Naga City is the center of trade and commerce in the Bicol region, catering to a large market for goods and services. The city also has a growing IT and BPO sector, which is focused on such services as call centers, software development, and data analytics.

The local government is actively promoting entrepreneurship. It provides an environment for incubating startups by giving support in the form of funding, mentoring, coaching, and training programs to startup founders to help them acquire the mindset and principles of sustainable growth.

HAKA Naga, the acronym for Harong Katuod Naga derived from the Bikol words “Harong” (house) and “Katuod” (friend), evolved as a concept for Naga City’s startup community from networking activities initiated by the city government’s investment board.

HAKA Naga is a Service Cooperative that officially represents the Naga City startup community. It is best described as a Startup Handholding Initiative for Naga-Registered Entrepreneurs (SHINE). It envisions an ecosystem that will spark techno-entrepreneurship in the Bicol Region with Naga City as its hub and mobilize startups to exploit current and future opportunities. It also welcomes global startup founders.

Founders and Officers

On September 1, 2022, the community elected its first set of officers with Ronald ‘Bong’ A. Rodriguez of LEARNr Corporation as its founding president. Other founding members include Jude Buelva of Pandalivery, Magno Conag III of Nueca Technologies, Enrico Evangelista of Bald Puppies, Gwen Joson of GINA, Karlo Largoza of Keehive Solutions, Joselito Ocol of Beecall TBI, Raymund Rosco of Servisit, Ernest San Jose of Bapplepay, Harvey Valdez of Beshie, Mitzi Evora-Largoza, along with NCIB Officers, Executive Director Reuel Oliver and Investment Promotions Officer Paul John Legaspi.

On December 26, 2022, HAKA Naga convened its first General Assembly and elected the following officers who will officially serve for the first two years of the organization:

President: Ronald Bong Rodriguez

Internal VP: Enrico Rico Evangelista

External VP: Joselito Jun Ocol, Jr.

Secretary: Gwen Cepriaso Joson

Treasurer: Coco Marlon Cuenca Vasquez

Auditor: Brian Lacanlale

PRO: Harvey Valdez

It was during the same General Assembly when HAKA Naga founding chairman Ronald ‘Bong’ A. Rodriguez announced his direction to spearhead the organization into becoming a Tech Startups Service Cooperative. He also discussed the HaKa Naga Innovation Village for Entrepreneurs (HIVE) to become the flagship project of the organization. Naga City Mayor Nelson S. Legacion, who had an intimate conversation with the startup founders during the assembly, committed to support the HIVE Project.

There are two types of membership in HAKA Naga: (1) Regular Members – startup founders whose businesses are already registered either with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of trade and industry (DTI), or the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA); (2) Associate Members – startup founders whose businesses are recognized by the Community, but are not yet formally registered with any government agency or industry partner representatives, which play a role in the startup ecosystem. Applicants for membership in HAKA Naga undergo a vetting process.

On January 6, 2023, HAKA Naga conducted strategic planning sessions with the Naga City LGU, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), and the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) at the Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) located inside the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City.

Bicol Digital Congress

Last December 21-22, 2022, the Bicol Digital Congress, a Regional Startup Bootcamp, was held as part of the Naga City Startup Ecosystem Development Program. This initiative was funded by the National Innovation Council. There were over 250 participants, 19 speakers, 5 panel discussions, 16 startup ideas showcased, 60 information and communications technology (ICT) kit beneficiaries, and 19 ICT exhibitors. Students and faculty members from Ateneo de Naga University, University of Nueva Caceres, Naga College Foundation, Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology, AMA Computer College Naga, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture were among the participants. These future startup founders and innovators exceled in the bootcamp mentored by BEECALL Technology Business Incubator which came up with stellar proposals on EdTech, internet of things (IoT), and e-commerce platforms.

Nueca Technologies

As the Naga City start up community began the new year on a high note, Nueca Technologies celebrated its own major milestone as it moved to its new location at PLDC Compound, Roxas Avenue, Diversion Road, Triangulo last January 10, 2023. Nueca is one of the seven pioneering startups formed under the Naga City Investment Board (NCIB). The name “Nueca” was coined from Nueva Caceres, Naga City’s name during the Spanish era. Under the leadership of its CEO and founder, Magno Edilberto Conag III, Nueca’s mission is to contribute to poverty alleviation in the Bicol Region and to counter “brain drain” by building a technology company that creates opportunities for Nagueños, in particular, and Bicolanos, in geneeral. It seeks to help Naga City become a mini–Silicon Valley. eSalvar, a contact-tracing initiative of the Naga City government in partnership with the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is a Nueca innovation that helped the city in its fight against COVID-19.