Geeks On A Beach 2025

BREAKOUT ROOM 1

October 3, 2025

(Triphora)

BREAKOUT ROOM 2

October 3, 2025

(Pyrene)

Time

Event

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Check-in and Badge Pickup (In front of Triton 3 Ballroom)

Morning Session

Hosts:

Lenli Tuhoy

Head of Content and Brand Marketing
Symph

Frances Teves

Technical Project Manager
Symph

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Roundtable Session

Moderator:

Ashley Uy

Senior Product Owner, Synacy
Community Builder, SproutUpBohol + GOAB

Alea Ladaga

Community Manager
Sinigang Valley Association

9:45 AM - 9:50 AM

Transition Time

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Validate Your Startup Idea with Design Sprints 🚀

Karl Michael dela Cruz

User Experience Designer
Synacy
Cebu, Philippines

Got a groundbreaking idea? Don't just build it—validate it.

We’ll discuss the core principles of a Design Sprint. This proven process helps you test and refine initial product ideas in just a few days. You’ll learn how to save time and resources, ensuring your startup is building the right product for the right people, and how to turn an idea into a validated Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Straight from the Sinigang Pot: Startup Realities & Recipes for Scaling

By:

Sinigang Valley Association

This breakout takes Sinigang Valley out of our usual HQ and into Cebu — straight into the GOAB kitchen — where seasoned entrepreneurs gather for real talk on what it truly takes to grow a startup: the wins worth celebrating, the stumbles that shaped the journey, and the lessons learned along the way.

From fundraising and customer growth to governance, incubator programs, and government partnerships, representatives from startups such as PayMongo, Remotify and investors like Kickstart Ventures, Kaya Founders, AHG Lab and Foxmont Capital Partners, will share their candid stories in this “professional chismisan session”, hosted by Rene Cuartero of AHG Lab.

This breakout session brings Sinigang from their HQ kitchen to Cebu for a candid, "professional chismisan" conversation on what it really takes to grow a startup from 1 to 100. Seasoned entrepreneurs and investors will share honest stories about their wins, their stumbles, and the lessons they've learned about fundraising, growth, and building a strong company.

Attendees will get a dose of fresh insights and practical takeaways on how to nurture and support startup growth. The discussion will feature a quick panel, followed by an "Ask Me Anything" session with members of SVA.

Moderator:

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

Panelists:

Maria Sucgang

CEO & Co-Founder
Remotify
Philippines

John Soriano

Head of Marketing
Paymongo

Carlo Silva

Co-Founder & CEO
Shoppable Business
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Meet the SVA investors joining for the AMA Session:

Paulo Campos

Founding Managing General Partner
Kaya Founders
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Jojo Malolos

CEO
PayMongo
Philippines

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break

11:15 AM - 11:45 PM

Ecosystem Lessons: Philippines Meets Philadelphia

Isabelle Kent

CEO
Startup Leaders
USA

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Maria Elena "Nannette" C. Arbon

Business Advisor & Startup Mentor
Former Regional Director, Department of Trade and Industry
Philippines

Join three leading startup ecosystem builders, Katrina Chan (Philippines), Nannette Arbon (Central Philippines) and Isabelle Kent (Philadelphia, PA, USA), as they share their top lessons from their respective regions.

Lessons from the Ground Up: Their top 5 takeaways on building a thriving startup community.

A Cross-Cultural Dialogue: A conversation exploring what each can learn from the other's unique challenges and successes.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Embedded Finance: How Unicorns Like Grab and Traveloka Scaled and Won in Southeast Asia

Jose Dalino

CTO
Paymongo
Singapore/Philippines

Key points

1. Ecosystem Liquidity & Data Moats: How providing contextual financial services—such as working capital loans for merchants and embedded insurance for drivers—not only increased platform stickiness but also created proprietary behavioral data moats essential for superior, alternative credit scoring in underbanked markets.

2.LTV Maximization through Contextual Credit: Analyzing the implementation of consumer-facing products like Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and digital credit lines. These embedded offerings captured a larger share of the customer's wallet and drove higher Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).

3. The API-First Scaling Challenge: The technical architectures, compliance automation, and strategic partnerships required to rapidly scale a full stack of financial products across the diverse and regulated markets of Southeast Asia.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

From Deck to Deal: Supercharge Your Pitch with AI

William Eka

Vice President
Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network (WEN)

Whether you're chasing your first check or closing your next round, this tool helps you pitch like a pro. Learn how AI-powered tools can elevate your deck, sharpen your story, and prep you for tough investor questions—without losing your founder voice. We’ll walk through interactive features, demo smart features, and share tips to help you land the big yes.

Perfect for startup founders, hustlers, and geeks who want to pitch smarter, faster, and with flair—right from the beach.

12:50 PM - 1:50 PM

Women in Tech Luncheon

Join us! All who support and champion women in tech are welcome.

1:50 PM - 2:00 PM

Move to Breakout Rooms

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

FoundHer Roundtable Discussion:
Future-Proofing with Inclusive Leadership

Candice Quimpo

Co-Founder & COO
FoundHer
Philippines

Mel Nava

Co-Founder & CEO
1Export
Philippines

Crystal Lee Gonzalez

CEO & Co-Founder
NoneAway & Nōna
Serial Entrepreneur
Philippines

Inclusive leadership, defined by principles like empathy, collaboration, and empowerment, is a foundational component of modern leadership, essential for navigating diverse and dynamic work environments to effectively position organizations for resilience and sustained success.

In this session, three trailblazing Filipina founders—Candice Quimpo, Mel Nava, and Crystal Gonzalez—will share how they have used these principles to not only build successful businesses but also to navigate a rapidly evolving world.

Rooted in Imaginable Impact's mission to reframe Filipina leadership, this discussion will also explore how embracing an inclusive leadership style can advance every founder's investibility journey and contribute to a more vibrant and supportive startup ecosystem.

Format:

5-minute presentation by Candice Quimpo
30-minute fireside chat with Mel Nava and Crystal Gonzalez
25-minute open forum discussion

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Copy & Create: The Unexpected Path to Innovation

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Itsuo is a beer brewing innovator and fermentation master. After a diverse career combining microbiology and furniture manufacturing, he created the "Iwami-style Brewing Method."

His viral TED Talk, "Copying is the key to innovation," shares this unique philosophy, which has helped him establish over 80 breweries worldwide. He also designs and builds essential brewing equipment.

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

DOOR to ASIA: The Art of Revitalizing Communities Through Design

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

DOOR is "Opportunity".

Miki is a true connector who co-founded DOOR to ASIA, a Designers-in-Residence program where designers from Asian countries gather in a community to create “communication design” for local companies.

He is a dynamic design agent dedicated to global connection. After eight years in London, he founded Agent Hamyak inc., a Tokyo-based illustration agency that produces international projects.

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Q&A

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

3:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Building Alternative Narratives: How Grassroots Journalism Bridges Music Communities Worldwide

Kristin Lara Angan

Editor
Coast2Coast
Cebu, Philippines

In the last five years, multiple music publications across the Asia-Pacific shut down, leaving a gap in important coverage within the region. For regions that have been historically excluded from the mainstream music industry, such as the Visayas-Mindanao region, it is harder than ever to gain visibility in music.

Coast2Coast explores how we develop local music industries through independent grassroots journalism and community building activities, bridging the Philippines with the rest of the world.

This talk will show you with real-life examples how telling a good story and taking care of your community are essential for growing your business, passion project, or advocacy.

