New hub for startups rises in Katipunan

Do you ever consider going to a space along a major thoroughfare in the city, across one of the country’s premier universities, where you can co-work, collaborate, sell your products, support local enterprises, and even host or go to events centered around conscious living and the arts?

If you do, look no further: Roots Katipunan is that place. It sits smack in the middle of Katipunan Avenue, across the Ateneo de Manila University campus – a fitting tribute to the school given four of its seven founders are alumni of said university, which is also one of the country’s emerging hubs for social entrepreneurship.

The idea originated in late 2015 when Janine Chiong, co-founder of HABI Footwear, a social enterprise that produces eco-friendly shoes in partnership with urban poor communities, had discussions with her operations manager, Allister Roy Chua, as well as several other fellow entrepreneurs, about having a physical space where social entrepreneurs could collaborate and sell their products together.

Chiong then met with her good friend, Mel Gabuya, who wanted to put up an artisanal bar that could also be converted into an intimate performance venue at night. Due to the technical and legal implications in the alcohol business, the two decided to set aside the bar, and push with the entrepreneurial space and events space. Then known as Third Space – a nod to the Starbucks concept of a “third space” apart from home and school or work where one can stay and relax – the project attracted enough interest over the next two months to get four others to join the team: social entrepreneurs Jamir Ocampo, and Justin Bereber, respectively founders of local herbal tea enterprise Tsaa Laya and coffee bag enterprise Steep; then-UNESCO Philippines employee Adriann Caldozo; and artist Rex Aguilar.

The name “Roots” then became the chosen rebrand to reflect sticking true to one’s roots, as well as to “get rooted” in the community, hence the space’s slogan.

To reflect the local entrepreneurial needs, Roots Katipunan is a combined co-working space and lifestyle store. Its ambience differs from a traditional café wherein it is quiet and conducive for working and for individual members to strike up collaborations. Roots Katipunan values the importance of community building to aid in successful entrepreneurship. At Roots, entrepreneurs are enabled to open up about the ups and downs of doing business and this opens up for discourse and camaraderie through the various community events and gatherings it offers.