Welcome to Hustleshare, a Filipino podcast that features the journeys of startup founders, business leaders and unique hustlers to show not our differences but to show that most of us are very much alike. Hustleshare was made to showcase the triumphs and challenges people go through in their unique hustle and learn how we can apply them to our own daily hustles.
OUR LATEST EPISODES
Enrique Hormillo (CEO) and Miguel Locsin (COO) are the co-founders of DOON, a peer-to-peer car-sharing platform that transforms traditional rentals by linking car owners directly with renters. Enrique and Mixx share their rollercoaster journey from personal setbacks to raising $1.5 million in pre-seed funding to fuel growth and expansion, comprising $500,000 in equity and a $1 million debt facility. Investors include angel investors, family offices of tech entrepreneurs, and venture studio AHG Lab, DOON's first backer.
Erika Aquino is the founder of M Squad, an organization dedicated to supporting women and minority-owned startups in the areas of sustainability, wellness, education and the future of work. Her career began with corporate roles at Shell, financial services, and as a PR manager at Mandarin Oriental before moving into the startup space with Lendo, where she played a key role in scaling the user base. Erika later took on leadership positions at Infinit-O, where she contributed to their foundation’s philanthropic efforts, and also founded Cebruery, Artisan Ales, a craft beer company in Cebu, which marked a major turning point in her career. The pandemic had a significant impact on her brewery, prompting her to shift focus toward startup investing. Today, she uses her extensive experience to mentor and guide startups globally, helping them achieve a balance between profit and purpose.
Michael Bantigue and Walter Boo are the dynamic co-founders of Invesko, a Filipino-founded investment platform, Invesko's growth was driven by a $1.6 million seed round from regional VC firms in early 2023. The company allows investors to build diversified portfolios with minimal capital by offering fractional shares, SIPC protection, and instant portfolios, thus promoting financial growth and security. Michael shares his journey from working with global brands like Starbucks and Lululemon to leading tech efforts in New York and Hong Kong. Walter, starting fresh in Singapore's startup scene, quickly rose to COO of Invesko. Together, they discuss their inspiration for Invesko, their mission to democratize investments in the Philippines, and the challenges of building a user-friendly stock trading platform.
Georg Steiger is the CEO and Co-Founder of BillEase, a fintech company providing consumer loans and “Buy Now, Pay Later” services to the emerging middle class in the Philippines. Georg shares insights into how BillEase manages default risks and fosters customer loyalty, while drawing comparisons between the financial landscape of the Philippines and its neighboring markets. He recounts his career journey, beginning with law studies in Austria, shifting to IT, earning an MBA in the US, and working at McKinsey in retail banking. He narrates BillEase’s evolution from a cash lending service to an ecommerce financing platform, tackling hurdles like automating credit processes. The pandemic accelerated the shift to digital transactions, fueling BillEase’s rapid growth. Georg also discusses the company’s strides post-Series B funding and his growth as a founder, highlighting the value of co-founders, team building and cultivating a strong company culture.
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The Daily Scrum
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The Daily Scrum |
The latest news from the startup and tech ecosystem in asia brought to you in 5 minutes
Raffy Montemayor of Salmon Finance joins us in this episode to share how they were able to raise funding in the middle of a funding winter. He also shares the difficult milestones they had to unlock and why they acquired a rural bank to give more benefits to their consumers. Raffy also shares the rapid changes Salmon went through to keep up with their fast growth.
It's virtually unheard of to see a highly scaled and profitable tech startup but Dragon Pay defied all odds and did both for 14 years! Find out how they did it when the CEO of Dragon Pay, Dick Chiang, shares the success secrets.
Crystal Lee Gonzalez of Noneaway is a seasoned industry veteran known for her leadership roles at companies like Pick A Roo, Honest Bee, and Viber in the Philippines. She shares how the pandemic impacted her leadership style, leading her to become more nurturing and present. She also delves into her personal growth, the importance of being present, and the deliberate choices she made in her career and life. Crystal also opens up about a health scare she had in 2012, which prompted her to reevaluate her life and make deliberate decisions aligned with her values.
Artie Lopez joins us in this episode to share his unique journey coming from a startup coach to become a startup Founder. He also shares the incredible hustle that startups do in order to survive in an investment winter where runways are short. He also shares an amazing #FoundersOnlyTop5 brought to you by Shoppable Business.
Carlo Valencia of StartupPH Training joins us in this episode to discuss the fundamentals that founders often overlook in launching their startups. Carlo also discusses remedies for overcoming the key basic mistakes founders often make.
Jeffrey Ong is the Co-founder and CEO of Mobee Group, a platform that facilitates car buying and selling in the Philippines. Jeffrey explains how Mobee serves both car owners and used car dealers by offering transparent pricing and ensuring seamless transactions. He discusses the growing demand for both new and used cars in the Philippines, driven by social mobility and poor public transportation. Jeffrey also shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting with early lessons from his family business and later corporate experiences at BMW. He reflects on his time scaling myTukar and expanding Carsome’s presence in Southeast Asia before founding Mobee. Finally, insights into Mobee’s future, including Kaya Founders’ investment and plans for growth through geographic expansion and tech development wraps up the discussion.