Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Philippines 2025 program!
If you could use a structured process and feedback from Manila's top entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Philippines 2025 Founder Institute today.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the critical support network and structured process needed to build an enduring company. Since 2009, the program has helped over 8,100 Graduates raise over 1.9BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more.
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events in Manila, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 1:00am, Oct 21, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/380726
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00am, Oct 28, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/377711
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 9:00am, Nov 11, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/378921
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Kirby Winfield: 2:00am, Nov 18, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/379458
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 2:00am, Nov 25, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/379581
- Build Your 2026 Startup Operations Plan: 2:00am, Dec 02, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/381749
- Hiring for Startups: How to Build Your Team Early: 2:00am, Dec 09, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/380859
- Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event, with Jenny Fielding: 1:00am, Dec 11, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/380968
Since first launching in 2014, the Manila Founder Institute has helped build several promising companies in the region, like Remotify (Winner of GrowthCon), ServeHappy Jobs (the winner of Seedstars Manila), TripZeeker (a fast-growing travel platform), STEMUP, UncoverBugs, and more. The Manila program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Dean Pax Lapid (Chairman, SCAP - IT), and Joseph de Leon (Founder, MAIN).
In addition, some of Manila's top entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors will be participating in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Manila Founder Institute includes:
- Alex Sy: Managing Director, ATLAS Business Consulting and Mentoring Services
- Alex Miller: Entrepreneur In Residence, Accelerating Asia
- Allan Tan: CEO/Chief AI Scientist, Predictive Systems Inc
- Amrei Dizon, ME, CPM: Founder, Vitalstrats Creative Solutions
- Anna Leshchuk: Founder & CEO, Breamsresearch
- Annaliza Laxamana: Founder and CEO, Modern Ads and Promo, Inc.
- Apollo Sangalang: Founder, Sangalang & Gaerlan, Business Lawyers
- Arcui Usoara: Global Board Advisor and Brand Strategist, Founder, Iaculus
- Arup Maity: President, BlastAsia
- Atty. Marvyn Gaerlan: Attorney, Sangalang & Gaerlan, Business Lawyers
- Azran Osman Rani: CEO and Co-Founder, Naluri
- Carlo Calimon: President, StartUp Village
- Carlo Sagun: President and CEO, Bayan Family of Foundations
- Carlo Silva: CEO, Shoppable
- Carlo Almendral: Founder, AI First
- Carlos Ang: Founder & CEO, SUDS CLOTHING CARE GRP
- Darwin Rivers: Founder - Philippines HR Group, PHIlHRG Inc
- Dr. Hanan El Basha: Strategic AI & Growth Advisor to SMEs & Scale-Ready Businesses, The Business Doctor
- Francisco DEANPAX Lapid: Chairman, SPAC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INC
- Franco Varona: Managing Partner, Foxmont Capital Partners
- Gerard Escaler: Co-Founder, Lyrium Venture Partners Limited
- GRAEME OGILVIE: Mr , Independent Advisor & Angel Investor
- Jerry Cocabo-Yao CPM: Founder, TMSPH Training & Consultancy Services
- Joel Santos: PRESIDENT, THAMES INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL
- Jorge Wieneke: Founder & CEO, TOKYO TEMPURA
- Jose Maria Fajardo: CEO, Proudcloud
- Joseph De Leon: Founder, MAIN [Manila Angel Investors Network]
- Juan Roy: President, Regenerative Transformation Institute
- Karin Wellbrock: Executive Leadership Coach and Co-Founder., .
- Kevin Brockland: Founder & Managing Partner, Indelible Ventures:
- Khailee Ng: Managing Partner, 500 Startups
- Mark Pe: Private Wealth Portfolio -IFA GROUP HEAD, COL FINANCIAL
- Mark Ferrer: Technology Innovation for Commercialization (TECHNiCOM) Program Manager, DOST-TAPI
- Marvin Adolfo: EVP, AISTAC Alpha Innovative Skills Training
- Paul Pajo: Director, Incubation Management Head & TBI Manager, Benilde HiFi
- Peng Ong: Managing Director, Monk's Hill Ventures
- PH MENTOR Francisco Lapid: CHAIRMAN, ITSPAC
- Prof JAY Bernardo, III: Chairman , Bayan Family of Foundations, Inc.
- Rexy Josh Dorado: Co-Founder, Kumu
- Roger Do: CEO, Co-Founder, Watchdog Cyber Defense
- Sheikh Masud Iftekher: Key Account Controller, Ericsson Indonesia
- Vit Vavřinec: Head of CRM Sales Performance, Home Credit Philippines
- Voltaire Magpayo: Board Member, Small Business Corporation
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is designed for founders and teams all throughout the pre-seed stage, including aspiring founders with a full-time job, solo founders, teams, and founders of established companies that are pre-funding. The Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Join us in Manila to build a world-class company in 2025.
Apply to the Philippines 2025 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
