IdeaSpace Appoints Alwyn Rosel as Executive Director, Strengthens Startup Ecosystem Support

The MVP Group of Companies’ startup accelerator and early-stage venture investment arm, IdeaSpace, has appointed Alwyn Rosel as the new Executive Director of IdeaSpace and QBO Innovation, succeeding Jay Fajardo.

Empowering Startups: Alwyn Rosel aims to sustain the Philippine startup ecosystem, supporting innovative startups to contribute to the economy and national development. | Photo: IdeaSpace | QBO

The announcement comes at a pivotal time for the Philippine startup ecosystem, reinforcing IdeaSpace’s mission to empower Filipino startups and drive innovation across various industries.

Rosel, a seasoned startup ecosystem veteran, brings with her 13 years of industry experience, including the last four years spent serving as Deputy Director at QBO Innovation. She previously held senior roles at prominent startup enablers like AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator, UPSCALE Innovation Hub, and VXI Global.

Additionally, Rosel contributed to the Singapore-based startup and tech media platform e27.

“I am elated to receive the news of my appointment as Executive Director of IdeaSpace and QBO at a time when we are celebrating National Women’s Month. I would like to thank the management for their trust and confidence in me. I take on this challenge and opportunity to serve the startup community. The cornerstone of my work is to sustain the ecosystem so that we help more startups that have immense potential to contribute to the economy and national development,” Rosel said.

The leadership transition was met with enthusiasm and support from stakeholders. Rene “Butch” Meily, President of IdeaSpace and QBO Innovation, expressed his confidence in Rosel’s strategic vision and dedication.

“Alwyn has been with the QBO and IdeaSpace team for four years. I am confident that she has the dedication and strategic vision to do the job. At the same time, I want to thank Jay Fajardo for his contributions to steering the ship during a crucial time.”

Earl Valencia, a co-founder of IdeaSpace and current member of the National Innovation Council, echoed this sentiment.

“I am so excited for Alwyn to take the leadership for the next phase of QBO and IdeaSpace. She has spent her entire career supporting early-stage startups and has been instrumental in creating programs to accelerate the innovation ecosystem in the Philippines.”

Rosel takes over from Jay Fajardo, who was instrumental in enhancing the organizational structure and sharpening the strategic vision of IdeaSpace and QBO.

Fajardo’s leadership was marked by the establishment of IdeaSpace Ventures, which reasserted the organization’s role as a committed early-stage investor. In 2024 alone, IdeaSpace Ventures supported seven startups, achieving an average portfolio MOIC (Multiple on Invested Capital) of 1.5X over four years.

Under Fajardo’s guidance, QBO Innovation also expanded its influential programs, collaborating with the government, academe, international development agencies, and private enterprises to build a robust startup community.

Reflecting on his tenure, Fajardo said, “I’m very happy to have had the opportunity to lead the remarkable team at IdeaSpace and QBO, reinforcing our role as a pivotal driver of the Philippine startup ecosystem. We believe that the organization has regained clarity in its mission, and now deserves dedicated, full-time leadership to take it to even greater heights.”