Kaya Founders Founding Managing General Partner Paulo Campos, alongside Fourth Realm VC Co-Founder and General Partner Kendrick Geluz Kho and Alquemie Ventures LLC Principal Christina Laskowski, recently participated in a panel discussion titled “The Startup Ecosystem of the Philippines: Current Trends and Opportunities” at Stanford University. The discussion, which is part of a comprehensive course exploring the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Southeast Asia, offered a look at emerging opportunities in the Philippines.
The panel discussion was accessible to audiences around the world via Zoom, with The Independent Investor partnering with Kaya Founders and KMC Solutions to host a viewing event over breakfast at KMC Picadilly Star.
The in-person discussion at Stanford was attended by a mix of students and Filipino-American entrepreneurs in the Bay Area. In Manila, the breakfast briefing attendees comprised founders, investors, and industry professionals eager to hear what’s in store for Philippine startups. The breakfast briefing was also attended by Kaya Founders General Partner Ray Alimurung who gave the opening remarks and offered his perspective on growth tactics and market trends impacting local startups.
The road so far, the road ahead
Moderated by US-Asia Technology Management Center Director Richard B. Dasher, the discussion started with Laskowski introducing the audience to the non-profit Science and Technology Advisory Council-Silicon Valley (STAC-SV). STAC-SV helped establish the framework for the tech start-up ecosystem in the Philippines, having designed programs such as ON3 to discover and help Filipino startups with global potential.
Laskowski shared that her work with STAC-SV over the years has allowed her to observe the Philippine startup ecosystem’s progress, noting that increasing government support was a significant factor in its development. Laskowski pointed to initiatives such as the Innovative Startup Act, the Department Of Information And Communications Technology’s (DICT) Roadmap for Digital Startups, and even her work partnering with the DICT as evidence that Philippine startups are getting increasing support.
Laskowski also urged the audience to consider taking advantage of a friendlier business environment in the Philippines. “I’ve observed that the government in the Philippines these days has become much more open to working with businesses and partnering with them,” she said. “It really helps because when it comes down to it, the government should really be there to make things easier. ”
Building on Laskowski’s discussion, Paulo Campos emphasized the vast opportunities within the Philippine digital economy. “The Philippine digital economy is expected to be worth $35 billion in 2025, making it the fastest growing digital economy in all of Southeast Asia. The e-Conomy SEA report by Google, Temasek Holdings, and Bain & Company also forecast it to be one of the fastest growing digital economies overall until 2030,” said Campos.
Campos argued that the impressive growth of the country’s digital economy makes now the ideal time for investors to bet on the Philippines. He also cited a steady deal volume and a new class of founders made up of former corporate executives, expats, and returning Filipino diaspora as evidence that the ecosystem is maturing and becoming more robust.
However, Kho noted several challenges facing the local ecosystem. These include a local culture that misunderstands tech, pressuring startups to become profitable too early. Additionally, the shortage of specialized tech talent is an issue, with many people questioning how their skills can keep up with rapidly advancing technologies like AI.
Despite the challenges, Kho expressed in a Q&A session following the panel discussion that he believed these obstacles could be overcome. “Things like culture can be changed over time. Although it’s difficult, it helps that we have networks like Endeavor Philippines providing Philippine startups with role models to look up to,” he said.
Overall, the panel had high hopes for the Philippine startup ecosystem. The discussion concluded with a call to action for startups to continue focusing on building, while asking investors to open their eyes to the abundant opportunities and untapped potential present in the country’s burgeoning tech landscape.
for making the breakfast viewing event possible
Coming soon
The Independent Investor invites its readers to remain updated on the dynamic startup and investment environment in the Philippines.
We help you do this by organizing events with industry experts and providing invaluable insights to support and empower both investors and entrepreneurs, including the third edition of SESSIONS, featuring an insightful conversation with Eric Manlunas of Wavemaker Partners, a leading venture capital firm with a presence in the US and Southeast Asia.
Happening on June 13, 6PM at Winery PH, the evening will explore Manlunas’ experience as a seasoned VC investor, insights on Southeast Asia’s startup scene, and valuable advice for entrepreneurs and investors. Slots are limited so sign up now here.
Stay tuned for more upcoming events and announcements!