Two homegrown startups among semi-finalists in nat’l Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge

Name: National Heroes Day (Regular Holiday)
Start: 2025-08-25T00:00:00+08:00
End: 2025-08-25T23:59:59+08:00
Location: Caraga State University

PICO

July 1, 2025

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Caraga State University’s CheaperAF and BlackGold Nutribar have been named among the semi-finalists for the 8th Villar Foundation Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge, a nationwide competition recognizing innovative social enterprises led by Filipino youth. Both startups are incubatees of TARA Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (TARA ATBI), one of CSU’s Technology Business Incubation (TBI) centers.

CheaperAF (Alternative Feeds) produces organic feeds for tilapia and chicken using frass and larvae of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens). These are cultivated from a micro food waste processing facility set up within the campus, with samples taken from the canteens.

BlackGold Nutribar, on the other hand, offers a nutritious snack bar made from locally sourced black rice, cashew, mango, moringa, calamansi, and honey. The product has been in operation for years already, and has participated in many startup and entrepreneurial activities within and outside the university.

The two enterprises pitched their projects before a panel of evaluators composed of social entrepreneurs and civic development specialists at the university Boardroom on June 30, 2025. If chosen among the Top 10 entries out of 20 semi-finalists, the teams will proceed to the national competition and stand a chance to win ₱150,000 in seed funding.

Launched in 2017, the Villar Foundation Youth Poverty Reduction Challenge is open to Filipino youth aged 16–29 with active enterprises that have operated for at least a year. The competition supports sustainable, scalable solutions addressing poverty in sectors such as agriculture, recycling, green technology, and livelihood generation, while adhering to environmental standards. The university’s participation in this competition highlights its active solution to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

University President Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil expressed his enthusiasm for the competition, citing it as a step forward toward the university’s vision of “not only becoming an innovation school, but also cultivating students with entrepreneurial mindsets.”