The Aptos Foundation has officially launched the Hiraya Network in the Philippines, a strategic initiative designed to empower local talent and fast-track the development of high-impact projects within the Aptos ecosystem.
More than just providing grants and resources, Hiraya Network aims to create an active hub for innovation, collaboration, and meaningful economic contributions through blockchain technology.
“This launch enables Aptos to establish its entry into the vibrant Philippines market,” added Ash Pampati, head of Ecosystem at Aptos Foundation.
“By empowering local talent and providing community-first support, we will see the next great founders emerge. With the Hiraya Network, we invite builders, entrepreneurs, educators, and creators to build on the world’s most performant blockchain,” Pampati added.
At its core, Hiraya is focused on nurturing the country’s growing Web3 community by offering access to a wide array of support systems—from hackathons and workshops to startup acceleration programs. Backed by the Department of Science and Technology – Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) and The BLOKC (Blockchain Lead Organization and Knowledge Center), Hiraya aims to bring blockchain education and adoption to new heights.
The initiative centers around three main pillars:
- Community engagement via nationwide events and hands-on workshops;
- Developer growth through university partnerships, hackathons, and open-source projects on the Aptos blockchain;
- Collaborative ecosystems built with startups, academic institutions, and venture capital firms to strengthen education, innovation, and funding for Filipino-led projects.
In addition to these, Hiraya is actively seeking partnerships with startups and ventures engaged in high-frequency transactions, particularly those with strong economic potential—such as job creation or scalable community impact.
Selected projects that align with this mission may receive financial support, incubation, and inclusion in Hiraya’s acceleration programs, unlocking access to global resources and the broader Aptos Foundation ecosystem.
Startups and builders can also benefit from programs like Aptos LFM, designed to support Aptos-native projects in preparing for their Token Generation Events (TGE), as well as a variety of grant opportunities and accelerator initiatives tailored for each stage of development.
“With the launch of the Hiraya Network, we see a powerful opportunity to nurture Filipino talent, explore real-world blockchain applications, and drive economic empowerment through blockchain and Web3,” said Roxanne Aviñante, senior science research specialist at DOST-ASTI.
She added, “We’re excited to support this initiative and look forward to how it will shape the future of blockchain in the country.
Mark Hugh Neri, country lead for Hiraya Network, emphasized the long-term vision of the initiative: “Our goal with Hiraya Network is to take what we have built from the past years and elevate it. With the support of our growing community—developers, mentors, creatives, and academic and industry partners—we’re ready to make bold moves with Aptos.”
To get involved or learn more, visit Hiraya Network on X and Facebook.