Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, Cebu City (2026)

17/12/2025

As 2025 comes to an end, a clearer picture is emerging of how the Philippine startup ecosystem is evolving.

Philippine Startup Week marked the culmination of the progress built throughout 2025. From funding rounds raised by local startups, to events mounted and partnerships formed, the week reflected what becomes possible when the ecosystem moves together.

To capture the state of the ecosystem at this point in time, Gobi Partners released the Philippine Startup Ecosystem Report 2025: The Next Wave of Innovation. The report provides a holistic view of the landscape, highlighting where the Philippines stands among its Southeast Asian peers and how local founders are navigating today’s environment.

During the most recent Philippine Startup Week, we:
🔵 Established points of collaboration with government for local capital formation and the creation of relevant initiatives through the signing of MOUs with National Development Company (NDC) & Department of Information and Communications Technology
🔵 Recognised founders and the progress their startups have made along the way at the KMC Startup Awards
🔵 Engaged with Philippine startup founders across different stages at the Investor Matching and Demo Day event by Founders Launchpad and Xendit
🔵 Mentored future startup founders creating innovative solutions for nation-building at the Breaking Enigma Hackathon by NDC

Here’s a closer look at how these engagements unfolded throughout the week.

📘 Read the Philippine Startup Ecosystem Report 2025: The Next Wave of Innovation: bit.ly/phecosystemreport2025
🇵🇭 Explore the Philippine Startup Database: bit.ly/PhilippineStartupDatabase

03/12/2025

Climate innovations are crucial to the future of society.

This past November 25, 2025, , together with non-profit organization .earth, co-hosted the official launch of (I4C) at The Astbury in Makati. The gathering brought together over 20 climate investors, policy advisors, and founders to explore emerging opportunities in areas such as regenerative agriculture and climate tech deployment across the Philippines.

Conversations pointed to a shared priority: building the conditions for climate solutions to take root and scale in the Philippines. Participants discussed what it will take to strengthen the pipeline – whether through better financing pathways, clearer policy signals, or stronger collaboration across sectors.

“As a community in the Philippines, we will be creating a roadmap,” said I4C Ambassador for Manila and Gobi Partners (Gobi-Core Philippine Fund) Partner Carlo Chen-Delantar. “The goal here is to have the most authentic data-driven sentiment of where investors are towards climate in the Philippines.”

The event also included perspectives from policymakers like Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares; investors from firms such as Omtse Ventures, , and ; and ecosystem builders working on grassroots and market-level climate initiatives.

Read more about the event here: https://sustina.earth/investors-for-climate-i4c-in-manila/

Photos by

03/12/2025

Climate innovations are crucial to the future of society.

This past November 25, 2025, , together with non-profit organization .earth, co-hosted the official launch of in Manila at The Astbury in Makati City. The gathering brought together over 20 climate investors, policy advisors, and founders to explore emerging opportunities in areas such as regenerative agriculture and climate tech deployment across the Philippines.

Conversations pointed to a shared priority: building the conditions for climate solutions to take root and scale in the Philippines. Participants discussed what it will take to strengthen the pipeline – whether through better financing pathways, clearer policy signals, or stronger collaboration across sectors.

“As a community in the Philippines, we will be creating a roadmap,” said I4C Ambassador for Manila and Gobi Partners (Gobi-Core Philippine Fund) Partner Carlo Chen-Delantar. “The goal here is to have the most authentic data-driven sentiment of where investors are towards climate in the Philippines.”

The event also included perspectives from policymakers like Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares; investors from firms such as Omtse Ventures, , and ; and ecosystem builders working on grassroots and market-level climate initiatives.

Read more about the event here: https://sustina.earth/investors-for-climate-i4c-in-manila/

Photos by

27/11/2025

Behind every competitive startup economy is a quiet force that matters just as much as founders and funding: institutional alignment. That is what turns early momentum into lasting national competitiveness.

Over the past years, Gobi Partners has been working closely with the Philippine government to help strengthen the foundations of the local startup economy. Last November 12–13, this collaboration was formalised through two national-level partnerships designed to support founders across capital formation, skills, and regional development.

The first MOU, signed with the National Development Company under General Manager Saturnino Mejia and Assistant General Manager Alewijn Ong, strengthens support for the Philippine Innovation Hub and advances programmes for innovation, financial inclusion, and regional founder development. The partnership also involves NDC exploring an investment into Gobi Partners to strengthen local capital formation.

A second MOU with the Department of Information and Communications Technology under Secretary Henry Aguda, Undersecretary Leandro Angelo Aguirre, and Assistant Secretary Atty. Celine Dee focuses on nationwide capacity building, employability, and talent development to support founders and startups across all regions.

As the ecosystem matures, the work ahead is no longer just about accelerating startups. It is about strengthening the institutions, partnerships, and capital pipelines that will define the Philippines’ innovation trajectory for the next decade.

Read more about the partnerships here:
https://gobicore.vc/gobi-partners-ndc-and-dict-forge-alliances-to-strengthen-the-philippines-startup-ecosystem/

17/11/2025

A thriving startup ecosystem depends on coordinated work across funding, policy, talent, and community support. The organisations in this map represent the key groups that continue to shape the direction and pace of Philippine innovation.

As Philippine Startup Week 2025 concludes, the spotlight turns to the collective momentum driving the ecosystem’s next stage.

📘 Read the Philippine Startup Ecosystem Report 2025: The Next Wave of Innovation: bit.ly/phecosystemreport2025
🇵🇭Explore the Philippine Startup Database: bit.ly/PhilippineStartupDatabase

13/11/2025

LAST CHANCE TO JOIN THE AI MOVEMENT!

Registration for the Alibaba Cloud PH AI Hackathon 2025 is now extended to November 14!

