BGC, Philippines—November 21, 2025—Designed for working students, budding entrepreneurs, small startups, hackathon enthusiasts, and aspiring tech founders, the Alfred’s Engine Room: Crafting Tomorrow’s Ventures: Kick-off and Ideation 2025 marked the official launch of AWS Cloud Club PUP e:Novators, a community built to empower the next generation of bold visionaries and innovators.

As the first innovation hub in AWS Cloud Clubs in the Philippines, it was the beginning of a movement through continuous learning, collaboration, and cloud-driven innovation.

What is e:Novators?

Founded by Marvin Barrios, the Community Lead, e:Novators was softlaunched in 2024, at the first AWS Student Community Day in the country, held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Mission

• To empower individuals and support each other within the community by giving them a chance to showcase their ideas, skills, and craft by incorporating tech innovation and many more.

Vision

• To become a go-to community for driving innovation, giving a spotlight to our working students and entrepreneurs, and creating an atmosphere where everyone can thrive through new ideas and collaborate with like-minded folks for future growth.

e:Novators Growing Role in the Innovation Ecosystem

e:Novators has been actively interacting with startup incubatees from PUP Pylon TBI, a long-term partner for startup development under the DOST HEIRIT Program.

From learning from the incubatees and the guidance of PUP Pylon TBI, e:Novators aims to develop students who will triumph in hackathons, pitch competitions, and real-world startup building while embodying e:Novators’ initiatives.

The Launch

The Alfred’s Engine Room: Crafting Tomorrow’s Ventures: Kick-off and Ideation 2025 brought together notable tech startup founders, student innovators, and aspiring technopreneurs.The program aligned with the community’s objectives:

• Introduce e:Novators
• Build Connections
• Spark Ideation

Sparking Ideas: Talks That Transformed Perspectives

The knowledge and wisdom of the speakers blended with the participants’ curiosity in real-world technopreneurship experience. 

Sofia Nicole Sy of Sofi AI urges the participants to consider finding purpose in solving a problem

• “Purpose doesn’t have to be grand, but it has to be strong—because life is hard.”

Engr. Benedict Mendoza of Philippine Science High School inspired aspiring founders who hesitate to take the first step:

• “Entrepreneurs are not born—they are built through opportunities they choose to act on.”

Arjay Rosel of ElectrifAI and PUP Pylon TBI underscored the importance of cloud computing and registering your business:

• “What cloud computing do is binibigyan nya tayo ng network access to the shared pool of resources na meron sa buong mundo.”

Fahad Hadji Esmael, an OTis Philippines Intern and Associate Startup Director of e:Novators, brought a refreshing perspective into the ideation process:

• “Being creative is not only about kung gaano kagaling mag design. Creativity is thinking outside of the normal ideas.”

Lastly, Dave Rivas, also the Associate Startup Director of e:Novators, introduced the WPS Office and its growing initiative for students while earning commission-based rewards:

• “The WPS Affiliate Program is a meaningful opportunity for students to grow as digital leaders and gain recognition for their impact.”

Ideation Session: Turning Sparks into Solutions

The participants brainstormed real-world solutions and pitched initial concepts through creativity, teamwork, and purpose-driven innovation.

John Paul “JP” Curada, the Co-founder of GioData Solutions, Startup Development Director of e:Novators, and also the Co-Captain and Technology Director of AWS Cloud Club PUP, facilitated the ideation with the problem statement, “How might we empower Philippine MSMEs to thrive in an increasingly digital, sustainable, and uncertain economy while ensuring no entrepreneur is left behind?”

The Ideation proper followed 6 Steps to Build Your Solution:

→ EMPATHIZE → DEFINE → IDEATE → PROTOTYPE → MARKET → PITCH >>

Each team transformed raw ideas with the potential to grow and possibilities to be incubated as a startup.

