Shannen is a seasoned fractional product designer with a decade of experience crafting intuitive digital experiences. Her approach combines user-centered design methodologies with a holistic perspective, resulting in solutions that blend aesthetics and functionality. Shannen's expertise lies in transforming complex user needs into sleek, effective interfaces across a diverse range of projects.

Beyond work, she is deeply committed to nurturing the UX community. Since 2017, she has volunteered and led UX Davao, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting User Experience Design practices in Davao City. When not immersed in the digital world, Shannen finds balance in tending to her garden, exploring new recipes in the kitchen, and embracing the challenge of learning to play the drums (sorry neighbors!)

Andre Yap leads Ignite's venture capital activities, focusing on sourcing, evaluating, and supporting companies to achieve 100X ROI and impact. With a passion for innovation, he channels 100X Peak Performance strategies into corporate, educational, and government sectors to elevate Filipino talent. Educated in the US, Andre was granted US Permanent Residence in 2009 for exceptional innovation work. Since returning to Manila in 2011, he has been dedicated to driving 100X growth through Ignite House of Innovation.

Gabriel Ayala is an entrepreneur in residence and investor with Kaya Founders, focusing on scaling early-stage portfolio companies and incubating his own technology ventures aimed at economic empowerment. He also runs Pawikan Capital Group, connecting overseas Filipinos with entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia. Prior to Kaya, Gabriel spent eight years at Block Inc., where he led the Growth data science team for Square and managed operations for Cash App. He holds a Master’s in Finance and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Claremont McKenna College.

Kendrick Geluz Kho is the Founder & General Partner of Hyperparameter, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in AI-driven transformations in traditional industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and finance. He previously founded Fourth Realm (investing in SpaceX and Stripe) and served as Partner at Global Founders Capital (investing in Deel and Brex). Kendrick is also President of the Science & Technology Advisory Council (STAC), promoting innovation in the Philippines. He holds three degrees from Stanford University.

Garik Tate is an AI Futurist, Investor, and AI Strategy Consultant.

With a decade of entrepreneurial experience, he has founded and led successful companies in software development, outsourcing, and publishing.

His expertise lies at the intersection of AI, IQ, and EQ, getting his client’s businesses to achieve increased profits and ultimately get acquired at high valuations.

Jen Bilango is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in fundraising, team management, and strategic program development within the Web3 and blockchain sectors. She has successfully raised over $170M, managed global teams, and organized major industry conferences and tournaments. Passionate about fostering growth and innovation, Jen excels in translating complex organizational needs into actionable solutions.

Ksther’s diverse experience across global conglomerates, government, non-profits, consultancies, and startups gives her a unique perspective on organizational dynamics. She strategically leverages technologies—from data and blockchain to AI—to revolutionize business and HR strategies, aligning them with future needs. Ksther seamlessly blends technology with a deep understanding of human dynamics, guiding leaders through complexities and helping them avoid missteps. She creates engaging, effective solutions that elevate organizational performance, cultivate thriving teams, and foster leadership growth at every level.

Mia is a data-driven, customer-centric executive with a proven track record in transforming brands into scalable successes. As Chief Operating Officer at Great Deals E-Commerce Corp, she leads process automation and digital transformation. Her experience spans startups and corporate roles, including President and CEO at QuadX Inc. and VP at Smart Communications Inc. Mia is also the President & Co-Founder of The Unbranded Skincare Co. and holds degrees from De La Salle University and Kellogg, with additional expertise in Six Sigma Greenbelt and Design Thinking.

Diane’s joy comes from enabling others, especially young entrepreneurs. Through her work with tech startups, she has mentored close to 500 entrepreneurs. She was executive director of IdeaSpace, a tech startup accelerator from 2012 to 2021. Still very much engaged in the Philippine startup ecosystem, she chairs several technical panels at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is 1 of 2 private sector representatives to the Innovative Startup Act Steering Committee, and conducts training on customer discovery through several Philippine universities.

Yeoh Chen Chow co-founded Fave, a fintech loyalty platform acquired by Pine Labs in April 2021, and also KFit, a fitness-sharing platform. He previously held roles at Groupon Asia Pacific, JobStreet.com, and Accenture. An Eisenhower Fellow and Cornell alumnus, he is an angel investor, mentor, and currently offers advisory and coaching services.

Chris the CTO of Shoppable and founder of Startup PH. He created a technology firm on 2011 and the first cross border commerce platform on 2013 in the Philippines with his amazing friends and partners. Both were acquired by the Sterling Group of Companies in 2017.

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Chris is an experienced Open Source Programmer, detail-oriented UX Product Designer, and an expert in driving mass traffic through organic growth strategies. He has held leadership roles as a CEO, CTO, and Tech Entrepreneur in Southeast Asia. With three ventures that didn’t succeed, two successful acquisitions, and one ongoing project, Chris is also a startup supporter and a new Angel Investor.

Chair, Science & Technology Advisory Council - Silicon Valley
Adjunct Professor, The MSEI @ USF

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Christina Laskowski is a senior strategy and change expert with a background in tech and startups. At VMware, Inc., she led key initiatives in Go to Market and SaaS transformation. She also influenced the Philippine startup scene through STAC Silicon Valley, driving $350 million in venture capital. Currently, Christina is an adjunct professor in the MS Entrepreneurship and Innovation program at the University of San Francisco and advises startups, including LiVeritas Biosciences.