3:50 PM - 4:25 PM

Get to know the BetterGov.ph! Access government services and stay updated with latest PH News

Paul Pajo

Director & TBI (Technology Business Incubator) Manager
Benilde HIFI DOST TBI
Philippines

BREAKOUT ROOM 1

October 3, 2025

(Triphora)

BREAKOUT ROOM 2

October 3, 2025

(Pyrene)

Time

Event

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Check-in and Badge Pickup (In front of Triton 3 Ballroom)

Morning Session

Hosts:

Lenli Tuhoy

Head of Content and Brand Marketing
Symph

Frances Teves

Technical Project Manager
Symph

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Roundtable Session

Moderator:

Ashley Uy

Senior Product Owner, Synacy
Community Builder, SproutUpBohol + GOAB

Alea Ladaga

Community Manager
Sinigang Valley Association

9:45 AM - 9:50 AM

Transition Time

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Validate Your Startup Idea with Design Sprints 🚀

Karl Michael dela Cruz

User Experience Designer
Synacy
Cebu, Philippines

Got a groundbreaking idea? Don't just build it—validate it.

We’ll discuss the core principles of a Design Sprint. This proven process helps you test and refine initial product ideas in just a few days. You’ll learn how to save time and resources, ensuring your startup is building the right product for the right people, and how to turn an idea into a validated Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Straight from the Sinigang Pot: Startup Realities & Recipes for Scaling

By:

Sinigang Valley Association

This breakout takes Sinigang Valley out of our usual HQ and into Cebu — straight into the GOAB kitchen — where seasoned entrepreneurs gather for real talk on what it truly takes to grow a startup: the wins worth celebrating, the stumbles that shaped the journey, and the lessons learned along the way.

From fundraising and customer growth to governance, incubator programs, and government partnerships, representatives from startups such as PayMongo, Remotify and investors like Kickstart Ventures, Kaya Founders, AHG Lab and Foxmont Capital Partners, will share their candid stories in this “professional chismisan session”, hosted by Rene Cuartero of AHG Lab.

This breakout session brings Sinigang from their HQ kitchen to Cebu for a candid, "professional chismisan" conversation on what it really takes to grow a startup from 1 to 100. Seasoned entrepreneurs and investors will share honest stories about their wins, their stumbles, and the lessons they've learned about fundraising, growth, and building a strong company.

Attendees will get a dose of fresh insights and practical takeaways on how to nurture and support startup growth. The discussion will feature a quick panel, followed by an "Ask Me Anything" session with members of SVA.

Moderator:

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

Panelists:

Maria Sucgang

CEO & Co-Founder
Remotify
Philippines

John Soriano

Head of Marketing
Paymongo

Carlo Silva

Co-Founder & CEO
Shoppable Business
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Meet the SVA investors joining for the AMA Session:

Paulo Campos

Founding Managing General Partner
Kaya Founders
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Jojo Malolos

CEO
PayMongo
Philippines

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break

11:15 AM - 11:45 PM

Ecosystem Lessons: Philippines Meets Philadelphia

Isabelle Kent

CEO
Startup Leaders
USA

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Maria Elena "Nannette" C. Arbon

Business Advisor & Startup Mentor
Former Regional Director, Department of Trade and Industry
Philippines

Join three leading startup ecosystem builders, Katrina Chan (Philippines), Nannette Arbon (Central Philippines) and Isabelle Kent (Philadelphia, PA, USA), as they share their top lessons from their respective regions.

Lessons from the Ground Up: Their top 5 takeaways on building a thriving startup community.

A Cross-Cultural Dialogue: A conversation exploring what each can learn from the other's unique challenges and successes.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Embedded Finance: How Unicorns Like Grab and Traveloka Scaled and Won in Southeast Asia

Jose Dalino

CTO
Paymongo
Singapore/Philippines

Key points

1. Ecosystem Liquidity & Data Moats: How providing contextual financial services—such as working capital loans for merchants and embedded insurance for drivers—not only increased platform stickiness but also created proprietary behavioral data moats essential for superior, alternative credit scoring in underbanked markets.

2.LTV Maximization through Contextual Credit: Analyzing the implementation of consumer-facing products like Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and digital credit lines. These embedded offerings captured a larger share of the customer's wallet and drove higher Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).

3. The API-First Scaling Challenge: The technical architectures, compliance automation, and strategic partnerships required to rapidly scale a full stack of financial products across the diverse and regulated markets of Southeast Asia.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

From Deck to Deal: Supercharge Your Pitch with AI

William Eka

Vice President
Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network (WEN)

Whether you're chasing your first check or closing your next round, this tool helps you pitch like a pro. Learn how AI-powered tools can elevate your deck, sharpen your story, and prep you for tough investor questions—without losing your founder voice. We’ll walk through interactive features, demo smart features, and share tips to help you land the big yes.

Perfect for startup founders, hustlers, and geeks who want to pitch smarter, faster, and with flair—right from the beach.

12:50 PM - 1:50 PM

Women in Tech Luncheon

Join us! All who support and champion women in tech are welcome.

1:50 PM - 2:00 PM

Move to Breakout Rooms

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

FoundHer Roundtable Discussion:
Future-Proofing with Inclusive Leadership

Candice Quimpo

Co-Founder & COO
FoundHer
Philippines

Mel Nava

Co-Founder & CEO
1Export
Philippines

Crystal Lee Gonzalez

CEO & Co-Founder
NoneAway & Nōna
Serial Entrepreneur
Philippines

Inclusive leadership, defined by principles like empathy, collaboration, and empowerment, is a foundational component of modern leadership, essential for navigating diverse and dynamic work environments to effectively position organizations for resilience and sustained success.

In this session, three trailblazing Filipina founders—Candice Quimpo, Mel Nava, and Crystal Gonzalez—will share how they have used these principles to not only build successful businesses but also to navigate a rapidly evolving world.

Rooted in Imaginable Impact's mission to reframe Filipina leadership, this discussion will also explore how embracing an inclusive leadership style can advance every founder's investibility journey and contribute to a more vibrant and supportive startup ecosystem.

Format:

5-minute presentation by Candice Quimpo
30-minute fireside chat with Mel Nava and Crystal Gonzalez
25-minute open forum discussion

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Copy & Create: The Unexpected Path to Innovation

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Itsuo is a beer brewing innovator and fermentation master. After a diverse career combining microbiology and furniture manufacturing, he created the "Iwami-style Brewing Method."

His viral TED Talk, "Copying is the key to innovation," shares this unique philosophy, which has helped him establish over 80 breweries worldwide. He also designs and builds essential brewing equipment.

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

DOOR to ASIA: The Art of Revitalizing Communities Through Design

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

DOOR is "Opportunity".

Miki is a true connector who co-founded DOOR to ASIA, a Designers-in-Residence program where designers from Asian countries gather in a community to create “communication design” for local companies.

He is a dynamic design agent dedicated to global connection. After eight years in London, he founded Agent Hamyak inc., a Tokyo-based illustration agency that produces international projects.

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Q&A

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

3:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Building Alternative Narratives: How Grassroots Journalism Bridges Music Communities Worldwide

Kristin Lara Angan

Editor
Coast2Coast
Cebu, Philippines

In the last five years, multiple music publications across the Asia-Pacific shut down, leaving a gap in important coverage within the region. For regions that have been historically excluded from the mainstream music industry, such as the Visayas-Mindanao region, it is harder than ever to gain visibility in music.

Coast2Coast explores how we develop local music industries through independent grassroots journalism and community building activities, bridging the Philippines with the rest of the world.

This talk will show you with real-life examples how telling a good story and taking care of your community are essential for growing your business, passion project, or advocacy.