Champion – Cybisa

Most Creative Solution – Cybisa

e:Novators Choice Award – Archivilles Go Castle

2nd Place – Hackshift

3rd Place – Cyberizzlers

4th Place – HackaBros

Best Presentation – Tekmakon

The Manpower

The event is led by Marvin Barrios and co-led by Hyacinth Ramos, with each Director, Associate Director, and members from these offices contributing their time, expertise, and commitment and collective effort embodies the spirit of collaboration that defines e:Novators:

• Office of Secretariat – Shaine Althea Ocampo, Jazmine Yumang, Jermaine Sebido, Joemar Lagat, Alyssa Marie Dela Cruz, VJ Evangelista
• Office of Creative Services – Alfred Joshua Palpal-latoc, Charisse Jen Salazar, Ian Kylle Caones, Ching San Abian, Matthew Aiman  Lopez, Geinel Niño Dungao, Joewen Bragasin, Sheun Georrel Pre
• Office of Marketing & Communications – Daniella Simara, Eliniel Recio, Samantha Nicole Salmorin, Earl Dann Dueñas, Hannahlette Delgado, Gianne Crizzle Dasco
• Office of External Relations – Gaile Espinosa, Clarisse Jem Salazar, Youjin Gumasing, Ralph Daniell Jimenez, Yhasmen Nogales, Zey Pagulayan, Joewen Bragasin, Aurold John Sadullo, Ela Juris Arriola
• Office of Operations – Raven Reign Sabidal, Francis Erick Romansanta, Krystel Mae Austral, Christian Joseph Delos Santos, Franz Kester Calumpit, Landon Lawrence Peralta, Mark Oliver Gueco, Kristian Serafin De Guzman, Lea Erika E. Veridiano, Chelley Maxenne R. Acerden, Denisse Jane F. Karim, Loraine S. Militante, James Randall A. Magpantay, Lance B. Valerio, Leslie Sophia O. Causon
• Office of Programs – Hyacinth Vannes Ramos, Adrian Dimaano, Irish Micole Cando, Lawrence Panes, Loreen May Jodi Gallos, Jhaneya Arboladora, Eirol Jed Carganilla, Bea Allysa May Romero, Ven Vincent Murillo, John Christian Robles
• Office of Resources & Education – Arjay Rosel, Liah Maricar Libiran, Francis Philip Conguis, John Eric Samillano, Aisaiah Francis Alidio
• Office of Start-Up Development – John Paul Curada, Kyla Barbin, Harold Patacsil, Jaybe Gaviola, Dave Aillerr Rivas, Fahad Hadji Esmael, Mel Carl Chacon, Siegfred Lorelle Mina, Anisha Shen Tagum, David Bato-bato, Lance Nathan De Belen
• Office of Finance – Kristine Patoc, Eujin Rod Sagun, Alyn Huertas, Joshua  Macatunao, Denelle Rose Nava, Salvador Vincent Javier, Justin Paul Canilang

e:Novators Community Count

e:Novators now supports over 200+ active students, volunteers, and innovators across our growing community. The community has built a strong network of collaborations with leading innovation and technology communities in the Philippines, including:

1. PUP Pylon TBI 
2. Philippine Tech Career Fest 2025 by NexHire
3. Devcon Manila Game Jam 2025
4. Philippine Design Fest 2025 by Filipino Graphic Designers

Beginning of Something Bigger

The partnerships behind Alfred’s Engine Room resonates with the same goal of empower Filipino students and aspiring founders through cloud, creativity, community, and collaboration.

WPS Office serving as the Official Workspace Sponsor and PUP Pylon TBI as the Start-Up Development Sponsor. The event also welcomed various PUP-based tech organizations, including PUP ASCII, PUP IBITS, ICPEP-SE PUP Manila, PUP Wired, and PUP ACCESS. Additional partners included Edukasyon PH and AWS Siklab Pilipinas as Cloud Education Partners, Kadakareer as a Community Partner, and When in Manila as a Media Partner. The initiative was further strengthened by Software Sponsors Tutorials Dojo and CloudSensei, along with Excellence Sponsors Bank of the Philippine Islands and Homeroom Dapitan. 

Shaine Ocampo, the Executive Secretary of this community, shared exciting news that the company she’s working at, Computrade Technology Philippines Inc., is open for Cloud Engineering internship opportunities for e:Novators. As an entrepreneurship graduate, she was able to delve into the tech industry by getting involved in AWS. 

The future initiatives of e:Novators include the support for aspiring founders by equipping them with the skills, support, and confidence needed to shape the future of Philippine tech. The community will also focus on cultivating young minds by strengthening the technopreneurship pathway. 

As the community grows, e:Novators continues to expand its network and aims to build strong connections with more innovation hubs across the country and hopes to earn recognition from AWS itself in the near future.

The building starts with a spark. Ideate, Innovate, Elevate.