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EVSU student team wins Leyte start-up business challenge

DailyGreen, a team of entrepreneurship students from Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) – Main Campus, clinched the championship title in the INNOV8 Leyte Start-Up Business Challenge 2026, held at the Leyte Convention Complex, Annex A, Palo, Leyte, Thursday, October 8.

Led by Raphael Vic Martinez, the team includes Nikka Marie Esperas, Jhon Paul Dacuital, Andrei Godwin Rosal, and Kate Vianci Lagunay, accompanied by Professor Marvin Nilo de Veyra, the team presented their business concept, demonstrating their creativity and commitment to developing a product that responds to consumer needs.

DailyGreen introduced VeggieBalls, a food product made from locally sourced vegetables without added preservatives. The product aims to offer consumers a convenient and nutritious food option while helping address the challenges faced by local vegetable farmers.

Organized as part of the Leyte Business Month Celebration and DOST HANDA Pilipinas 2.0: Visayas Leg, with sponsorship from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the competition brought together student entrepreneurs from across Eastern Visayas to pitch business concepts addressing real-world concerns.

After advancing through the screening and qualifying rounds, DailyGreen secured a spot among the top 10 finalists and eventually claimed the championship, earning a ₱30,000 cash prize.

In an interview, team leader Martinez, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship student, said the team developed VeggieBalls in response to vegetable spoilage and fluctuating market prices affecting local farmers.

“Our inspiration in creating VeggieBalls came from two problems we observed: the high perishability of vegetables and the unstable market prices that affect our local farmers. We wanted to create a product that could help minimize vegetable waste while providing consumers with a healthy and convenient food option,” Martinez said.

Following its victory, DailyGreen will represent Region VIII in the upcoming national PCCI Start-Up Business Competition.

Article by Sarah Lorica