Erika Aquino is an entrepreneur and angel investor with a diverse background in public relations, business development, and marketing across the fintech, hospitality, and food and beverage industries. Her current portfolio includes companies in 5 countries and 3 continents. Passionate about making an impact, Erika invests in companies focused on wellness, sustainability, education, agriculture, and the future of work.

Franco Varona is Managing Partner at Foxmont Capital Partners, an early-stage venture capital fund dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs. The firm operates on the belief that if a startup can thrive in the Philippines, it can succeed globally. Franco focuses on funding and guiding startups to tackle significant problems and achieve success.

Co-Founder and COO, Luxclusif by Farfetch, Portugal.

Gui Faria is a Portuguese serial entrepreneur who built a remarkable career through immersing himself in diverse cultures, including time in the U.S., Italy, South Korea, and over a decade in Japan. He co-founded Luxclusif (later acquired by Farfetch) and Penbrothers, an offshore staffing provider here in the Philippines that recently secured a major investment from Japan's MyNavi. Now based in Portugal with his family, Gui continues to balance his thriving career with a rich personal life, frequently traveling between Europe and Asia.

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Jay Fajardo is a serial tech entrepreneur and advocate for grassroots innovation. He is the Executive Director at IDEASPACE/QBO and the founder and CEO of PROUDCLOUD, which provides agile development teams to tech startups. As a prominent speaker and mentor, Jay is a key figure in shaping the Philippine tech startup ecosystem.

Jeremy Au is COO of Lucence, a leading biotech AI startup focused on precision oncology. He also hosts BRAVE Southeast Asia, the region’s #1 tech podcast with 60,000+ monthly listeners. Angel in 24 startups. Exited founder, former Bain consultant and Harvard MBA. Recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 and Prestige 40 Under 40.

Jeremy comes from a family of venture-backed entrepreneurs; His older brother founded Expedock and his younger brother founded Avion School (YC W21). Jeremy has previous experience in early-stage investing through a Philippine-based VC firm. Prior to joining Gentree, he also worked at PDAX (Series B), a Crypto Exchange in the Philippines. Jeremy graduated with honors from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a BS Business Administration & Accountancy undergraduate degree.

Jojo Flores is Co-Founder of Plug and Play Tech Center, which accelerates over 2,000 tech startups globally each year. He also co-founded Launchgarage in 2016, an ASEAN-focused tech startup accelerator. Jojo advises startups and serves on boards such as the Science and Technology Advisory Council and Animo Labs-ICAST.

Josef Werker's career began in sport and music before shifting to the startup world, driven by his passion for making a real impact. He moved to Southeast Asia in 2012, working with global CEOs and government officials to promote investment in emerging markets. In 2017, he became managing director of Penbrothers, which, under his leadership, was named the fastest-growing company in the Philippines from 2019 to 2022. Josef then co-founded and became CEO of Humble, a leading climate technology company in the Philippines. Humble disrupts IT equipment management to prevent e-waste and supports businesses in achieving their ESG goals. The company is backed by Gobi, the Philippine government, and ADB.

Kevin is the founder of Indelible Ventures, a Seed Stage VC focused on tech-enabled B2B products with international scalability. His career began in distressed assets in NYC and progressively expanded into early-stage and international investments. Over the years, he has accumulated extensive experience, managing more than $500M in AUM and being involved in hundreds of investments and thousands of opportunities across various sectors and geographies. Since founding Indelible Ventures in 2021, he has been dedicated to identifying high-growth opportunities in Southeast Asia and partnering with exceptional founders who have a global vision.

Klaus Wehage is a serial entrepreneur and startup advisor known for his bestselling book, Global Class, which has been endorsed by leaders from Google, Salesforce, and Zoom. He serves as co-founder and CEO of 10X Innovation Lab, focusing on corporate innovation and global expansion. Klaus has also trained over 2,000 business leaders worldwide and holds advisory positions with Asian ministries, making him a key figure in the tech and innovation space.

Mohan Belani is the Co-Founder and CEO of e27, as well as a Partner at Orvel Ventures. He is an early-stage investor with a focus on startups and funds in Southeast Asia. Mohan actively connects startups, investors, and corporates in the region.

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Péter Kovács is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor from Budapest. He co-founded the Global Startup Awards, covering over 120 countries, and IseeQ, an international tech recruitment agency. He also co-founded XO.company, which links governments and corporations with startup ecosystems.

Robert Cristobal is a seasoned creative entrepreneur having worked with global brands through his company in Singapore (Frame 316, 2009-2023). He served as a Marketing Consultant to various brands and has grown his network through collaborative business development and speaking engagements. He also teaches video content and marketing to adult learning institutions, client brands and through his YouTube channel.

Robert believes that no matter how powerful AI is, the most potent use of this tool is with the authentic touch of human creativity.

His passion to build from years of creative business experience, brings him to set up NxtStory Studios in the heart of Silicon Valley California.

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Ron Baetiong is the Founder & CEO of Podcast Network Asia and Podmachine, as well as the host of the Hustleshare podcast. With a proven track record in the startup world, Ron established Southeast Asia's largest Podcast Network and led it to success. He also founded the Philippines' premier chatbot development agency, which was acquired within a year. Additionally, Ron launched Partyphile, Asia's largest nightlife app, which quickly gained over 120,000 users.

Wade Eyerly is a General Partner and Investor at Buko Ventures, formerly Digital River Impact. It is a venture fund focused on investing in early stage companies delivering outsized financial performance while improving the world around them. They focus in places like Ghana, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.