Our name nueca is derived from the original Spanish name of Naga City, "Ciudad de Nueva Caceres”
Perhaps Nueca stands as the Bicol Region's largest and most tenacious technology startup to date.
The core focus of Nueca lies in the development, operation, and maintenance of their 3 eCommerce platforms: Tindahang Tapat, Hungrily Plus and Community Mart. The team behind Nueca traces its origins back to a previous venture, a failed Google Android and Apple iOS point-of-sale (POS) startup. Established in 2011 at the Naga City Creative Media Center (NCCMC), an incubation facility by the Local Government of Naga aimed at fostering local technology entrepreneurs and talents, Nueca has risen from humble beginnings.
Brief History
In February 2015, Entrepreneur Magazine featured Nueca as a prime example of a successful homegrown business, highlighting Naga City as one of the "Boom Towns: Three Surprising Cities that are Best for Business" in the Philippines. However, the startup faced challenges and ultimately came to an end in 2017.
Undeterred by setbacks, Nueca remained committed to its vision of building a “local Silicon Valley”. And with the support of their family and friends, Nueca made a remarkable comeback in 2018.
They revived the livelihoods of 15 individuals and nurtured the growth of the startup. Today, Nueca is a home to a dedicated team of 45 Nagueño and Bicolano engineers, managers, designers, and staff, all working collectively on their eCommerce platforms: Tindahang Tapat for the sari-sari store supply chain, Hungrily Plus for local food delivery, and Community Mart for household groceries and shopping. As of May 31, 2023, Nueca's achievements had reached a gross merchandise value (GMV) of a little over Php3.2B (US$52M).
The name "nueca" derives from the original Spanish name of Naga City, "Ciudad de Nueva Caceres" (New Caceres City). This name choice embodies the founder's aspiration to create opportunities for local talent and foster the growth of technology companies in this small yet dynamic city, situated far south of the capital, Manila.
Nueca proudly declares itself as "Made in Maogmang Lugar" (Happy Place), reflecting the positive spirit and sentiment of the community it calls home.
“Nueca 2.0, let’s try again”
In 2018, Nueca experienced a transformative year, making a remarkable comeback characterized by the successful launch of 3 innovative eCommerce platforms. The first platform, Tindahang Tapat, catered specifically to sari-sari stores and was introduced in January. Building on this momentum, Nueca unveiled its second platform, Hungrily, in September, revolutionizing the local food and beverage industry. Pushing further the capability of its software and technology, Nueca launched Community Mart in November, for groceries and supermarkets.
To commemorate these groundbreaking achievements, Nueca organized its inaugural keynote event, aptly titled "New Beginning." This momentous occasion took place at the beautiful Avenue Plaza Hotel in Naga City.
Overall, 2018 was a pivotal year for Nueca, as the company successfully navigated challenges and redefined its trajectory.