No registration desk, no program, no fees—just a meet-up among a few like-minded people. Jon Santillan revived the idea of meeting together (again) now that the situation is becoming more tolerable.
It just started with a WhatsApp message:
We met over breakfast. Feast on a smoothie of updates about life, the challenges of running a business, the pain points, the small and big wins, the aspirations, and growth.
What do we gain from this kind of meetups
The idea of meeting up provides more than just exposure. It helps build relationships that nurture our personal and professional growth. That’s one area where the group Filipino Startup Founders, which currently thrives over WhatsApp, sees an opportunity to evolve into a more dynamic online and offline community.
It’s just the same feeling as gathering together with family and friends. Not only is it enjoyable, but this meetup also amplifies a growing relationship among businessmen, advisers, game-changers, entrepreneurs, technologists, and startups within the Filipino community in the UAE.
It also promotes a sense of belonging. Conversations over coffee and meals can leave you feeling incredibly inspired, encouraged, and determined.
Here’s what everyone has to say about the meeting.
Jon Santillan, founder of Denarii, which recently created a buzz after they were acquired by Careem, aspires for this group to serve as a catalyst for more Filipinos to join the tech startup scene, with the hope that one day they can build their own company, raise investment, or even be acquired.
I am a believer that we have a lot of exceptionally talented Filipinos here in the UAE and beyond who just need a platform to be amplified and to be in the right environment. I hope this group can be a moving force to achieve that.
Jon Santillan
Mariben Eustaqio, Founder and Managing Director of eZone, loves meeting fellow Filipino entrepreneurs because it simply inspires.
I believe it’s important to build a community of like minded individuals to support one another and to be able to exchange ideas and experiences that may help the other.
Mariben Eustaqio
“Starting and building a business in the UAE can be a challenge, so having the right support group is important. Together, Filipino entrepreneurs can do more by promoting our roles and presence in the UAE so that we will no longer be underrepresented in leadership and business”, she added.
Mariben’s business is not just a typical business setup consultancy. Their Plant-It-Forward initiative aims to bring communities together where entrepreneurs are able to contribute to the restoration of the environment as they set up their businesses through eZone.
Annabel Jean Demana, founder of siz.ae, a peer-to-peer designer fashion rental platform (app) for women, said it was such an enlightening and insightful meetup with experienced startup founders from many different industries and areas of expertise!
Everyone is just extremely helpful and genuinely rooting for one another to win at their businesses. Wish we can make this consistent and grow into a bigger community in the future.
Anabel Demana
Siz is not just another P2P app out there. The platform aims to empower women to feel their best without breaking the bank, by sharing designer clothing through renting and lending.
For Jay Tolentino, an independent financial coach and host of Pera & Purpose podcast, the growing business community coupled with inspiring stories such as Jon Santillan and Denarii, gives hope to aspiring overseas Filipino entrepreneurs that they have a fighting chance to successfully transition from their day job to owning their dream business.
It’s nice to see more Filipinos getting involved in the tech startup scene especially in this part of the world.
Jay Tolentino
Vener Sarmiento, co-founder and head of design at The Conversion Engine, shares his key takeaways:
- Do not underestimate the value of relationship-building to grow your business.
- Entrepreneurs should focus on providing value first before asking for a sale
- A 30-second elevator pitch is an essential tool for every entrepreneur. Learn it by heart.
I can’t wait to be in one room again with these guys. And we look forward to seeing this number grow.
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Thank you Vener for the 📸