3:50 PM - 4:25 PM

Get to know the BetterGov.ph! Access government services and stay updated with latest PH News

Paul Pajo

Director & TBI (Technology Business Incubator) Manager
Benilde HIFI DOST TBI
Philippines

BREAKOUT ROOM 1

October 3, 2025

(Triphora)

BREAKOUT ROOM 2

October 3, 2025

(Pyrene)

Time

Event

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Check-in and Badge Pickup (In front of Triton 3 Ballroom)

Morning Session

Hosts:

Lenli Tuhoy

Head of Content and Brand Marketing
Symph

Frances Teves

Technical Project Manager
Symph

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Roundtable Session

Moderator:

Ashley Uy

Senior Product Owner, Synacy
Community Builder, SproutUpBohol + GOAB

Alea Ladaga

Community Manager
Sinigang Valley Association

9:45 AM - 9:50 AM

Transition Time

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Validate Your Startup Idea with Design Sprints 🚀

Karl Michael dela Cruz

User Experience Designer
Synacy
Cebu, Philippines

Got a groundbreaking idea? Don't just build it—validate it.

We’ll discuss the core principles of a Design Sprint. This proven process helps you test and refine initial product ideas in just a few days. You’ll learn how to save time and resources, ensuring your startup is building the right product for the right people, and how to turn an idea into a validated Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Straight from the Sinigang Pot: Startup Realities & Recipes for Scaling

By:

Sinigang Valley Association

This breakout takes Sinigang Valley out of our usual HQ and into Cebu — straight into the GOAB kitchen — where seasoned entrepreneurs gather for real talk on what it truly takes to grow a startup: the wins worth celebrating, the stumbles that shaped the journey, and the lessons learned along the way.

From fundraising and customer growth to governance, incubator programs, and government partnerships, representatives from startups such as PayMongo, Remotify and investors like Kickstart Ventures, Kaya Founders, AHG Lab and Foxmont Capital Partners, will share their candid stories in this “professional chismisan session”, hosted by Rene Cuartero of AHG Lab.

This breakout session brings Sinigang from their HQ kitchen to Cebu for a candid, "professional chismisan" conversation on what it really takes to grow a startup from 1 to 100. Seasoned entrepreneurs and investors will share honest stories about their wins, their stumbles, and the lessons they've learned about fundraising, growth, and building a strong company.

Attendees will get a dose of fresh insights and practical takeaways on how to nurture and support startup growth. The discussion will feature a quick panel, followed by an "Ask Me Anything" session with members of SVA.

Moderator:

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

Panelists:

Maria Sucgang

CEO & Co-Founder
Remotify
Philippines

John Soriano

Head of Marketing
Paymongo

Carlo Silva

Co-Founder & CEO
Shoppable Business
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Meet the SVA investors joining for the AMA Session:

Paulo Campos

Founding Managing General Partner
Kaya Founders
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Jojo Malolos

CEO
PayMongo
Philippines

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break

11:15 AM - 11:45 PM

Ecosystem Lessons: Philippines Meets Philadelphia

Isabelle Kent

CEO
Startup Leaders
USA

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Maria Elena "Nannette" C. Arbon

Business Advisor & Startup Mentor
Former Regional Director, Department of Trade and Industry
Philippines

Join three leading startup ecosystem builders, Katrina Chan (Philippines), Nannette Arbon (Central Philippines) and Isabelle Kent (Philadelphia, PA, USA), as they share their top lessons from their respective regions.

Lessons from the Ground Up: Their top 5 takeaways on building a thriving startup community.

A Cross-Cultural Dialogue: A conversation exploring what each can learn from the other's unique challenges and successes.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Embedded Finance: How Unicorns Like Grab and Traveloka Scaled and Won in Southeast Asia

Jose Dalino

CTO
Paymongo
Singapore/Philippines

Key points

1. Ecosystem Liquidity & Data Moats: How providing contextual financial services—such as working capital loans for merchants and embedded insurance for drivers—not only increased platform stickiness but also created proprietary behavioral data moats essential for superior, alternative credit scoring in underbanked markets.

2.LTV Maximization through Contextual Credit: Analyzing the implementation of consumer-facing products like Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and digital credit lines. These embedded offerings captured a larger share of the customer's wallet and drove higher Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).

3. The API-First Scaling Challenge: The technical architectures, compliance automation, and strategic partnerships required to rapidly scale a full stack of financial products across the diverse and regulated markets of Southeast Asia.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

From Deck to Deal: Supercharge Your Pitch with AI

William Eka

Vice President
Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network (WEN)

Whether you're chasing your first check or closing your next round, this tool helps you pitch like a pro. Learn how AI-powered tools can elevate your deck, sharpen your story, and prep you for tough investor questions—without losing your founder voice. We’ll walk through interactive features, demo smart features, and share tips to help you land the big yes.

Perfect for startup founders, hustlers, and geeks who want to pitch smarter, faster, and with flair—right from the beach.

12:50 PM - 1:50 PM

Women in Tech Luncheon

Join us! All who support and champion women in tech are welcome.

1:50 PM - 2:00 PM

Move to Breakout Rooms

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

FoundHer Roundtable Discussion:
Future-Proofing with Inclusive Leadership

Candice Quimpo

Co-Founder & COO
FoundHer
Philippines

Mel Nava

Co-Founder & CEO
1Export
Philippines

Crystal Lee Gonzalez

CEO & Co-Founder
NoneAway & Nōna
Serial Entrepreneur
Philippines

Inclusive leadership, defined by principles like empathy, collaboration, and empowerment, is a foundational component of modern leadership, essential for navigating diverse and dynamic work environments to effectively position organizations for resilience and sustained success.

In this session, three trailblazing Filipina founders—Candice Quimpo, Mel Nava, and Crystal Gonzalez—will share how they have used these principles to not only build successful businesses but also to navigate a rapidly evolving world.

Rooted in Imaginable Impact's mission to reframe Filipina leadership, this discussion will also explore how embracing an inclusive leadership style can advance every founder's investibility journey and contribute to a more vibrant and supportive startup ecosystem.

Format:

5-minute presentation by Candice Quimpo
30-minute fireside chat with Mel Nava and Crystal Gonzalez
25-minute open forum discussion

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Copy & Create: The Unexpected Path to Innovation

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Itsuo is a beer brewing innovator and fermentation master. After a diverse career combining microbiology and furniture manufacturing, he created the "Iwami-style Brewing Method."

His viral TED Talk, "Copying is the key to innovation," shares this unique philosophy, which has helped him establish over 80 breweries worldwide. He also designs and builds essential brewing equipment.

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

DOOR to ASIA: The Art of Revitalizing Communities Through Design

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

DOOR is "Opportunity".

Miki is a true connector who co-founded DOOR to ASIA, a Designers-in-Residence program where designers from Asian countries gather in a community to create “communication design” for local companies.

He is a dynamic design agent dedicated to global connection. After eight years in London, he founded Agent Hamyak inc., a Tokyo-based illustration agency that produces international projects.

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Q&A

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

3:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Building Alternative Narratives: How Grassroots Journalism Bridges Music Communities Worldwide

Kristin Lara Angan

Editor
Coast2Coast
Cebu, Philippines

In the last five years, multiple music publications across the Asia-Pacific shut down, leaving a gap in important coverage within the region. For regions that have been historically excluded from the mainstream music industry, such as the Visayas-Mindanao region, it is harder than ever to gain visibility in music.

Coast2Coast explores how we develop local music industries through independent grassroots journalism and community building activities, bridging the Philippines with the rest of the world.

This talk will show you with real-life examples how telling a good story and taking care of your community are essential for growing your business, passion project, or advocacy.

