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 7,500 Graduates raise over $1.85BN 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:
- Future-proofing CPG Brands: Key Strategies for Sustainable Growth: 10:00pm, May 15, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/371024
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00am, Jun 03, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/370904
- How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 1:00am, Jun 05, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/371432
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00am, Jun 10, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/370811
- Meet the FI Alumni Scaling Startups in Asia: 7:00pm, Jun 16, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/371560
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 1:00am, Jun 24, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/371856
- Startup Finance & Banking Basics: AMA with Grasshopper Bank: 1:00am, Jun 26, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/372055
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00am, Jul 01, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/371693
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00am, Jul 08, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/370422
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:
- Aaron Tan: CEO, Carro
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Aditya Chintawar: Chief Product & Tech Officer (CPTO), KoinWorks
- Ainun Najib: Global Head of Data Platform, Dyson
- Alex Alabiso: N/A, Clickaramat
- Althea Lim
- Amrei Dizon, ME, CPM: Founder, Vitalstrats Creative Solutions
- Annaliza Laxamana: Founder and CEO, Modern Ads and Promo, Inc.
- Antonny Liem: CEO, MCM Group
- Apollo Sangalang: Founder, Sangalang & Gaerlan, Business Lawyers
- Arcui Usoara: Founder/CEO, Iaculus
- Arup Maity: President, BlastAsia
- Atty. Marvyn Gaerlan: Attorney, Sangalang & Gaerlan, Business Lawyers
- Carlo Valencia: Founder / Facilitator, Startup PH Training
- Carlo Calimon: President, StartUp Village
- Carlo Sagun: President and CEO, Bayan Family of Foundations
- Carlos Ang
- Christian Blanquera: Angel Investor, Incept Asia
- Danny Wirianto: CBO, GDP Ventures
- Darwin Rivers: Founder - Philippines HR Group, PHIlHRG Inc
- Francisco Lapid: Chairman, SPAC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INC
- Gaery Undarsa: Co-Founder & CMO, Lifepack / Jovee
- Gerard Escaler: Co-Founder, Lyrium Venture Partners Limited
- Gina Romero: CEO, ConnectedWomen.org
- Isabel Pablo: Founder, GK Innovations Lab
- Jerry Cocabo-Yao CPM-Asia, CPME, MBA: Founder, TMSPH Training & Consultancy Services
- Jj Disini: Managing Partner, Disini and Disini
- Joel Santos: PRESIDENT, THAMES INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL
- John D. Evans, CFA: Fouinder & General Manager, SEIML Ventures
- 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, Kay Group K.K.
- Kevin Brockland: Founder & Managing Partner, Indelible Ventures:
- Maaike Doyer: Founder, Epic Angels
- Mark Pe: Private Wealth Portfolio Manager, COL FINANCIAL
- Marvin Adolfo: EVP, AISTAC Alpha Innovative Skills Training
- Niña Terol: Founder & CEO, Imaginable Impact
- Olivia Marzuki: Business News Presenter & Producer, Channel News Asia TV Singapore
- Paloma Lecheta: Regional Director - LatAm, Founder Institute
- Peng Ong: Managing Director, Monk's Hill Ventures
- Prof. Franciso Enrique M. Bernardo, III: Chairman of the Board, Bayan Family of Foundations, Inc.
- Roger Do: CEO, Co-Founder, Watchdog Cyber Defense
- Rossana Llenado: Founder and President, AHEAD Learning Systems, AHEAD Education Technologies
- Rudy Lim: CEO, OIO Singapore
- Steph Naval, Empath
- Steve Melhuish: CEO & Founder, Propertyguru
- 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.
