Undergraduate Programs

BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship

PROGRAM HOME ALUMNI & CAREERS STUDENT LIFE

Blaze a path as a startup founder in a program built for creators, not spectators. The BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship (BS ITE) program is the Philippines’ first, and, so far, only undergraduate program engineered specifically for startup founders, merging deep technical training with real venture incubation.

What sets the BS ITE graduate apart?

Venture-building at the core

Startup formation is built into the BS ITE program itself, and not only as an optional activity or an external incubator track.

Unlike universities where incubators operate separately from academic priorities, BS ITE aligns curriculum, incubation and mentoring around shared outcomes: graduates leave with actual startup experience and the competencies needed to build ventures.

Integration with the Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD) and the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) – plus membership in the Jesuit Entrepreneurship Center Alliance (JECA) – opens up more opportunities to connect classroom learning with real-world practice through consulting briefs, venture projects, and workshops.

Both BUILD and AIPO have teamed up to launch a new incubation track for student-led technology startups – offering access to mentorship, prototyping support, IP advisory and innovation networks.

Evolving curriculum

The BS ITE curriculum evolves continually alongside changes in technology and the startup environment. Its current structure – refined through multiple iterations – balances rigorous academic foundations with hands-on application.

BS ITE students gain strong technical skills through courses like Introduction to Computing, Data Structures, Information and Data Design, and a full coding bootcamp semester. A revised capstone path allows you to explore electives that support your startup goals.

Learning as a community

Mentorship and peer learning across batches further strengthen the program, creating a community where lessons and feedback are shared. BS ITE’s home organization, BYTE: Building Young Tech Entrepreneurs, offers further support in upskilling and engaging with the wider tech and business community.

In line with today’s decisive shift towards generative AI, the BS ITE curriculum encourages the applied and responsible use of AI in venture development, product design and decision-making.

A distinctive founder framework: ITE:RATE

The ITE:RATE (Information Technology Entrepreneurship: Research, Application, Transformation, and Entrepreneurship) framework anchors the BS ITE program in iterative, evidence-driven venture building.

ITE:RATE blends academic research with hands-on experimentation, fostering a culture where ideas are constantly refined based on real feedback from mentors, customers, and potential investors. Instead of emphasizing correct answers, the framework teaches students to treat failure as information and iteration as the essential discipline of a founder.

Be part of a prestigious honors cohort

BS ITE, alongside Management Engineering (BS ME) and Management Honors (BS MGT-H), make up JGSOM’s three Honors Programs, defined by advanced coursework and higher academic expectations. Admission to an Honors Program is limited to those who score in the top 15 percent of the ACET. However, earning a BS ITE degree places you in a more competitive tier for desirable, better-paid roles in product, design, growth, tech, and other fields.

Check out this article to see if the BS ITE Program is the right one for you.

BS ITE Graduates' Career Prospects

BS ITE develops graduates who create value, not just fit into predefined positions. As a BS ITE graduate with hands-on, proven startup experience under your belt, you’ll be ready to shape your own tech path – whether building a startup, going deeper into software or leading product teams. With luck, you can transform your own student project into a viable startup right out of the gate!

Listen to our alumni share their post-graduation experiences in our BS ITE alumni spotlight.

Startups

Startup Founder building and scaling tech ventures from validated student projects
Venture Builder designing and testing new business ideas for organizations
Startup Consultant advising founders on validation, strategy, and product direction

Product & Design

Product Manager shaping product strategy through user insights and rapid iteration
UX Designer crafting user flows, interfaces, and prototypes for early products
User Researcher gathering customer insights to guide product decisions and improvements

Engineering

Full-Stack Developer building web applications and functional prototypes for startups
Software Engineer (Startups) delivering features quickly in agile, fast-moving teams
AI Workflow Designer implementing applied AI tools to streamline startup operations

Business Development

Business Development Lead generating partnerships and early traction for tech ventures
Solutions Associate translating technical products into customer-ready solutions
Customer Success Analyst supporting onboarding and retention for early-stage tools

Operations

Tech Project Manager coordinating sprints, timelines, and product delivery milestones
Innovation Associate supporting internal venture experiments in corporate teams
Program Coordinator managing activities in incubators, accelerators, and tech communities

BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship (BS ITE) — FAQ (for Applicants)

What is BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship (BS ITE)?

BS ITE is an Honors Program for students who want to build at the intersection
of technology, product development, and entrepreneurship. It combines applied
IT foundations with business and venture-building skills—especially customer
validation, prototyping, and iterative product development.

