Ateneo BUILD implements Innovation Sandbox on AWS to support student startups

Ateneo de Manila University, through the Ateneo Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD), has implemented the Innovation Sandbox on AWS. This makes Ateneo the first Philippine university to deploy the system, enabling structured access to cloud resources for student innovators and startup teams.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud since 2006. Operating more than 240 fully featured services across 37 global regions, AWS powers millions of customers—from the fastest-growing startups to the largest enterprises and government agencies.

The Innovation Sandbox on AWS enables Ateneo to give students the freedom to explore, test, and build on the cloud while maintaining smart guardrails. Through a central web-based interface, it automates the provisioning of secure testing environments, manages spending limits, and efficiently recycles accounts—creating a worry-free space where students can experiment with AWS services and bring their innovative ideas to life.

Ateneo BUILD set up and configured the sandbox infrastructure, drawing on guidance and technical resources provided by AWS. This support helped shape a deployment that aligns with Ateneo’s governance, security, and operational needs while keeping the system practical for student experimentation and startup development.

Students in Ateneo’s BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship (BS ITE) Program will be the first to gain access to the Innovation Sandbox to prototype and develop their startup ventures. The sandbox environment enriches their hands-on learning experience, enabling them to experiment with cloud technologies while building real-world solutions as part of their coursework and startup incubation journey.

Ateneo's implementation of Innovation Sandbox on AWS expands upon the university's successful collaboration through the AWS Activate Program, which has supported student startups with cloud credits and resources. This new framework creates a more structured and sustainable approach to cloud-based experimentation, strengthening Ateneo's startup incubation capabilities.

This initiative strengthens BUILD’s broader commitment to student innovation. In partnership with the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO), BUILD recently announced a formal incubation track for student-led startups. Through this program, founders gain mentorship, prototyping support, IP advisory, and incubation services via Ateneo Blue Nest, complemented by the new sandbox infrastructure for cloud experimentation.
 

Benefits for Student Startups

• Practical experimentation – Students gain hands-on exposure to AWS tools in a safe, controlled environment.
• Cost and governance safeguards – Sandbox policies prevent runaway expenses and ensure compliance.
• Integration with incubation – The sandbox complements BUILD and AIPO’s
  incubation support, bridging mentorship, IP advisory, and technical infrastructure.
• Scalable model – Automated account recycling allows sustainable support for multiple student teams across cohorts.

About BUILD

The Ateneo Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD) is an institutional hub under the John Gokongwei School of Management that strengthens the economic competitiveness of enterprises and supports student-led innovation. BUILD combines expertise in data analytics, operations research, financial modeling, artificial intelligence, and technology entrepreneurship. Its engagements span workshops, consultancies, managed services, and student incubation support. Through initiatives like the Innovation Sandbox on AWS and incubation programs with AIPO, BUILD provides a bridge between academic learning and practical venture development.