La French Tech Manila, a non-profit organization that supports startups in the Philippines, recently held its flagship event, “Navigating the Startup Fundraising Journey.” This initiative brought together experienced founders and investors, reinforcing La French Tech Manila’s mission to foster entrepreneurship and promote international collaboration.
The event featured prominent industry figures such as Frederic Levy, co-founder and CEO of social commerce platform Toki; Carl Garcia, vice president of Rocket Equities; Joseph de Leon, a founding member of the Manila Angel Investors Network; and Priya Thachadi, founder and CEO of Villgro Philippines and Unlock Impact. Amanda Cua, CEO of Backscoop, moderated the discussions, providing a platform for engaging conversations and networking.
“We bring together industry leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs in one space to explore pathways to success through partnerships and collaboration,” said Iannis Hanen, president of La French Tech Manila. “As we push our values and beliefs as a group, we also recognize the value of working with like-minded individuals and groups that contribute to the growth and development of the Filipino startup community.”
The event also underscored the collective expertise of La French Tech Manila’s team, which includes Olivier Bariou, Thomas Krasnovsky, Mattieu Boquet, Yannick Legros, Ninoy Salmon, Ludovic Vallat, Rachel Ang, and Nathalia Biancci. This team aims to guide Filipino startup founders by leveraging their diverse experiences.
Funding winter
The event also underscored the collective expertise of La French Tech Manila’s team, which includes Olivier Bariou, Thomas Krasnovsky, Mattieu Boquet, Yannick Legros, Ninoy Salmon, Ludovic Vallat, Rachel Ang, and Nathalia Biancci. This team aims to guide Filipino startup founders by leveraging their diverse experiences.
“As one of the earlier members of La French Tech Manila and a startup founder myself, I am excited to see the community grow as the group engages more startups in the Philippines,” said Levy. “Understanding the shared challenges of startup founders and entrepreneurs, it is encouraging to be part of these genuine discussions where we can impart knowledge as peers and friends in the industry.”
In light of the challenges faced by startups during the funding winter, La French Tech Manila remains committed to nurturing emerging ventures. A report by the Gobi-Core Philippine Fund indicated a significant decline in deals and total amounts raised by Philippine startups between 2022 and 2023.
“It’s fulfilling to work with partners that are growing and pushing the same advocacies as you are. As we collaborate and support the initiatives of La French Tech Manila, we hope to equip Filipino entrepreneurs and startup founders with the right skill set to support them across every stage of their startup journey,” said Paolo Alba, country lead of PRecious Communications Philippines.
La French Tech Manila plans to continue its collaboration with industry leaders and stakeholders to support the Philippine startup ecosystem. Their upcoming event in June will explore the potential of Blockchain technology, featuring key leaders from both private and public sectors.
The “Navigating the Startup Fundraising Journey” event was co-presented by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines, iScale Solutions, Inc., and Proseso Consulting, with support from Backscoop, PRecious Communications, Dot Digital PH, Staffviser, and Macres House.