3:50 PM - 4:25 PM

Get to know the BetterGov.ph! Access government services and stay updated with latest PH News

Paul Pajo

Director & TBI (Technology Business Incubator) Manager
Benilde HIFI DOST TBI
Philippines

BREAKOUT ROOM 1

October 3, 2025

(Triphora)

BREAKOUT ROOM 2

October 3, 2025

(Pyrene)

Time

Event

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Check-in and Badge Pickup (In front of Triton 3 Ballroom)

Morning Session

Hosts:

Lenli Tuhoy

Head of Content and Brand Marketing
Symph

Frances Teves

Technical Project Manager
Symph

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Roundtable Session

Moderator:

Ashley Uy

Senior Product Owner, Synacy
Community Builder, SproutUpBohol + GOAB

Alea Ladaga

Community Manager
Sinigang Valley Association

9:45 AM - 9:50 AM

Transition Time

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Validate Your Startup Idea with Design Sprints 🚀

Karl Michael dela Cruz

User Experience Designer
Synacy
Cebu, Philippines

Got a groundbreaking idea? Don't just build it—validate it.

We’ll discuss the core principles of a Design Sprint. This proven process helps you test and refine initial product ideas in just a few days. You’ll learn how to save time and resources, ensuring your startup is building the right product for the right people, and how to turn an idea into a validated Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Straight from the Sinigang Pot: Startup Realities & Recipes for Scaling

By:

Sinigang Valley Association

This breakout takes Sinigang Valley out of our usual HQ and into Cebu — straight into the GOAB kitchen — where seasoned entrepreneurs gather for real talk on what it truly takes to grow a startup: the wins worth celebrating, the stumbles that shaped the journey, and the lessons learned along the way.

From fundraising and customer growth to governance, incubator programs, and government partnerships, representatives from startups such as PayMongo, Remotify and investors like Kickstart Ventures, Kaya Founders, AHG Lab and Foxmont Capital Partners, will share their candid stories in this “professional chismisan session”, hosted by Rene Cuartero of AHG Lab.

This breakout session brings Sinigang from their HQ kitchen to Cebu for a candid, "professional chismisan" conversation on what it really takes to grow a startup from 1 to 100. Seasoned entrepreneurs and investors will share honest stories about their wins, their stumbles, and the lessons they've learned about fundraising, growth, and building a strong company.

Attendees will get a dose of fresh insights and practical takeaways on how to nurture and support startup growth. The discussion will feature a quick panel, followed by an "Ask Me Anything" session with members of SVA.

Moderator:

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

Panelists:

Maria Sucgang

CEO & Co-Founder
Remotify
Philippines

John Soriano

Head of Marketing
Paymongo

Carlo Silva

Co-Founder & CEO
Shoppable Business
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Meet the SVA investors joining for the AMA Session:

Paulo Campos

Founding Managing General Partner
Kaya Founders
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Jojo Malolos

CEO
PayMongo
Philippines

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break

11:15 AM - 11:45 PM

Ecosystem Lessons: Philippines Meets Philadelphia

Isabelle Kent

CEO
Startup Leaders
USA

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Maria Elena "Nannette" C. Arbon

Business Advisor & Startup Mentor
Former Regional Director, Department of Trade and Industry
Philippines

Join three leading startup ecosystem builders, Katrina Chan (Philippines), Nannette Arbon (Central Philippines) and Isabelle Kent (Philadelphia, PA, USA), as they share their top lessons from their respective regions.

Lessons from the Ground Up: Their top 5 takeaways on building a thriving startup community.

A Cross-Cultural Dialogue: A conversation exploring what each can learn from the other's unique challenges and successes.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Embedded Finance: How Unicorns Like Grab and Traveloka Scaled and Won in Southeast Asia

Jose Dalino

CTO
Paymongo
Singapore/Philippines

Key points

1. Ecosystem Liquidity & Data Moats: How providing contextual financial services—such as working capital loans for merchants and embedded insurance for drivers—not only increased platform stickiness but also created proprietary behavioral data moats essential for superior, alternative credit scoring in underbanked markets.

2.LTV Maximization through Contextual Credit: Analyzing the implementation of consumer-facing products like Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and digital credit lines. These embedded offerings captured a larger share of the customer's wallet and drove higher Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).

3. The API-First Scaling Challenge: The technical architectures, compliance automation, and strategic partnerships required to rapidly scale a full stack of financial products across the diverse and regulated markets of Southeast Asia.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

From Deck to Deal: Supercharge Your Pitch with AI

William Eka

Vice President
Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network (WEN)

Whether you're chasing your first check or closing your next round, this tool helps you pitch like a pro. Learn how AI-powered tools can elevate your deck, sharpen your story, and prep you for tough investor questions—without losing your founder voice. We’ll walk through interactive features, demo smart features, and share tips to help you land the big yes.

Perfect for startup founders, hustlers, and geeks who want to pitch smarter, faster, and with flair—right from the beach.

12:50 PM - 1:50 PM

Women in Tech Luncheon

Join us! All who support and champion women in tech are welcome.

1:50 PM - 2:00 PM

Move to Breakout Rooms

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

FoundHer Roundtable Discussion:
Future-Proofing with Inclusive Leadership

Candice Quimpo

Co-Founder & COO
FoundHer
Philippines

Mel Nava

Co-Founder & CEO
1Export
Philippines

Crystal Lee Gonzalez

CEO & Co-Founder
NoneAway & Nōna
Serial Entrepreneur
Philippines

Inclusive leadership, defined by principles like empathy, collaboration, and empowerment, is a foundational component of modern leadership, essential for navigating diverse and dynamic work environments to effectively position organizations for resilience and sustained success.

In this session, three trailblazing Filipina founders—Candice Quimpo, Mel Nava, and Crystal Gonzalez—will share how they have used these principles to not only build successful businesses but also to navigate a rapidly evolving world.

Rooted in Imaginable Impact's mission to reframe Filipina leadership, this discussion will also explore how embracing an inclusive leadership style can advance every founder's investibility journey and contribute to a more vibrant and supportive startup ecosystem.

Format:

5-minute presentation by Candice Quimpo
30-minute fireside chat with Mel Nava and Crystal Gonzalez
25-minute open forum discussion

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Copy & Create: The Unexpected Path to Innovation

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Itsuo is a beer brewing innovator and fermentation master. After a diverse career combining microbiology and furniture manufacturing, he created the "Iwami-style Brewing Method."

His viral TED Talk, "Copying is the key to innovation," shares this unique philosophy, which has helped him establish over 80 breweries worldwide. He also designs and builds essential brewing equipment.

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

DOOR to ASIA: The Art of Revitalizing Communities Through Design

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

DOOR is "Opportunity".

Miki is a true connector who co-founded DOOR to ASIA, a Designers-in-Residence program where designers from Asian countries gather in a community to create “communication design” for local companies.

He is a dynamic design agent dedicated to global connection. After eight years in London, he founded Agent Hamyak inc., a Tokyo-based illustration agency that produces international projects.

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Q&A

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

3:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Building Alternative Narratives: How Grassroots Journalism Bridges Music Communities Worldwide

Kristin Lara Angan

Editor
Coast2Coast
Cebu, Philippines

In the last five years, multiple music publications across the Asia-Pacific shut down, leaving a gap in important coverage within the region. For regions that have been historically excluded from the mainstream music industry, such as the Visayas-Mindanao region, it is harder than ever to gain visibility in music.

Coast2Coast explores how we develop local music industries through independent grassroots journalism and community building activities, bridging the Philippines with the rest of the world.

This talk will show you with real-life examples how telling a good story and taking care of your community are essential for growing your business, passion project, or advocacy.