Who is BS ITE for?

BS ITE is a great fit if you:

want to build technology-enabled products (not just study them)
enjoy innovation, product design, and customer discovery
want a structured path toward venture creation or product/innovation roles
like the mix of tech + business + market thinking
want a community of builders (and a home org that supports projects)

BS ITE vs Management Engineering (ME): which should I choose?

Both are prestigious—just optimized for different kinds of students.

Choose ME if you primarily want:

rigorous analytics, optimization, and structured problem solving
strategy/consulting/analytics paths as your “default trajectory”

Choose BS ITE if you primarily want:

to develop builder skills: customer validation, prototyping, shipping,
pitching
to build products and ventures from zero to one (0 → 1)
to work in product/innovation roles or start a venture (or both)

A simple rule:

ME trains you to be excellent at analyzing and improving systems.
ITE trains you to design and build new ones (even from within existing businesses).

BS ITE vs MIS vs Computer Science (CS): what’s the difference?

CS focuses more on computing fundamentals, programming, and software
engineering depth.
MIS focuses more on information systems, analytics, and organizational IT
functions.
BS ITE focuses on applying technology to build products/ventures, combining
tech foundations with product, business, and customer validation work.

Do I need to know how to code before entering BS ITE?

Not, but you should be willing to learn and engage with technology.

BS ITE develops applied technology foundations as part of the program, and
students also learn how to collaborate in teams, where building and shipping are
central.

What will I do/build as a BS ITE student?

You’ll progressively practice the core “builder loop”:

identify a real problem
validate customer needs
design and test solutions
iterate based on feedback
develop product + venture components with guidance and structure

What careers do BS ITE graduates pursue?

BS ITE alumni pursue roles across the tech and startup ecosystem, including:

product management / product roles
innovation and transformation teams
venture building / startup roles
technology management and operations
growth / go-to-market roles for tech companies
startup co-founding and entrepreneurship paths

You can see alumni stories here:
BS ITE Alumni & Careers: https://www.ateneo.edu/jgsom/bs-ite/alumni-spotlight

The new IT Entrepreneurship Curriculum

The new BS ITE curriculum is here.
Now designed with stronger technical foundations needed in spaces involving tech startups and innovation: Introduction to Computing, Data Structures, Information and Data Design, and a full coding bootcamp semester, alongside greater flexibility through open electives.
Students can shape their own tech path—whether building a startup, going deeper into software, or leading product teams. The curriculum also encourages the applied and responsible use of AI in venture development, product design, and decision-making.
Management subjects are now aligned to help students handle uncertainty through discovery- and validation-driven approaches—ensuring that business and financial models are not only innovative, but also sound and sustainable.
Opportunities to practice the craft through the Ateneo Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD) Center provide meaningful alternatives to traditional internships.

Required Major Courses

Management Courses

Technology Startup Entrepreneurial Behavior and Customer Development
Foundations of Analytics for Data Analysis and Decision Making
Fundamental Business Laws
Financial Accounting for Entrepreneurs
Innovation Management and Human-Centered Design
Enterprise Development and IT Venture Industry Orientation
Product Management: Pricing and Costing
Financial Management for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurial Marketing
Service Management
Strategic Human Resource Management
Strategic Management
Social Enterprise
Labor Law and Social Legislation
Cross-Border Startup Ventures and Technology Trends
ITE Free Elective
Design Elective

I.T. Courses

Introduction to Computing for Technology Startups
Applications Development for IT Entrepreneurship I
Innovation Management and Human-Centered Design
Data and Information Management
Algorithms and Data Structures for IT Entrepreneurship
Application Development and Emerging Technologies for IT Startups
Programming Elective

Entrepreneurship Courses

Technology Venture Opportunity Seeking and Customer Development
Technology Venture Business Plan Preparation
Technology Venture Implementation I and II
Technology Venture Elective I and II

