In the last two years, the Philippine startup ecosystem has seen a significant boom, including increased funding and growth, which can be attributed largely to its young and vibrant talent. However, challenges remain, such as improved infrastructure, regulatory hurdles, and the need to further develop local talent to sustain long-term growth and innovation.
According to the Startup Genome report, the Philippines achieved a GDP growth of 5.6% in 2023, making it the fastest-growing economy among major ASEAN nations. Manila, the vibrant capital at the heart of the archipelago, leads the country’s dynamic startup ecosystem, which includes nearly 1,100 startups, 60 incubators and accelerators, 50 venture capitalists, and 200 coworking spaces.
Its ecosystem growth has climbed steadily in the Global Innovation Index, rising from #100 in 2014 to #56 in 2023, with a goal to break into the top 50 by 2028 as outlined in the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan.
Since then, different ecosystem players have popped up, including a more focused approach in venture studios that allows founders to be nimble and disruptive in their decision-making. According to a report done by the GSSN, “84% of companies created at a venture studio survive to reach growth and secure funding”.
AHG Lab, one of the Philippines’ largest independent venture studios, aims to unite visionary founders and creative minds with the shared ambition to revolutionise the startup landscape.
A community and hub for disruptors in the local and regional markets
From the idea stage to pre-series A, AHG Lab operates, invests, and builds an ecosystem that empowers, accelerates, and scales technology and tech-enabled startups and founders in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
Rene Cuatero, CEO at AHG Lab, shared, “We envision a future where no founder feels lost or unsupported and where every startup in the Philippines, Southeast Asia, and beyond is poised for accelerated growth and success.”
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Cuartero added, “Our mission is to build an ecosystem that addresses the needs and pain points of founders and startups, fostering a conducive environment that drives their success so the founders can focus on building the solution to the pain point they are solving.”
As an industry-agnostic venture studio, AHG Lab welcomes local and regional strategic partners or ecosystem development institutions to participate. Their objectives are to accelerate the Philippine innovation space to bridge startups and talent with the rest of the region.
While this is an expansive list of potential connections, from investors to governments, other venture builders and studios, and civil society, AHG Lab believes that as a collective, so much development work is possible.
Committed to empowering local talent on a global scale
AHG Lab operates to empower founders and startups through advisory, capital formation, venture-building, acceleration, and other programmes and activities related to ecosystem building.
Their influence is highlighted by their team’s keen understanding of various industries, market dynamics, and fundraising environments. As a result, AHG Lab is uniquely positioned and embedded in the networks that are running the space.
Specifically, AHG Lab is eager to partner with experts/practitioners of early-stage startup funding, early-stage ecosystem development, angel investing or angel investment syndicates, M&A deal-makers, and other players who are looking into expanding, partnering, and growing into the Philippines. Ultimately, to bridge the regional with the local.
The purposes of these partnerships may, in the immediate future, be to co-host events, facilitate introductions to portfolio companies, strategise co-investment opportunities, as well as deliver trainings and workshops for stakeholders in the startup space in the Philippine ecosystem. Ultimately, these are what AHG Lab aim to achieve with regional partners as they participate in Echelon Philippines 2024.
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Their Chief of Staff, Jaymes Shrimski, explained, “What allows us at AHG Lab to be nimble and disruptive with our decision-making is the fact we’re independent of conglomerate investment and hence independent of the machinery that comes with conglomerate decision-making.”
Shrimski added, “This also gives us the opportunity to understand which investors and startups have a strategic eye on the Philippines as well as why. While we have our own positive views on the Philippines, our exposure to our portfolio’s various industries allows us to gain a pulse on what investors think, how other startups fare, and the general macro environment sentiment in many sectors across the Philippines.”
Palpable excitement awaits the first-ever Echelon in the Philippines
Echelon Philippines’ participants can expect to see a showcase of AHG’s portfolio companies and successful case studies of their working model as a venture studio. The audience can expect insights and learnings on how they have supported startups as they have grown to maturity.
According to Cuartero, AHG is poised to create more networks and build more bridges between the Philippine ecosystem and the rest of the region — both of which are part of their job as ecosystem builders. “While we learn from examples set by other ecosystems, finding ways to enter them as well as provide entry to them is a key thrust of our mandate — all while ensuring value creation for all stakeholders involved throughout this process,” Cuartero remarked.
Get to know AHG Lab at Echelon Philippines!
AHG Lab is among the many dynamic industry leaders joining us for Echelon Philippines 2024. Alongside them will be other key leaders, visionary entrepreneurs, and innovative startups from across the region. They will converge for an action-packed two-day event on September 26-27 at Level 2, SMX Convention.
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Echelon Philippines 2024, hosted by e27 in partnership with Brainsparks, offers dedicated content stages, exhibitions, panel discussions, and much more — all designed to support and empower the regional tech startup ecosystem with practical insights through various knowledge-sharing activities.
Whether you’re looking to expand your expertise, connect with influential figures in the tech startup world, or present your groundbreaking ideas, Echelon Philippines 2024 presents an unmatched experience sure to give you and your company a boost. Secure your spot now on our official page and join us as a participant or an official partner. Together, we can shape the future and create a lasting impact.
Join us at Echelon Philippines 2024, where innovation knows no boundaries and the possibilities are limitless!
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