Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship and KisLap: Inside the social enterprise boot camp

Building on the momentum of its formal launch on 25 Sept 2025, at the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), the KisLap: A Social Enterprise Grant Challenge held its boot camp last 9 to 10 January, 2026. This intensive training program, spearheaded by the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSEnt) with support from the Kwan Laurel Social Enterprise Fund (KLSEF), is designed to transform high-potential student ideas into viable, impact-driven ventures.

The boot camp and its succeeding check-in activities, serves as a rigorous incubation period for the following finalist teams from across Ateneo de Manila University. They are:

• ReLeaf
• PATCH’d
• Kusina Kita
• Punlaan
• AgriConnect
• Ala Una
• Sibol Creamery
• Sulu Asin Batu
• Kita 

The boot camp gave an opportunity for them to refine their proposals, ultimately competing for a share of the Php 3 million in total seed funding.

A Comprehensive Curriculum for Social Impact

The KisLap Boot Camp is structured to provide participants with the multi-disciplinary expertise required to navigate the complex landscape of social entrepreneurship. The program flow bridges theoretical innovation with practical operational excellence through the following core modules:

• Social Enterprise Business Model Canvas (SEBMC): Led by ACSEnt Director Ana Marina Tan, this session challenges teams to move beyond traditional profit-centric models to focus on a business models with multiple bottom lines.
• Marketing Strategy: Facilitated by Ms. Diane Basino from Human Nature, helped participants learn to position their social missions effectively in a competitive market.
• Financial Management: Conducted by Mr Karl Satinitigan, a faculty member of the Finance and Accounting department with expertise on systems and policy design, focused on the financial sustainability and scalability of the ventures.
• Operations & Systems: Dr. Mike Tan, Director of the Ateneo Business Resource Center, provided insights into the logistical and operational frameworks necessary to sustain a growing enterprise.

Shaping the Next Generation of Changemakers
The boot camp is more than just a preparation for a competition; it is a platform for values-driven leadership. Guided by Ignatian values, KisLap aims to empower students to address urgent national challenges such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.

After the bootcamp, team members shall attend check-ins with their mentors. The culminating event is the awarding scheduled on 24 April 2026 where teams shall deliver their final pitch. Three winning teams will each receive up to Php 1 million to jumpstart their social enterprises and create lasting change across the Philippines.

“We’re truly excited by the strong turnout and the passion shown by our winning teams. All the best to our students, and may we continue to ignite meaningful social change through KisLap.” mentioned Arkel Mendoza, ACSEnt Assistant Director.

To get to know the KisLap finalist teams and to learn more about programs offered by ACSEnt,  visit https://www.facebook.com/acsentsom or send an email to  acsent.jgsom@ateneo.edu.