Welcome to the BS ITE Class of 2029

This year marks the rollout of our updated curriculum, shaped by years of feedback, field experience, and lessons from student ventures. From your very first year, you’ll be working on real problems with actual users and markets in mind. Startup exposure starts early, not at the end of your degree. Technical training has also been reshaped: coding and systems thinking are introduced earlier, so every student builds a practical foundation regardless of prior background. We’ve also added applied statistics geared toward market research, helping students make sharper, data-informed decisions about their ventures.
The updated program also reflects the times. With generative AI becoming more accessible and, in many cases, expected, we encourage students to engage with it thoughtfully. Rather than treating AI as a shortcut, we see it as a tool to extend human thinking, not replace it. Throughout the program, you’ll be asked to consider where AI can support your work and where deeper judgment, reflection, and original thinking remain essential.
The capstone path is now more focused, giving greater flexibility to explore electives that support your own goals, whether in design, finance, product, or advanced tech. Alongside this, the Ateneo Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD) is now directly integrated into the program. Students will have more opportunities to engage in consulting briefs, venture projects, and workshops that connect classroom learning with real-world practice.
Most of all, the program now encourages mentorship and peer learning across batches. We are creating more space where seniors and newcomers can share lessons, ask questions, and grow together. To our incoming students, we are excited to meet you. To the parents and alumni supporting them, thank you for being part of the journey.
We are looking forward to seeing what this new generation will build with care, clarity, and curiosity. See you on campus.

BS IT Entrepreneurship’s Optimal Outcomes

BS ITE graduates should be equipped to start and lead their own tech startup as soon as they graduate. They’ll also be driven by the Ignatian value of “magis” – not just to seek the good, but the greater good – inclined to apply transformative service leadership principles in the course of their vocation.

Program Learning Outcomes

We expect BS ITE students to achieve the following Program-level outcomes within four years:

Develop a global perspective for use in nation building
Use interdisciplinary, analytical, and sustainable approaches in creating innovative business models
Develop technical proficiency in their areas of business concentration or major
Show an understanding of how to exercise personal moral and ethical standards
Demonstrate an understanding of transformative service leadership principles

JGSOM Outcomes

As a member of the John Gokongwei School of Management, the BS ITE Program also promotes the following School-level outcomes:

Develop a global perspective for use in nation-building
Solve business problems using interdisciplinary, analytical, and sustainable approaches
Develop innovative business models through the use of interdisciplinary, analytical, and sustainable approaches
Demonstrate commitment to personal moral and ethical standards
Demonstrate an understanding of transformative service leadership principles

To be accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Entrepreneurship program, the freshman applicant must meet the following requirement:

ACET Exam

Applicants must at least be in the 85th percentile in the Ateneo College Entrance Test (ACET). Given the level of mathematics, IT programming and logic required by the program, applicants must at least be in the 85th percentile in both the Math Proficiency (PMP) component and Thinking Ability (PTA) component of the ACET.

Senior High School Track

There is no required Senior High School (SHS) track for BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship program. However, it is highly recommended that they come from the STEM Track. Students coming from other SHS tracks will just have to meet the ACET requirements indicated above.

Students who wish to shift to the program must, at the minimum, meet the following requirements:

A minimum of C in all Calculus courses or C+ in the Math in the Modern World course.
An average QPI of at least 2.70 computed on the basis of the grades earned in ENGL 11, FILI 11, MATH 10, and any other major courses relevant to a management program.

For those who meet the requirements stated above and wish to shift into the I.T. Entrepreneurship Program, submit the following requirements to the I.T. Entrepreneurship Program via email to ite.jgsom@ateneo.edu (or to any updated official email assigned to the BS ITE Program):

1. Letter of Intent addressed to the B.S. Information Technology Entrepreneurship Program Director. Indicate the following:

Year, Current Program, and Student ID
Reasons, in essay form, for shifting. Please answer ALL items, as these are important. We will only accept complete applications.
An explanation of why other entrepreneurship and/or technology-related programs were not chosen.
Why the student cannot possibly fulfill aspirations in the current program.
Describe a tech venture in mind now, even if unsure of pursuing it.
Why this tech venture cannot be pursued while in the current program.
Student's interest or aversion to tech (coding, infrastructure, etc.).
If the student likes tech, why not CS or MIS?

2. A copy of the student's grade from AISIS (in PDF form), plus any advisory marks given at the time of the request.

After sending the email as stated above, wait for a reply from the IT Entrepreneurship Program Director. If directed to proceed, go through a discernment talk with either the ITE Program Director or an official representative of BYTE (the Home Organization of the BS ITE Program) deputized for this.

The program accepts shiftees from Sophomore and Junior Year provided that they meet the requirements above, but with no guarantees that they will graduate within four years. Senior students may also shift into the program, but the likelihood of graduating within four years is low.

Due to the limited number of slots, acceptance into the program is on a competitive basis.

(Applicable only to ITE Curriculum 2025 and later.)

The retention requirements of the BS ITE Program are as follows:

A grade not lower than C+ in any required ITENT, DECSC and CSCI subject. up until 1st Semester of 3rd Year
A grade not lower than D in any FAA subject, up until 1st Semester of 3rd Year.