3:50 PM - 4:25 PM

Get to know the BetterGov.ph! Access government services and stay updated with latest PH News

Paul Pajo

Director & TBI (Technology Business Incubator) Manager
Benilde HIFI DOST TBI
Philippines

BREAKOUT ROOM 1

October 3, 2025

(Triphora)

BREAKOUT ROOM 2

October 3, 2025

(Pyrene)

Time

Event

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Check-in and Badge Pickup (In front of Triton 3 Ballroom)

Morning Session

Hosts:

Lenli Tuhoy

Head of Content and Brand Marketing
Symph

Frances Teves

Technical Project Manager
Symph

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Roundtable Session

Moderator:

Ashley Uy

Senior Product Owner, Synacy
Community Builder, SproutUpBohol + GOAB

Alea Ladaga

Community Manager
Sinigang Valley Association

9:45 AM - 9:50 AM

Transition Time

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Validate Your Startup Idea with Design Sprints 🚀

Karl Michael dela Cruz

User Experience Designer
Synacy
Cebu, Philippines

Got a groundbreaking idea? Don't just build it—validate it.

We’ll discuss the core principles of a Design Sprint. This proven process helps you test and refine initial product ideas in just a few days. You’ll learn how to save time and resources, ensuring your startup is building the right product for the right people, and how to turn an idea into a validated Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Straight from the Sinigang Pot: Startup Realities & Recipes for Scaling

By:

Sinigang Valley Association

This breakout takes Sinigang Valley out of our usual HQ and into Cebu — straight into the GOAB kitchen — where seasoned entrepreneurs gather for real talk on what it truly takes to grow a startup: the wins worth celebrating, the stumbles that shaped the journey, and the lessons learned along the way.

From fundraising and customer growth to governance, incubator programs, and government partnerships, representatives from startups such as PayMongo, Remotify and investors like Kickstart Ventures, Kaya Founders, AHG Lab and Foxmont Capital Partners, will share their candid stories in this “professional chismisan session”, hosted by Rene Cuartero of AHG Lab.

This breakout session brings Sinigang from their HQ kitchen to Cebu for a candid, "professional chismisan" conversation on what it really takes to grow a startup from 1 to 100. Seasoned entrepreneurs and investors will share honest stories about their wins, their stumbles, and the lessons they've learned about fundraising, growth, and building a strong company.

Attendees will get a dose of fresh insights and practical takeaways on how to nurture and support startup growth. The discussion will feature a quick panel, followed by an "Ask Me Anything" session with members of SVA.

Moderator:

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

Panelists:

Maria Sucgang

CEO & Co-Founder
Remotify
Philippines

John Soriano

Head of Marketing
Paymongo

Carlo Silva

Co-Founder & CEO
Shoppable Business
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Meet the SVA investors joining for the AMA Session:

Paulo Campos

Founding Managing General Partner
Kaya Founders
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Jojo Malolos

CEO
PayMongo
Philippines

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break

11:15 AM - 11:45 PM

Ecosystem Lessons: Philippines Meets Philadelphia

Isabelle Kent

CEO
Startup Leaders
USA

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Maria Elena "Nannette" C. Arbon

Business Advisor & Startup Mentor
Former Regional Director, Department of Trade and Industry
Philippines

Join three leading startup ecosystem builders, Katrina Chan (Philippines), Nannette Arbon (Central Philippines) and Isabelle Kent (Philadelphia, PA, USA), as they share their top lessons from their respective regions.

Lessons from the Ground Up: Their top 5 takeaways on building a thriving startup community.

A Cross-Cultural Dialogue: A conversation exploring what each can learn from the other's unique challenges and successes.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Embedded Finance: How Unicorns Like Grab and Traveloka Scaled and Won in Southeast Asia

Jose Dalino

CTO
Paymongo
Singapore/Philippines

Key points

1. Ecosystem Liquidity & Data Moats: How providing contextual financial services—such as working capital loans for merchants and embedded insurance for drivers—not only increased platform stickiness but also created proprietary behavioral data moats essential for superior, alternative credit scoring in underbanked markets.

2.LTV Maximization through Contextual Credit: Analyzing the implementation of consumer-facing products like Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and digital credit lines. These embedded offerings captured a larger share of the customer's wallet and drove higher Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).

3. The API-First Scaling Challenge: The technical architectures, compliance automation, and strategic partnerships required to rapidly scale a full stack of financial products across the diverse and regulated markets of Southeast Asia.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

From Deck to Deal: Supercharge Your Pitch with AI

William Eka

Vice President
Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network (WEN)

Whether you're chasing your first check or closing your next round, this tool helps you pitch like a pro. Learn how AI-powered tools can elevate your deck, sharpen your story, and prep you for tough investor questions—without losing your founder voice. We’ll walk through interactive features, demo smart features, and share tips to help you land the big yes.

Perfect for startup founders, hustlers, and geeks who want to pitch smarter, faster, and with flair—right from the beach.

12:50 PM - 1:50 PM

Women in Tech Luncheon

Join us! All who support and champion women in tech are welcome.

1:50 PM - 2:00 PM

Move to Breakout Rooms

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

FoundHer Roundtable Discussion:
Future-Proofing with Inclusive Leadership

Candice Quimpo

Co-Founder & COO
FoundHer
Philippines

Mel Nava

Co-Founder & CEO
1Export
Philippines

Crystal Lee Gonzalez

CEO & Co-Founder
NoneAway & Nōna
Serial Entrepreneur
Philippines

Inclusive leadership, defined by principles like empathy, collaboration, and empowerment, is a foundational component of modern leadership, essential for navigating diverse and dynamic work environments to effectively position organizations for resilience and sustained success.

In this session, three trailblazing Filipina founders—Candice Quimpo, Mel Nava, and Crystal Gonzalez—will share how they have used these principles to not only build successful businesses but also to navigate a rapidly evolving world.

Rooted in Imaginable Impact's mission to reframe Filipina leadership, this discussion will also explore how embracing an inclusive leadership style can advance every founder's investibility journey and contribute to a more vibrant and supportive startup ecosystem.

Format:

5-minute presentation by Candice Quimpo
30-minute fireside chat with Mel Nava and Crystal Gonzalez
25-minute open forum discussion

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Copy & Create: The Unexpected Path to Innovation

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Itsuo is a beer brewing innovator and fermentation master. After a diverse career combining microbiology and furniture manufacturing, he created the "Iwami-style Brewing Method."

His viral TED Talk, "Copying is the key to innovation," shares this unique philosophy, which has helped him establish over 80 breweries worldwide. He also designs and builds essential brewing equipment.

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

DOOR to ASIA: The Art of Revitalizing Communities Through Design

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

DOOR is "Opportunity".

Miki is a true connector who co-founded DOOR to ASIA, a Designers-in-Residence program where designers from Asian countries gather in a community to create “communication design” for local companies.

He is a dynamic design agent dedicated to global connection. After eight years in London, he founded Agent Hamyak inc., a Tokyo-based illustration agency that produces international projects.

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Q&A

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

3:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Building Alternative Narratives: How Grassroots Journalism Bridges Music Communities Worldwide

Kristin Lara Angan

Editor
Coast2Coast
Cebu, Philippines

In the last five years, multiple music publications across the Asia-Pacific shut down, leaving a gap in important coverage within the region. For regions that have been historically excluded from the mainstream music industry, such as the Visayas-Mindanao region, it is harder than ever to gain visibility in music.

Coast2Coast explores how we develop local music industries through independent grassroots journalism and community building activities, bridging the Philippines with the rest of the world.

This talk will show you with real-life examples how telling a good story and taking care of your community are essential for growing your business, passion project, or advocacy.

