Philippine-based venture firm BYC Ventures has announced the launch of the BYC Tomorrow Fund, introducing a private pilot program to disburse scholarship allowances to information technology (IT) students in the National Capital Region (NCR). The fund’s initial rollout is being executed through iSkolar, a student-built scholarship platform utilizing blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
According to a press statement from BYC Ventures, the firm has been backing the student-led startup for nearly a year. The announcement follows iSkolar’s recent recognition in the local tech ecosystem, where the platform secured a Top 10 finish and a ₱100,000 cash prize at the Project RISE startup competition.
Fund Implementation and Regional Scope
The private pilot program commenced distribution of the scholarship allowances in May 2026. The funding is specifically allocated toward financial assistance intended to reduce financial pressure for selected tech students within the capital region.
BYC Ventures stated that the fund is structured to expand in subsequent phases as student outcomes and specific needs are evaluated over time. The program represents the formalization of the firm’s recurring student-support initiatives.
Technical Integration and Platform Features
The iSkolar platform, spearheaded by student founders Justin Luzano, Adam Ruadilla, and Louigie Caminoy, centralizes scholarship discovery, application processing, and progress tracking. The system is designed to provide administrative infrastructure for three distinct user groups: students, funding sponsors, and educational institutions.
The platform integrates blockchain technology to facilitate transparent fund disbursements and verify academic credentials on-chain. This integration allows independent qualification audits, intended to mitigate fraud risks and administrative delays associated with traditional verification processes.
Roadmap and Institutional Pilots
The platform is operating in its beta phase via iskolar.io. The student developers are currently testing core operations ahead of scheduled institutional integrations.
According to iSkolar’s development timeline, the startup will begin pilot collaborations in the third quarter of 2026. These early integrations will involve student organizations and initiatives at the University of Makati, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) – Sta. Mesa, and Taguig City University, preceding a planned nationwide expansion in the fourth quarter of 2026.
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This article is published on BitPinas: iSkolar Powers BYC Ventures’ Tomorrow Fund Pilot for NCR IT Students
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