Endeavor Philippines, in partnership with the National Innovation Council (NIC), hosted the third edition of Balik*Bayan San Francisco at the Philippine Consulate General’s Kalayaan Hall. The event gathered over 50 Filipino founders, investors, and ecosystem builders to explore the Philippines’ current standing as a high-growth business opportunity within Southeast Asia.
The gathering reinforced Endeavor Philippines’ mission to mobilize the Filipino diaspora and strengthen the strategic bridge between Silicon Valley and Manila. Attendees included founders eyeing the Philippines for expansion, investors tracking local deal flow, and operators already active in the market. The partnership with the NIC – the Philippines’ highest policy-making body for innovation, chaired by the President of the Republic – brought government leadership directly into the conversation with the private sector and the diaspora.
The program began with an exclusive roundtable on policy, where NIC representatives, capital allocators, and founders examined the regulatory landscape shaping the Philippine startup ecosystem. This was followed by remarks from the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, Endeavor Philippines, and the National Innovation Council, concluding with a networking reception.
The event featured insights from a diverse group of innovation leaders, including Nix Nolledo of Eden Holdings; Kendrick Kho of Hyperparameter VC; Jonathan Buenaventura of Chestnut Run Capital; Joshua Tan of Stanford; Kris Mercado of Emari; Earl Valencia of the National Innovation Council; and Ellen Damaso of Filipino Founders and Funders. Their discussions spanned venture capital, company-building, and policy, reflecting the depth of talent concentrated in Silicon Valley.
“The Filipino diaspora is one of our greatest untapped assets , not just as a source of remittances, but as a network of talent, capital, and global perspective ready to be brought home. What became clear in San Francisco is that the will is there; what we need now are the platforms, policies, and ecosystems to channel it meaningfully,” said Fam Alonto, Head of EX and Partnerships of Endeavor Philippines and National Innovation Council Executive Member (appointed by the President).
“From upskilling our BPO workforce for the AI transition to positioning the Philippines as a global launch market, the path forward requires us to build together, diaspora and homeland, side by side,” Alonto added.
As part of Endeavor—a global community focused on High-Impact Entrepreneurs who scale companies and “pay it forward”—the Balik*Bayan series has previously held successful gatherings in Singapore, Los Angeles, and New York. The initiative is designed to create high-value spaces where diaspora talent and Philippine-based players can move toward concrete action. By involving the NIC, the series highlights the government’s recognition that diaspora capital and networks are essential for building a globally competitive innovation economy.
Balik*Bayan SF 2026 was co-presented by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and sponsored by Hotel101, whose support facilitated the intimate gathering of industry leaders.