A one-day community event, Fiestartup 2024, is set to empower Cebuano entrepreneurs with essential fundraising skills. Held in conjunction with Philippine Startup Week (PHSW) and Geeks on a Beach (GOAB), the Fiestartup team will feature a Fundraising for Founders workshop led by The Independent Investor on November 9, 2024 at City Sports Club. The workshop aims to provide practical guidance and insights to aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders seeking to secure funding for their ventures.
Fiestartup 2024 is an annual event organized by entrepreneurs and venture capitalists that saw the gap in opportunities for learning and exposure for the Cebuano startup community. It aims to celebrate Philippine Startup Week, provide a learning and networking platform for local founders, and showcase homegrown startups to the business community and to potential investors.
The Fiestartup event was first organized in 2022 by a dedicated team of startup ecosystem leaders who all hail from Cebu. Aiai Garcia of Nala Woman, April Ong Vaño of Quest Ventures, Bryan Yap of RGC Group, and Carlo Chen-Delantar of the Gobi-Core Philippines Fund joined forces to spearhead the initiative. The event has been powered by the support of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 7 Office led by Regional Director Nannette Arbon.
In this third edition, The Independent Investor serves as the knowledge partner, providing valuable expertise and insights to the workshop. Participants will also get a chance to win tickets to the Geeks On A Beach conference, which will bring in key stakeholders and enablers from Manila and abroad, converging in Mactan, Cebu. The Fiestartup team will facilitate meet-and-match sessions, connecting them with potential investors and industry leaders.
Key partner organizations such as DOHE Philippines and fellow Cebu Startup Ecosystem Builders in the private sector, government and academe have gathered in this yearly event to continue fostering a vibrant ecosystem. April Ong Vaño of Quest Ventures shares that “Fiestartup’s theme this year is Fundraising for Founders, which will serve as a level up for startups in Cebu and offer entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to acquire essential skills and knowledge, enabling them to attract the necessary capital and position their businesses for growth.”
Cebu boasts one of the most vibrant startup ecosystems in the Philippines. However, securing capital remains a significant hurdle for many young businesses. The Fundraising for Founders workshop addresses this challenge by providing practical and actionable advice on navigating the fundraising landscape.
The workshop will be led by a team of accomplished investors and entrepreneurs, including Keenan Ugarte, Managing Partner of DayOne Capital Ventures and Director of The Independent Investor and Nikhil Paul Antao, a seasoned mentor and coach with extensive experience in strategy, technology, and social impact.
The workshop will delve into critical topics such as understanding fundraising principles, developing creative funding strategies, crafting a compelling investor narrative, building a comprehensive fundraising plan, and receiving expert feedback to refine strategies.
The Fundraising for Founders workshop is open to 50 participants, with priority given to early-stage founders, enablers from academe, private sector, and government.
Past participants of The Independent Investor’s fundraising workshops have shared positive feedback about the events. One participant noted, “There’s an opportunity to have an honest open discussion with our guest speakers and other participants.” Another participant appreciated the workshop’s clarity on metrics and funding goals. The speakers’ real-life experiences and expertise were also highly valued, as one participant commented, “Actual true to life experiences of the speakers and them being an authority to their respective fields of expertise.” Additionally, participants appreciated the opportunity to learn from industry experts with “skin in the game” specific to the Philippines.
Limited slots are available. Fill out the interest form here: http://tinyurl.com/fiestartup2024
For inquiries, please contact the Fiestartup organizers at fiestartup.ph@gmail.com.