Aligning Ideas and Action: Dodo Academy hosts collaboration meeting with CSU-CaragaRISE

Another step in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Caraga continues to take shape as Dodo Academy, widely known as Dodo Coworking Space, and Caraga State University (CSU), through its Technology Business Incubator (TBI) program under CaragaRISE, actively strengthen their collaboration. This partnership focuses on working closely together to support local startups and technopreneurs through more structured, inclusive, and sustainable innovation initiatives in the region.

We held a collaboration meeting at Dodo Workspace & Cafe, where both teams came together to align on shared plans and directions as we move toward the beginning of 2026. The meeting brought together Dr. Riah Encarnacion, CSU–TBI Director, and Ms. Hannah Faye Capoy, CCIS–College Intellectual Property Coordinator, alongside the Dodo Academy team: Dominique HAAS, Co-owner and Product Engineer; Joyce Michaela Duglas, Project Lead of Dodo Academy; and Julia Aguillon, Operations Manager. The discussion centered on how Dodo Academy and CSU–TBI can effectively co-collaborate to enhance learning, innovation, and development opportunities particularly for the Cohort-9 incubatees from Navigatu. Together, the teams explored ways to co-design initiatives ranging from hackathons and startup huddles to intensive bootcamps aimed at strengthening real-world startup readiness.

One of the key initiatives discussed was a Hackathon that Dodo Academy aims to initiate and grow. We were encouraged by CSU–TBI’s openness and enthusiasm in helping shape this initiative further. Alongside the Hackathon, we explored complementary activities such as startup huddles designed to encourage collaboration and peer learning and an intensive Bootcamp that CSU plans to offer to their incubatees.

These initiatives are designed to go beyond theory. By exposing incubatees to real-world challenges, structured mentorship, and collaborative environments, we aim to better prepare them for the realities of building and scaling startups. It’s about shaping not just ideas, but mindsets where helping founders understand how systems work, how decisions are made, and how innovation thrives in real-life scenarios.

As Dodo Academy continues this journey with CSU–CaragaRISE, we are optimistic about what lies ahead. We look forward to what we can build together as we move closer to 2026!