: the assumption that startup programs require resources the applicant does not have yet.

ISU students interested in joining EntrepEd can apply through the official application form. Teams are encouraged to apply early as slots are competitive. For students from other Northern Luzon universities watching this program, it is worth following as a model for what student-led venture development can look like when a university invests in the right partnerships.

Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FAIpQLSdCGYuAk5L/viewform

Source: CMETI - Echague Chapter