Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. (HCCCI) advanced its efforts to develop technology-driven entrepreneurship as four second-year Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) students participated in the AI Ready South Cotabato Technopreneurship Bootcamp 2026 on September 29, 2026, at Dreamweaver’s Hotel in Koronadal City. The face-to-face training brought together student teams from eight institutions across Region XII to develop technology-enabled business concepts addressing regional development challenges.

Representing HCCCI were Clanther John Rios, Jerald Dave Paladan, Jhonreive Magbanua, and Trisha Min Grace Salero, accompanied by Edicio M. Faller, Director of the Center for Innovation and Research Initiatives (CIRI).

The bootcamp formed part of a multi-phase initiative designed to guide participants from identifying community and industry problems to developing viable technology-based business concepts. Following a two-day online seminar, the participating teams used the WEN Ignite platform to examine priority challenges in South Cotabato, particularly in agriculture, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), tourism, education, and governance. Their initial outputs included problem canvases, target-user validation, preliminary business models, minimum viable product (MVP) feature lists, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled concept proposals.

The September 29 session advanced this work through focused activities on prototype development, business model refinement, financial management, and pitch preparation. These activities introduced participants to structured approaches for validating user needs, identifying essential product features, evaluating business feasibility, and communicating the value of technology-driven solutions.

For HCCCI, the participation provided students with an opportunity to apply their IT knowledge beyond the classroom and explore how emerging technologies can be developed into practical solutions and potential business ventures. It also exposed them to an innovation process that connects technical development with user needs, financial viability, and the broader demands of entrepreneurship.

The initiative brought together the South Cotabato Provincial Government, SICAD-SOX Regional Department, South Cotabato ICT Council, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Science and Technology, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Trade and Industry Region XII, Amazon Web Services, and the Wadhwani Foundation. The involvement of academic institutions, government agencies, industry stakeholders, and development partners highlights the role of cross-sector collaboration in strengthening the region’s innovation ecosystem.

Beyond technical and business skills, the bootcamp encouraged participants to consider how AI and digital technologies could respond to practical challenges involving agricultural risks, MSME resilience, tourism development, educational access, and governance. By connecting technology development with identified regional priorities, the initiative creates opportunities for student-led concepts to contribute to local innovation and inclusive socioeconomic development.

The activity supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through applied learning and competency development; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, through entrepreneurship and business development; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, through technology-enabled innovation; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through collaboration among educational institutions, government, industry, and development organizations.

As the AI Ready South Cotabato Technopreneurship Bootcamp 2026 progresses, HCCCI’s student representatives have the opportunity to refine their concepts into prototypes and business proposals. Their participation reflects the institution’s commitment to preparing future IT professionals not only to adapt to technological change but also to explore how digital innovation can address real-world needs and create potential economic and community value.