What’s waiting for you?

✅ Build & compete with 150+ of PH’s top builders
✅ Win big: ₱50,000 cash prize, exclusive Alibaba Cloud credits, official certifications, and real opportunities
✅ Solve real problems in FinTech, AgriTech, EdTech, and smart cities — with mentorship from industry leaders
✅ Connect, collaborate, and co-create — this is where the next wave of PH AI talent rises!

Date: November 19–20 | 9AM–6PM
Venue: Innovatrium, Miriam College

🎟️ Free to join. Zero cost. Unlimited potential.

Secure your spot before the deadline: https://www.alibabacloud.com/en/developer/phillipines-hackathon?_p_lc=1

Tag your hacker squad. Let’s make history — together.

13/11/2025

Deal value in the Philippine startup ecosystem declined by 32%, while deal count fell by 54%, reflecting a more selective and cautious investment climate. These shifts point to tighter capital allocation and a greater focus on fundamentals.

The latest funding trends offer a clearer view of where investor confidence is moving and what conditions startups must navigate in the year ahead.

📘 Learn more about it by reading the Philippine Startup Ecosystem Report 2025: The Next Wave of Innovation: bit.ly/phecosystemreport2025
🇵🇭 Explore the Philippine Startup Database: bit.ly/PhilippineStartupDatabase

10/11/2025

As the year comes to a close, the spotlight turns to Philippine Startup Week 2025 — the country’s largest gathering of founders, investors, and enablers shaping the future of innovation.

The Gobi Partners Philippine team will be taking part in several key sessions throughout the week, sharing insights on capital, collaboration, and the growth of regional ecosystems.

📅 November 11 | Philippine Startup Week 2025 Opening Ceremony | 1:00PM onwards | Philippine Innovation Hub, Marikina City (Invite only)
📅 November 11 | Founders Launchpad: Investor Matching & Demo Day | 3:00 PM onwards | Green Sun Hotel, Makati City
📅 November 12 | Philippine Startup Week 2025 Main Summit | 9:00 AM onwards | Philippine Innovation Hub, Marikina City
📅 November 13 | KMC Startup Awards | 6:00PM onwards | (Invite only)
📅November 12–14 | NDC Hackathon | 8:00 AM–5:00 PM | Philippine Innovation Hub, Marikina City

Capping off a year of ecosystem milestones, these sessions will celebrate the progress of Filipino startups and highlight what’s next for the country’s innovation landscape!

See you at !

06/11/2025

AI is transforming how industries innovate, scale, and invest—and the Philippines is at a critical point to define its place in this shift.

At Alibaba Cloud Day Philippines 2025, Partner and Head of Circular Economy Carlo Chen-Delantar discussed how the country can shape its AI future by aligning policy, capital, and talent. The Philippines’ young, tech-savvy population and expanding digital economy present immense potential—what’s needed now is collaboration to build AI made for and by Filipinos.

And the conversation continues.

💡 We’re partnering with Alibaba Cloud for the Philippine AI Hackathon 2025, a national challenge designed to turn bold ideas into real AI solutions.

Join developers, engineers, and innovators nationwide to:
💰 Win up to ₱50,000 in cash prizes
☁️ Access Alibaba Cloud credits
🏅 Earn certifications
🚀 Unlock career and startup opportunities

📅 November 19–20, 2025 | 📍 Miriam College, QC
🔗 Register by Nov 10: https://www.alibabacloud.com/en/developer/phillipines-hackathon?_p_lc=1

Gobi Partners is proud to champion Filipino talent building the next wave of AI innovation.
Bring your ideas. Build with purpose. Let’s put the Philippines on the AI map. 🇵🇭

06/11/2025

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗺𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 — 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

⏳ 1 more day until registrations close! Only a day left to join the
national hackathon and build solutions for a better future. Partner
institutions are excited to support the next generation of innovators and tech-driven solutions!

Join us November 12–14 and showcase your ideas in our innovation tracks:
✨ 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
🎨 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆
🤖 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

🏆 Win a spot in the Residency Program & cash prizes up to ₱100,000!
🗓 Registration Deadline: November 7, 2025
✅ Register for FREE: https://forms.office.com/r/As3g4PvDV2
📧 [email protected] | 📞 0927 430 2184
🌐 www.ndc.gov.ph

04/11/2025

Last October 2, Value Creation and Investments Associate Justine Ngo facilitated the Business Matching Segment for .PH (DTI Region VII) startups during Geeks on a Beach 2025. The segment gathered founders from Central Visayas, particularly Bohol and Cebu, for one-on-one conversations with both local and international investors.

These exchanges highlighted how the Visayas startup ecosystem is charting its own path. Rather than replicating existing models, founders here are building solutions rooted in local realities — from tourism to logistics to sustainability. This context-driven innovation is what truly sets the region apart.

To cap off the event’s sessions, Humble Sustainability founder Josef Werker delivered a talk entitled “10 Myths from 10 Years as an Entrepreneur.” Drawing from a decade of building and leading mission-driven companies, he shared practical lessons and candid reflections aimed at guiding the next generation of Visayan founders — encouraging them to embrace experimentation, stay grounded in purpose, and build businesses that continue to endure.

While still at an early stage, many of these founders are building with intention — focusing on market understanding, operational discipline, and community partnerships. Their progress highlights that the next generation of promising Philippine startups may not emerge from major cities alone, but from ecosystems that have learned to innovate with constraint, resilience, and purpose.

Read more on how Gobi has been championing growing startup ecosystems across the Philippines here: https://gobicore.vc/building-foundations-gobis-commitment-to-emerging-startup-hubs-in-the-philippines/

Thank you to all the investors and founders who joined and helped build stronger bridges between regions and opportunities!

Gobi-Core Philippine Fund

17/12/2025

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