The Philippine startup ecosystem took center stage at Echelon Philippines 2025, e27’s premier event organized by Brainsparks, which drew more than 3,000 attendees, 1,000+ companies, 80+ speakers, and 52 exhibiting startups to the SMX Convention Center in Manila.

Under the theme “Leading the Charge: Powering Asia’s Next Growth Frontier with the Philippine Startup Ecosystem”, the two-day conference brought together founders, investors, corporates, and policymakers to turn ideas into impact by scaling startups, activating new capital, and forging partnerships that will shape Southeast Asia’s digital economy.

With support from 42 ecosystem partners, 10 sponsors, and participants representing over 15 countries, the conference delivered more than 14 hours of discussions and fireside chats, including 10 hours of focused, practical sessions designed to equip founders with strategies to scale.

Finding opportunity in every cycle

Opening the event, Coach Artie Lopez, Startup Coach and Co-Founder of Brainsparks, reflected on the state of the ecosystem. “It’s unfortunate that things aren’t so great in the ecosystem right now, not just in the Philippines, but across the region. But I’ve been around long enough to see that these things come in cycles. At the moment, we may be in a dip, but what’s encouraging is that every cycle helps us separate the signal from the noise and identify the standout startups, real opportunities, and exceptional founders.”

He emphasized that these cycles create a window of opportunity not only for founders but also for the investors, incubators, and accelerators who support them, adding that Brainsparks sees strong momentum in the region and is committed to driving it forward.

Spotlight on opportunities and innovation

Meanwhile, Mohan Belani, Co-Founder & CEO of e27, highlighted the Philippines as a market brimming with untapped potential. “When I look at the Philippines, I see an exciting opportunity. Most sectors are still blue oceans. No dominant brands have yet emerged across many industries. That gives you, the founders in this room, the space to go back to basics — building companies rooted in profitability, sustainability, and true impact for your stakeholders.” With AI emerging as a powerful force multiplier, speakers across the program urged startups to use new tools to innovate faster and compete with larger, better-funded players.

Stories from founders and investors

Across fireside chats and panels, voices from the region shared strategies for survival and growth. Peng Ong of Monk’s Hill Ventures spoke on capital efficiency with AI, while Raffy Montemayor of Salmon recounted how the fintech reached 1M users and secured a banking license in just 18 months. 

Panels brought together investors from Vertex Ventures, Integra Partners, and Forge Ventures to unpack what it takes to raise capital in 2025, alongside local founders from Parlon and OneCFO who revealed practical playbooks for scaling with limited resources. 

A session on next generation founders introduced bold entrepreneurs from Villgro PH, BuddyBetes, Dormy PH, and Tambanokano Aqua Farm, showing the diversity and ambition of the Philippines’ emerging leaders.

Celebrating startup achievements

Two pitch competitions put the spotlight on innovation. Shell LiveWIRE Final Pitch, held at Echelon Philippines as part of Shell’s flagship enterprise development programme, showcased three high-potential tech startups working on solutions with meaningful impact. The winner, Greentech Ecobooster PH, impressed with its patented innovation that improves fuel efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from internal combustion engines — a technology designed to both cut costs and lower environmental impact.

Meanwhile, Startup Spotlight, Echelon PH’s official pitch competition, gave rising founders a stage to share their vision, connect with investors, and compete for visibility in the ecosystem. This year’s winner, LIKED Platform, is building the Philippines’ first influencer marketing marketplace, designed to connect digital brands with a vetted network of micro-influencers fueling the country’s fast-growing creator economy.

Looking ahead

Belani left founders with a charge to carry the momentum forward. “For founders, this is your moment. Don’t waste it. Build with integrity, build with purpose, and build with impact. The future of Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem is in your hands and I cannot wait to see what you create.”

Supported by partners including Shell LiveWIRE, Lenovo, inDrive, CarDekho, 917Ventures, Paymongo, OneCFO, PLDT Enterprise, Thai Trade Center Manila, and Megaworld Hotels & Resorts with Common Ground Digital Park, Echelon Philippines 2025 showed that the country is ready to define the region’s next growth frontier. The conference returns in 2026 to continue its mission to collaborate, build, and scale the region’s most impactful startup stories.

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The post Echelon Philippines 2025 rallies 3K+ startup leaders to power Asia’s next growth frontier appeared first on e27.

The Philippine startup ecosystem took center stage at Echelon Philippines 2025, e27’s premier event organized by Brainsparks, which drew more than 3,000 attendees, 1,000+ companies, 80+ speakers, and 52 exhibiting startups to the SMX Convention Center in Manila. Under the theme “Leading the Charge: Powering Asia’s Next Growth Frontier with the Philippine Startup Ecosystem”, the
The post Echelon Philippines 2025 rallies 3K+ startup leaders to power Asia’s next growth frontier appeared first on e27.  Echelon, Events, Philippines, Startups, Echelon Philippines, ECPH e27