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Mapúa Innovators Earns Best Innovation Award at UPTC Expo

BottleNext, a student-led startup from Mapúa University, clinched the Best Innovation Award at the recently concluded UPTC Start-Up Expo last April 11, 2026, held at the Amphitheater of Ayala Malls U.P. Town Center. The project bagged the award for its modular and three-step mechanical recycling system which converts plastic PET bottles into filament material suitable for use in community facilities.

The award received by BottleNext reaffirmed Mapúa University’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, through student-led initiatives that create practical solutions to pressing environmental challenges. By reimagining plastic waste as a resource, the team demonstrated how technology and creativity can converge to deliver impact at the community level.

BottleNext’s project was developed by Mapúa University students whose diverse academic backgrounds shaped the start-up’s innovative approach to recycling. The team is composed of Paulo Benedict D. Mendoza, an Electronics Engineering student; Patrick Santiago B. Rogers, a Mechanical Engineering student; and Boaz Drexel S. Balmonte together with Amari Neil B. Demafeliz, both Industrial Engineering students. Their collaborative vision and dedication not only brought the initiative to life but also demonstrated how interdisciplinary expertise can converge to address pressing environmental challenges and create practical solutions for communities.
The Start-up Expo gathered student innovators from different prestigious universities across the country. It also served as a platform for young innovators to showcase their brands, present their ideas, and connect with audiences eager to see how passion projects can evolve into breakthrough solutions.