Marika Laciste is the powerhouse behind BuildHub, known for her exceptional leadership and strategic vision. Her relentless drive and innovative approach have been key in propelling the company to new heights. Marika's hands-on involvement and commitment to excellence make her the dynamic force shaping BuildHub's success.
Read MoreMaria Sugcang is the visionary founder of Remotify, a startup dedicated to making remote work and building remote teams simpler, more secure, and sustainable for international businesses and local talent. With a career spanning over 18 years, Maria has held various roles within the BPO industry, where she gained invaluable experience leading global teams and driving service innovation. Her journey in the industry has equipped her with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within remote work, inspiring her to establish Remotify. This female-founded, woman-led record company aims to revolutionize outsourcing to the Philippines for startups and mid-market businesses worldwide.
Read MoreJustin Arcenas is the Co-Founder and CEO of RuralNet, a pioneering tech startup focused on transforming rural connectivity and providing essential services to underserved communities. In this episode, Justin shares his entrepreneurial journey from selling comic books and toys to culminating in his leadership of a company revolutionizing rural tech infrastructure. He discusses the challenges and strategies involved in securing investment, building scalable businesses and balancing social impact with venture-backed growth. Additionally, he highlights the value of international exposure, a deep understanding of local contexts, and the role of customer feedback in refining product development
Read MoreJack Madrid is the President and CEO of IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Inc. (IBPAP). A seasoned business leader with more than 25 years of experience, Jack has spearheaded strategy, digital innovation, and business transformation initiatives across Southeast Asia and Canada. A champion of Filipino talent and employee advocacy, Jack has held senior leadership roles at Citicorp, Ayala Corporation, Dell, Yahoo!, and MTV Asia. Discover how his efforts with IBPAP are shaping workplace flexibility and hybrid work in the BPO industry.
Read MoreMark Dembitz is the General Manager at Lark (APAC) at ByteDance. Founded in 2016, Lark revolutionizes team collaboration and organization. Under Dembitz's leadership, the platform has made significant strides, integrating messaging, schedule management, and online collaboration into one seamless tool. Learn about the exciting new integrations, market expansions, and ByteDance's ambitious goal to achieve $1 billion in global revenue from Lark within the next five years as it drives the app's international commercialization.
Read MoreJenny and Marvin Galang are the visionary founders of Beppo, a startup with a heartfelt mission to revolutionize special education funding in public schools. Inspired by their son, Benedict Carlos, nicknamed Beppo, the company’s name carries a personal significance, highlighting the couple’s dedication to making a meaningful impact in education. A stay at home mom, Jenny transitioned into the business world, starting a CPA firm and eventually founding Beppo. Her journey underscores the challenges and triumphs of balancing family life with entrepreneurial pursuits. On the other hand, Marvin’s strategic insights have been instrumental in navigating the complexities of the business world. Marvin’s expertise in accounting and outsourcing has driven Beppo’s growth, particularly through their partnership with accounting software Xero.
Read MoreChris Guzman is the CEO and Founder of pahatid.ph, a B2B next-day courier service within NCR and Greater Manila Areas. They aim to offer stress-free, efficient delivery scheduling, giving customers the comfort of having their own rider. The idea emerged during the 2020 pandemic lockdown when Chris saw courier mishandling and faced booking challenges for food deliveries. Tune in and discover the journey of Pahatid.ph, from inception to navigating the complexities of the courier industry, all while prioritizing customer satisfaction and convenience.
Read MorePjotr Steinmetz is the dynamic founder of StellarPH, a startup enabler in the Philippines focused on nurturing entrepreneurial minds and fostering innovation. Originally from the Netherlands, Pjotr’s journey began in the music industry as a young rapper where his career evolved from releasing albums to managing a music company and eventually transitioning into corporate leadership roles at T-Mobile. His unique background and experiences have shaped his approach to business and team management, leading him to advocate for sustainable startup ecosystems. Now based in Cebu, Philippines, Pjotr is dedicated to creating a thriving economic landscape through initiatives like Agile Academy Asia and PH100, aiming to decentralize growth and cultivate local talent.
Read MoreManish Bhai is the visionary founder and CEO of UNO Digital Bank. With 28 years of experience in finance, technology, and sales across various countries and product areas, he is an accomplished entrepreneur. He has founded UNOAsia Pte Ltd, UNO Digital Bank, and the CoantumLeap group. Manish has been a catalyst for change in the fintech landscape of Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, where his innovative approach to digital banking is revolutionizing financial services.
Read MoreJojo Flores is the Co-Founder of Plug and Play Tech Center, a Silicon Valley accelerator evolved from real estate to a top startup hub, offering incubation, acceleration, and funding, acclaimed as a leading early-stage investor globally.. With a background that spans across various industries, Jojo’s entrepreneurial journey took him from establishing a bottled water business to becoming a significant figure in the global startup ecosystem. His transition to the tech world led him co-founding Plug and Play, which has expanded to over 60 offices in 20 countries, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship under his leadership.
