A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University’s BS Information Technology Entrepreneurship (BS ITE) program is taking his startup to Silicon Valley through a new international partnership that expands opportunities for Ateneo entrepreneurs on the global stage.
James Rellera (BS ITE ’26), founder and CEO of the AI startup Avilta, recently pitched his venture in Silicon Valley after being selected for the Bronco Venture Accelerator (BVA8) at Santa Clara University. His participation was made possible through Ateneo’s membership in the Jesuit Entrepreneurship Center Alliance (JECA), a global network of entrepreneurship centers across Jesuit universities that gives students, faculty, and founders access to international startup ecosystems.
For Rellera, the opportunity represents another milestone in a journey that began at the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), where the BS ITE program encourages students to build technology ventures alongside their academic studies. The interdisciplinary program equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the technical, business, and leadership skills needed to launch and scale innovative startups.
Founded by Rellera, Avilta is an AI operating system designed for e-commerce businesses. The platform brings together store operations, advertising, inventory management, and fulfillment into a single intelligent system that analyzes real-time business data and automates key decisions. By helping businesses optimize inventory, improve marketing performance, and streamline operations, Avilta enables online brands to operate more efficiently and respond quickly to changing market demands.
The startup has already demonstrated its potential on the national stage. In 2025, Avilta placed among the Top 3 at the IGNITE 2025 Startup World Cup Philippines Regional Final, earning recognition as one of the country’s promising emerging ventures. Its selection to the eighth cohort of the Bronco Venture Accelerator now opens doors to mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, access to investors, and immersion in Silicon Valley’s vibrant startup ecosystem.
Avilta’s acceptance into the accelerator is also an early outcome of Ateneo’s membership in JECA, which the University joined in November 2025. Through the alliance, JGSOM, the Ateneo Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD), and the Ateneo Business Resource Center (BRC) collaborate with entrepreneurship centers at Jesuit universities worldwide, including Santa Clara University, Boston College, Fordham University, Georgetown University, and Loyola Marymount University.
The partnership extends beyond accelerator access. Participants in the Bronco Venture Accelerator also become part of the broader JECA entrepreneurial community, including opportunities to connect with mentors, founders, and the newly established JECA Fund, which supports mission-driven ventures emerging from Jesuit institutions around the world.
As the Bronco Venture Accelerator’s eighth cohort begins this July, Rellera joins founders from around the world in refining and growing his venture in one of the world’s leading innovation hubs. His journey reflects the entrepreneurial spirit fostered by Ateneo’s BS ITE program and demonstrates how global collaborations are creating new pathways for Ateneo students and alumni to bring their ideas to the international stage.
The Ateneo community congratulates James Rellera and the Avilta team on this achievement and looks forward to following their continued success throughout the accelerator program.
