The Founders Making Y Combinator Look East
A new class of Filipino startups is quietly rewriting what a YC batch looks like — and what Manila can build for the region.
Maria Santos
The Founders Making Y Combinator Look East
Every batch, a handful of Southeast Asian founders make it through Y Combinator's interview gauntlet. This cycle, Philippine-founded startups make up a larger share than usual — spanning fintech rails, maritime logistics, and agri-supply software.
What's changed isn't just capital access. It's ambition: these founders are building for export from day one, treating the domestic market as a proving ground rather than a ceiling.
Reader Discussion
J. Bautista
This is the kind of reporting I wish more Philippine outlets did.
Maria Santos
Former Bloomberg correspondent covering capital markets, central banking, and Philippine conglomerates across Southeast Asia.
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