Read MoreMert Cetin is the CEO of Pluxee Philippines, a company specializing in employee engagement and rewards, with a history that traces back to its roots as Sodexo. Born and raised in the city of Istanbul, Mert has crafted a career that exemplifies the pursuit of excellence and leadership on a global scale. His career move from DHL to Sodexo in Turkey gained him invaluable leadership experience and insights from working closely with CEOs. Being in the forefront of Pluxee Philippines, Mert has embraced the challenges of rebranding and digitalization, steering the company through a significant transition from its former identity as Sodexo. He brings a blend of operational and commercial expertise to his role, recognizing the value of preserving the culture of tangible gift-giving in the digital age.
Read MoreJustin San is the founder of iCargo Pacific and Unirise Asia, being at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence and Software as a Service (SaaS) into the logistics sector, reshaping how supply chain management operates in the region. With roots in his family’s trucking business, Justin’s journey into entrepreneurship began as early as his college days, from t-shirt printing to opening a restaurant during the pandemic. His passion in solving real world problems in the logistics domain resulted in the creation of iCargo, an AI logistic software solution that provides SaaS to logistics companies. With his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to driving change, he continuously charts a new course in logistics, aiming to expand his influence beyond the Philippines into the broader Southeast Asian market.
Read MoreDavid Sison, is the Co-Founder & CEO of Mama Lou's Italian restaurant. While pursuing his MBA, David proposed to his then-girlfriend, Crystal, the idea of studying her family's Italian restaurant for his thesis. Upon her agreement, he delved into researching ways to enhance the business and its marketing strategies. At 27, he opened the first Mama Lou’s in Solenad, Nuvali in 2012, before completing his MBA. From the early struggles of a shuttered internet café to the birth of Mama Lou’s from an entrepreneurial master's thesis, he shares the pivotal moments of his journey and the lessons learned along the way. Discover how David, alongside his wife Crystal, turned their setbacks into stepping stones and built a thriving family business renowned for its delicious fare and inviting atmosphere.
Read MoreGina Romero – Gina Romero is a tenacious tech entrepreneur and the founder of Connected Women, a social enterprise that aims to revolutionize the role of women in the tech industry, particularly in the Philippines. Gina’s journey to tech innovation was unconventional, starting her career as a flight attendant – a role that spanned a decade and took her around the world. A proponent of ethical business practices, Gina is dedicated to building a for-profit social enterprise that does not shy away from making a profit while doing good. She believes in merging profitability with a strong social impact, a philosophy that has been central to the growth and sustainability of Connected Women.
Read MoreAbdul Paravengal - Abdul Paravengal is the Managing Director of Pulse 63 Healthcare Ventures, a venture builder focusing on nurturing health tech startups in the Philippine market. A seasoned leader in healthcare logistics and strategic expansion, Abdul has spearheaded business ventures into new markets, like leading OYO’s operations in Saudi Arabia. With a passion for driving innovation and growth in healthcare technology ventures, his expertise spans operations to investment strategies within the startup ecosystem. Tune in as he shares invaluable strategies for health tech startup success in the Philippines.
Read MoreMarc Concio – Founder and CEO of KITA, an agricultural technology startup based in the Philippines and has secured $3 million in seed funding, making it the biggest seed round in the nation this year. Established in early 2020, KITA uses data to digitize the entire agriculture supply chain, providing some of the newest hotel and restaurant chains in the Philippines with fresh fruits and vegetables. He speaks candidly about the complexities of the agricultural supply chain, the innovative strategies to stabilize markets, and how technology can lead to more informed agricultural decisions.
From the nail-biting acquisition of 88DB to the birth of Resellee and his impressive ascent in the broadband industry, Mark’s stories are a testament to the grit needed when pitting against e-commerce behemoths.
Read MoreKarl Chan, Founder and CEO of Sourcy, joins us in this episode to share how they are helping companies source the best suppliers they need for their businesses using AI. Karl will share his early hustles growing up in Hong Kong and how he ended up doing management consulting. He also shares his very interesting experience working in the World Bank and IFC. Karl also shares how they launched Sourcy and how they were able to raise funding and became one of the 100 companies from Forbes Asia in 2023.
Read MoreZahra Zanjani of Cubo Modular shares her captivating journey in innovating her startup. Explore the transformative power of modular design and sustainable architecture as Zahra delves into the ethos driving Cubo Modular's mission. Discover how Cubo Modular is revolutionizing urban living with its adaptable structures, eco-friendly materials, and commitment to affordability and inclusivity. Don't miss this insightful glimpse into the future of architecture and community living with Zahra Zanjani and Cubo Modular.
Read MoreJules Veloso and Andrew Bercasio of ITOOH Homestyle shares their journey of creating the best online marketplace to source Filipino furniture. Jules and Andrew will share their respective hustles that started in Marketing and PR. They will also share how they progressed in their careers and created their first businesses. Jules and Andrew also shares what caused them to create ITOOH and how they grew over the pandemic along with how they raised funding from several incubators and accelerators.
Read MoreAya Shlachter of MGS Group joins us in this episode to share her inspiring journey as an Filipina architect who made an achtitectural empire in the US designing for big retail brands. Aya will share her early exposure to entrepreneurship through her parents and how she hustled when she decided to move to the US to study and pursue architecture. She also shares why she chose to go back in the Philippines and build her company here while servicing clients in the US. Aya also shares the incredible grit she had to muster to make MGS Group the thriving company that it is now.
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