Kaunlad Pinoy (#133) founder and first nominee, James Christopher 'Kuya Choi' Napoles, vowed on Saturday to create a stronger environment for startups and small businesses in the Philippines, highlighting the need for real mentorship and community-based support instead of reliance on government aid.

Speaking before members of the media at a press conference held in Davao City, Napoles drew from his nearly two decades of experience in the retail industry to share how Kaunlad Pinoy aims to address the persistent struggles faced by small entrepreneurs, especially startups struggling to survive in an increasingly competitive market.

"Failure is part of the journey," he said in Filipino. "But no one should have to face it alone. That’s why we built Kaunlad Pinoy — to bring together business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to share lessons, real experiences, and opportunities."

Napoles stressed that, unlike traditional entrepreneurship programs often tied to government funding, Kaunlad Pinoy operates independently, with its founders and nominees coming from the private sector. He added that the organization was born out of the hardships faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it "the great equalizer" that exposed deep gaps in the support system for businesses.

While acknowledging the efforts of government agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Napoles pointed out that current programs are often not enough to reach the grassroots level, particularly informal businesses with minimal capital.

Instead of offering empty promises, Napoles outlined a grassroots approach centered on real-world knowledge sharing. "In business school, they teach case studies because there’s no one textbook for success," he noted. "In Kaunlad Pinoy, we want entrepreneurs to become each other’s case studies."

Through Kaunlad Pinoy’s growing network, Napoles said aspiring entrepreneurs would have direct access to experienced business owners who are willing to share not just their successes but also their failures. By fostering a culture of collaboration rather than competition, he believes the organization can create a generation of Filipino entrepreneurs capable of thriving both locally and internationally.

"Our dream is simple," Napoles said. "We want more Filipino products exported, more Filipino entrepreneurs succeeding — and fewer Filipino families torn apart because they had to seek opportunities abroad."