3:50 PM - 4:25 PM

Get to know the BetterGov.ph! Access government services and stay updated with latest PH News

Paul Pajo

Director & TBI (Technology Business Incubator) Manager
Benilde HIFI DOST TBI
Philippines

BREAKOUT ROOM 1

October 3, 2025

(Triphora)

BREAKOUT ROOM 2

October 3, 2025

(Pyrene)

Time

Event

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Check-in and Badge Pickup (In front of Triton 3 Ballroom)

Morning Session

Hosts:

Lenli Tuhoy

Head of Content and Brand Marketing
Symph

Frances Teves

Technical Project Manager
Symph

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Roundtable Session

Moderator:

Ashley Uy

Senior Product Owner, Synacy
Community Builder, SproutUpBohol + GOAB

Alea Ladaga

Community Manager
Sinigang Valley Association

9:45 AM - 9:50 AM

Transition Time

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Validate Your Startup Idea with Design Sprints 🚀

Karl Michael dela Cruz

User Experience Designer
Synacy
Cebu, Philippines

Got a groundbreaking idea? Don't just build it—validate it.

We’ll discuss the core principles of a Design Sprint. This proven process helps you test and refine initial product ideas in just a few days. You’ll learn how to save time and resources, ensuring your startup is building the right product for the right people, and how to turn an idea into a validated Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Straight from the Sinigang Pot: Startup Realities & Recipes for Scaling

By:

Sinigang Valley Association

This breakout takes Sinigang Valley out of our usual HQ and into Cebu — straight into the GOAB kitchen — where seasoned entrepreneurs gather for real talk on what it truly takes to grow a startup: the wins worth celebrating, the stumbles that shaped the journey, and the lessons learned along the way.

From fundraising and customer growth to governance, incubator programs, and government partnerships, representatives from startups such as PayMongo, Remotify and investors like Kickstart Ventures, Kaya Founders, AHG Lab and Foxmont Capital Partners, will share their candid stories in this “professional chismisan session”, hosted by Rene Cuartero of AHG Lab.

This breakout session brings Sinigang from their HQ kitchen to Cebu for a candid, "professional chismisan" conversation on what it really takes to grow a startup from 1 to 100. Seasoned entrepreneurs and investors will share honest stories about their wins, their stumbles, and the lessons they've learned about fundraising, growth, and building a strong company.

Attendees will get a dose of fresh insights and practical takeaways on how to nurture and support startup growth. The discussion will feature a quick panel, followed by an "Ask Me Anything" session with members of SVA.

Moderator:

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

Panelists:

Maria Sucgang

CEO & Co-Founder
Remotify
Philippines

John Soriano

Head of Marketing
Paymongo

Carlo Silva

Co-Founder & CEO
Shoppable Business
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Meet the SVA investors joining for the AMA Session:

Paulo Campos

Founding Managing General Partner
Kaya Founders
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Jojo Malolos

CEO
PayMongo
Philippines

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break

11:15 AM - 11:45 PM

Ecosystem Lessons: Philippines Meets Philadelphia

Isabelle Kent

CEO
Startup Leaders
USA

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Maria Elena "Nannette" C. Arbon

Business Advisor & Startup Mentor
Former Regional Director, Department of Trade and Industry
Philippines

Join three leading startup ecosystem builders, Katrina Chan (Philippines), Nannette Arbon (Central Philippines) and Isabelle Kent (Philadelphia, PA, USA), as they share their top lessons from their respective regions.

Lessons from the Ground Up: Their top 5 takeaways on building a thriving startup community.

A Cross-Cultural Dialogue: A conversation exploring what each can learn from the other's unique challenges and successes.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Embedded Finance: How Unicorns Like Grab and Traveloka Scaled and Won in Southeast Asia

Jose Dalino

CTO
Paymongo
Singapore/Philippines

Key points

1. Ecosystem Liquidity & Data Moats: How providing contextual financial services—such as working capital loans for merchants and embedded insurance for drivers—not only increased platform stickiness but also created proprietary behavioral data moats essential for superior, alternative credit scoring in underbanked markets.

2.LTV Maximization through Contextual Credit: Analyzing the implementation of consumer-facing products like Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and digital credit lines. These embedded offerings captured a larger share of the customer's wallet and drove higher Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).

3. The API-First Scaling Challenge: The technical architectures, compliance automation, and strategic partnerships required to rapidly scale a full stack of financial products across the diverse and regulated markets of Southeast Asia.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

From Deck to Deal: Supercharge Your Pitch with AI

William Eka

Vice President
Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network (WEN)

Whether you're chasing your first check or closing your next round, this tool helps you pitch like a pro. Learn how AI-powered tools can elevate your deck, sharpen your story, and prep you for tough investor questions—without losing your founder voice. We’ll walk through interactive features, demo smart features, and share tips to help you land the big yes.

Perfect for startup founders, hustlers, and geeks who want to pitch smarter, faster, and with flair—right from the beach.

12:50 PM - 1:50 PM

Women in Tech Luncheon

Join us! All who support and champion women in tech are welcome.

1:50 PM - 2:00 PM

Move to Breakout Rooms

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

FoundHer Roundtable Discussion:
Future-Proofing with Inclusive Leadership

Candice Quimpo

Co-Founder & COO
FoundHer
Philippines

Mel Nava

Co-Founder & CEO
1Export
Philippines

Crystal Lee Gonzalez

CEO & Co-Founder
NoneAway & Nōna
Serial Entrepreneur
Philippines

Inclusive leadership, defined by principles like empathy, collaboration, and empowerment, is a foundational component of modern leadership, essential for navigating diverse and dynamic work environments to effectively position organizations for resilience and sustained success.

In this session, three trailblazing Filipina founders—Candice Quimpo, Mel Nava, and Crystal Gonzalez—will share how they have used these principles to not only build successful businesses but also to navigate a rapidly evolving world.

Rooted in Imaginable Impact's mission to reframe Filipina leadership, this discussion will also explore how embracing an inclusive leadership style can advance every founder's investibility journey and contribute to a more vibrant and supportive startup ecosystem.

Format:

5-minute presentation by Candice Quimpo
30-minute fireside chat with Mel Nava and Crystal Gonzalez
25-minute open forum discussion

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Copy & Create: The Unexpected Path to Innovation

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Itsuo is a beer brewing innovator and fermentation master. After a diverse career combining microbiology and furniture manufacturing, he created the "Iwami-style Brewing Method."

His viral TED Talk, "Copying is the key to innovation," shares this unique philosophy, which has helped him establish over 80 breweries worldwide. He also designs and builds essential brewing equipment.

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

DOOR to ASIA: The Art of Revitalizing Communities Through Design

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

DOOR is "Opportunity".

Miki is a true connector who co-founded DOOR to ASIA, a Designers-in-Residence program where designers from Asian countries gather in a community to create “communication design” for local companies.

He is a dynamic design agent dedicated to global connection. After eight years in London, he founded Agent Hamyak inc., a Tokyo-based illustration agency that produces international projects.

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Q&A

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

3:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Building Alternative Narratives: How Grassroots Journalism Bridges Music Communities Worldwide

Kristin Lara Angan

Editor
Coast2Coast
Cebu, Philippines

In the last five years, multiple music publications across the Asia-Pacific shut down, leaving a gap in important coverage within the region. For regions that have been historically excluded from the mainstream music industry, such as the Visayas-Mindanao region, it is harder than ever to gain visibility in music.

Coast2Coast explores how we develop local music industries through independent grassroots journalism and community building activities, bridging the Philippines with the rest of the world.

This talk will show you with real-life examples how telling a good story and taking care of your community are essential for growing your business, passion project, or advocacy.

3:50 PM - 4:25 PM

Get to know the BetterGov.ph! Access government services and stay updated with latest PH News

Paul Pajo

Director & TBI (Technology Business Incubator) Manager
Benilde HIFI DOST TBI
Philippines

BREAKOUT ROOM 1

October 3, 2025

(Triphora)

BREAKOUT ROOM 2

October 3, 2025

(Pyrene)

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Check-in and Badge Pickup (In front of Triton 3 Ballroom)

Morning Session

Hosts:

Lenli Tuhoy

Head of Content and Brand Marketing
Symph

Frances Teves

Technical Project Manager
Symph

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Roundtable Session

Moderator:

Ashley Uy

Senior Product Owner, Synacy
Community Builder, SproutUpBohol + GOAB

Alea Ladaga

Community Manager
Sinigang Valley Association

9:45 AM - 9:50 AM

Transition Time

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Validate Your Startup Idea with Design Sprints 🚀

Karl Michael dela Cruz

User Experience Designer
Synacy
Cebu, Philippines

Got a groundbreaking idea? Don't just build it—validate it.

We’ll discuss the core principles of a Design Sprint. This proven process helps you test and refine initial product ideas in just a few days. You’ll learn how to save time and resources, ensuring your startup is building the right product for the right people, and how to turn an idea into a validated Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Straight from the Sinigang Pot: Startup Realities & Recipes for Scaling

By:

Sinigang Valley Association

This breakout takes Sinigang Valley out of our usual HQ and into Cebu — straight into the GOAB kitchen — where seasoned entrepreneurs gather for real talk on what it truly takes to grow a startup: the wins worth celebrating, the stumbles that shaped the journey, and the lessons learned along the way.

From fundraising and customer growth to governance, incubator programs, and government partnerships, representatives from startups such as PayMongo, Remotify and investors like Kickstart Ventures, Kaya Founders, AHG Lab and Foxmont Capital Partners, will share their candid stories in this “professional chismisan session”, hosted by Rene Cuartero of AHG Lab.

This breakout session brings Sinigang from their HQ kitchen to Cebu for a candid, "professional chismisan" conversation on what it really takes to grow a startup from 1 to 100. Seasoned entrepreneurs and investors will share honest stories about their wins, their stumbles, and the lessons they've learned about fundraising, growth, and building a strong company.

Attendees will get a dose of fresh insights and practical takeaways on how to nurture and support startup growth. The discussion will feature a quick panel, followed by an "Ask Me Anything" session with members of SVA.

Moderator:

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

Panelists:

Maria Sucgang

CEO & Co-Founder
Remotify
Philippines

John Soriano

Head of Marketing
Paymongo

Carlo Silva

Co-Founder & CEO
Shoppable Business
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Meet the SVA investors joining for the AMA Session:

Paulo Campos

Founding Managing General Partner
Kaya Founders
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Jojo Malolos

CEO
PayMongo
Philippines

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break

11:15 AM - 11:45 PM

Ecosystem Lessons: Philippines Meets Philadelphia

Isabelle Kent

CEO
Startup Leaders
USA

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Maria Elena "Nannette" C. Arbon

Business Advisor & Startup Mentor
Former Regional Director, Department of Trade and Industry
Philippines

Join three leading startup ecosystem builders, Katrina Chan (Philippines), Nannette Arbon (Central Philippines) and Isabelle Kent (Philadelphia, PA, USA), as they share their top lessons from their respective regions.

Lessons from the Ground Up: Their top 5 takeaways on building a thriving startup community.

A Cross-Cultural Dialogue: A conversation exploring what each can learn from the other's unique challenges and successes.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Embedded Finance: How Unicorns Like Grab and Traveloka Scaled and Won in Southeast Asia

Jose Dalino

CTO
Paymongo
Singapore/Philippines

Key points

1. Ecosystem Liquidity & Data Moats: How providing contextual financial services—such as working capital loans for merchants and embedded insurance for drivers—not only increased platform stickiness but also created proprietary behavioral data moats essential for superior, alternative credit scoring in underbanked markets.

2.LTV Maximization through Contextual Credit: Analyzing the implementation of consumer-facing products like Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and digital credit lines. These embedded offerings captured a larger share of the customer's wallet and drove higher Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).

3. The API-First Scaling Challenge: The technical architectures, compliance automation, and strategic partnerships required to rapidly scale a full stack of financial products across the diverse and regulated markets of Southeast Asia.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

From Deck to Deal: Supercharge Your Pitch with AI

William Eka

Vice President
Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network (WEN)

Whether you're chasing your first check or closing your next round, this tool helps you pitch like a pro. Learn how AI-powered tools can elevate your deck, sharpen your story, and prep you for tough investor questions—without losing your founder voice. We’ll walk through interactive features, demo smart features, and share tips to help you land the big yes.

Perfect for startup founders, hustlers, and geeks who want to pitch smarter, faster, and with flair—right from the beach.

12:50 PM - 1:50 PM

Women in Tech Luncheon

Join us! All who support and champion women in tech are welcome.

1:50 PM - 2:00 PM

Move to Breakout Rooms

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

FoundHer Roundtable Discussion:
Future-Proofing with Inclusive Leadership

Candice Quimpo

Co-Founder & COO
FoundHer
Philippines

Mel Nava

Co-Founder & CEO
1Export
Philippines

Crystal Lee Gonzalez

CEO & Co-Founder
NoneAway & Nōna
Serial Entrepreneur
Philippines

Inclusive leadership, defined by principles like empathy, collaboration, and empowerment, is a foundational component of modern leadership, essential for navigating diverse and dynamic work environments to effectively position organizations for resilience and sustained success.

In this session, three trailblazing Filipina founders—Candice Quimpo, Mel Nava, and Crystal Gonzalez—will share how they have used these principles to not only build successful businesses but also to navigate a rapidly evolving world.

Rooted in Imaginable Impact's mission to reframe Filipina leadership, this discussion will also explore how embracing an inclusive leadership style can advance every founder's investibility journey and contribute to a more vibrant and supportive startup ecosystem.

Format:

5-minute presentation by Candice Quimpo
30-minute fireside chat with Mel Nava and Crystal Gonzalez
25-minute open forum discussion

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Copy & Create: The Unexpected Path to Innovation

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Itsuo is a beer brewing innovator and fermentation master. After a diverse career combining microbiology and furniture manufacturing, he created the "Iwami-style Brewing Method."

His viral TED Talk, "Copying is the key to innovation," shares this unique philosophy, which has helped him establish over 80 breweries worldwide. He also designs and builds essential brewing equipment.

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

DOOR to ASIA: The Art of Revitalizing Communities Through Design

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

DOOR is "Opportunity".

Miki is a true connector who co-founded DOOR to ASIA, a Designers-in-Residence program where designers from Asian countries gather in a community to create “communication design” for local companies.

He is a dynamic design agent dedicated to global connection. After eight years in London, he founded Agent Hamyak inc., a Tokyo-based illustration agency that produces international projects.

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Q&A

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

3:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Building Alternative Narratives: How Grassroots Journalism Bridges Music Communities Worldwide

Kristin Lara Angan

Editor
Coast2Coast
Cebu, Philippines

In the last five years, multiple music publications across the Asia-Pacific shut down, leaving a gap in important coverage within the region. For regions that have been historically excluded from the mainstream music industry, such as the Visayas-Mindanao region, it is harder than ever to gain visibility in music.

Coast2Coast explores how we develop local music industries through independent grassroots journalism and community building activities, bridging the Philippines with the rest of the world.

This talk will show you with real-life examples how telling a good story and taking care of your community are essential for growing your business, passion project, or advocacy.

3:50 PM - 4:25 PM

Get to know the BetterGov.ph! Access government services and stay updated with latest PH News

Paul Pajo

Director & TBI (Technology Business Incubator) Manager
Benilde HIFI DOST TBI
Philippines

BREAKOUT ROOM 1

October 3, 2025

(Triphora)

BREAKOUT ROOM 2

October 3, 2025

(Pyrene)

Time

Event

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Check-in and Badge Pickup (In front of Triton 3 Ballroom)

Morning Session

Hosts:

Lenli Tuhoy

Head of Content and Brand Marketing
Symph

Frances Teves

Technical Project Manager
Symph

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Roundtable Session

Moderator:

Ashley Uy

Senior Product Owner, Synacy
Community Builder, SproutUpBohol + GOAB

Alea Ladaga

Community Manager
Sinigang Valley Association

9:45 AM - 9:50 AM

Transition Time

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Validate Your Startup Idea with Design Sprints 🚀

Karl Michael dela Cruz

User Experience Designer
Synacy
Cebu, Philippines

Got a groundbreaking idea? Don't just build it—validate it.

We’ll discuss the core principles of a Design Sprint. This proven process helps you test and refine initial product ideas in just a few days. You’ll learn how to save time and resources, ensuring your startup is building the right product for the right people, and how to turn an idea into a validated Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Straight from the Sinigang Pot: Startup Realities & Recipes for Scaling

By:

Sinigang Valley Association

This breakout takes Sinigang Valley out of our usual HQ and into Cebu — straight into the GOAB kitchen — where seasoned entrepreneurs gather for real talk on what it truly takes to grow a startup: the wins worth celebrating, the stumbles that shaped the journey, and the lessons learned along the way.

From fundraising and customer growth to governance, incubator programs, and government partnerships, representatives from startups such as PayMongo, Remotify and investors like Kickstart Ventures, Kaya Founders, AHG Lab and Foxmont Capital Partners, will share their candid stories in this “professional chismisan session”, hosted by Rene Cuartero of AHG Lab.

This breakout session brings Sinigang from their HQ kitchen to Cebu for a candid, "professional chismisan" conversation on what it really takes to grow a startup from 1 to 100. Seasoned entrepreneurs and investors will share honest stories about their wins, their stumbles, and the lessons they've learned about fundraising, growth, and building a strong company.

Attendees will get a dose of fresh insights and practical takeaways on how to nurture and support startup growth. The discussion will feature a quick panel, followed by an "Ask Me Anything" session with members of SVA.

Moderator:

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

Panelists:

Maria Sucgang

CEO & Co-Founder
Remotify
Philippines

John Soriano

Head of Marketing
Paymongo

Carlo Silva

Co-Founder & CEO
Shoppable Business
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Meet the SVA investors joining for the AMA Session:

Paulo Campos

Founding Managing General Partner
Kaya Founders
Philippines

Jecky Pelaez

Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Jojo Malolos

CEO
PayMongo
Philippines

Rene Cuartero

Co-Founder & CEO
AHG Lab
Philippines

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break

11:15 AM - 11:45 PM

Ecosystem Lessons: Philippines Meets Philadelphia

Isabelle Kent

CEO
Startup Leaders
USA

Katrina Rausa Chan

Investor, Startup Ecosystem Builder,
Co-Founder
QBO Innovation Hub
Philippines

Maria Elena "Nannette" C. Arbon

Business Advisor & Startup Mentor
Former Regional Director, Department of Trade and Industry
Philippines

Join three leading startup ecosystem builders, Katrina Chan (Philippines), Nannette Arbon (Central Philippines) and Isabelle Kent (Philadelphia, PA, USA), as they share their top lessons from their respective regions.

Lessons from the Ground Up: Their top 5 takeaways on building a thriving startup community.

A Cross-Cultural Dialogue: A conversation exploring what each can learn from the other's unique challenges and successes.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Embedded Finance: How Unicorns Like Grab and Traveloka Scaled and Won in Southeast Asia

Jose Dalino

CTO
Paymongo
Singapore/Philippines

Key points

1. Ecosystem Liquidity & Data Moats: How providing contextual financial services—such as working capital loans for merchants and embedded insurance for drivers—not only increased platform stickiness but also created proprietary behavioral data moats essential for superior, alternative credit scoring in underbanked markets.

2.LTV Maximization through Contextual Credit: Analyzing the implementation of consumer-facing products like Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and digital credit lines. These embedded offerings captured a larger share of the customer's wallet and drove higher Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).

3. The API-First Scaling Challenge: The technical architectures, compliance automation, and strategic partnerships required to rapidly scale a full stack of financial products across the diverse and regulated markets of Southeast Asia.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

From Deck to Deal: Supercharge Your Pitch with AI

William Eka

Vice President
Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Network (WEN)

Whether you're chasing your first check or closing your next round, this tool helps you pitch like a pro. Learn how AI-powered tools can elevate your deck, sharpen your story, and prep you for tough investor questions—without losing your founder voice. We’ll walk through interactive features, demo smart features, and share tips to help you land the big yes.

Perfect for startup founders, hustlers, and geeks who want to pitch smarter, faster, and with flair—right from the beach.

12:50 PM - 1:50 PM

Women in Tech Luncheon

Join us! All who support and champion women in tech are welcome.

1:50 PM - 2:00 PM

Move to Breakout Rooms

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

FoundHer Roundtable Discussion:
Future-Proofing with Inclusive Leadership

Candice Quimpo

Co-Founder & COO
FoundHer
Philippines

Mel Nava

Co-Founder & CEO
1Export
Philippines

Crystal Lee Gonzalez

CEO & Co-Founder
NoneAway & Nōna
Serial Entrepreneur
Philippines

Inclusive leadership, defined by principles like empathy, collaboration, and empowerment, is a foundational component of modern leadership, essential for navigating diverse and dynamic work environments to effectively position organizations for resilience and sustained success.

In this session, three trailblazing Filipina founders—Candice Quimpo, Mel Nava, and Crystal Gonzalez—will share how they have used these principles to not only build successful businesses but also to navigate a rapidly evolving world.

Rooted in Imaginable Impact's mission to reframe Filipina leadership, this discussion will also explore how embracing an inclusive leadership style can advance every founder's investibility journey and contribute to a more vibrant and supportive startup ecosystem.

Format:

5-minute presentation by Candice Quimpo
30-minute fireside chat with Mel Nava and Crystal Gonzalez
25-minute open forum discussion

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Copy & Create: The Unexpected Path to Innovation

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Itsuo is a beer brewing innovator and fermentation master. After a diverse career combining microbiology and furniture manufacturing, he created the "Iwami-style Brewing Method."

His viral TED Talk, "Copying is the key to innovation," shares this unique philosophy, which has helped him establish over 80 breweries worldwide. He also designs and builds essential brewing equipment.

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

DOOR to ASIA: The Art of Revitalizing Communities Through Design

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

DOOR is "Opportunity".

Miki is a true connector who co-founded DOOR to ASIA, a Designers-in-Residence program where designers from Asian countries gather in a community to create “communication design” for local companies.

He is a dynamic design agent dedicated to global connection. After eight years in London, he founded Agent Hamyak inc., a Tokyo-based illustration agency that produces international projects.

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Q&A

Itsuo Yamaguchi

Founder
Iwami-Style Brewing Method
Japan

Mikiharu Yabe

Design Agent
Agent Hamyak Inc.
Japan

3:30 PM - 3:50 PM

Building Alternative Narratives: How Grassroots Journalism Bridges Music Communities Worldwide

Kristin Lara Angan

Editor
Coast2Coast
Cebu, Philippines

In the last five years, multiple music publications across the Asia-Pacific shut down, leaving a gap in important coverage within the region. For regions that have been historically excluded from the mainstream music industry, such as the Visayas-Mindanao region, it is harder than ever to gain visibility in music.

Coast2Coast explores how we develop local music industries through independent grassroots journalism and community building activities, bridging the Philippines with the rest of the world.

This talk will show you with real-life examples how telling a good story and taking care of your community are essential for growing your business, passion project, or advocacy.

3:50 PM - 4:25 PM

Get to know the BetterGov.ph! Access government services and stay updated with latest PH News

Paul Pajo

Director & TBI (Technology Business Incubator) Manager
Benilde HIFI DOST TBI
Philippines