Philippines

Philippines-based finance app GCash enters agrifintech with agri-fisheries platform Mayani

Philippines-based finance app GCash – operated by the country’s fintech firm Mynt – has entered agrifintech through a strategic bid with Mayani, an agri-fisheries platform connecting smallholder farmers and fishers to buyers, to tackle the nation’s elusive phenomenon of rural financial inclusion.

Philippine Hive Health acquires HMO service provider Health Plan Philippines, Inc.

Hive Health, a Philippine-based digital health insurance startup, has acquired Health Plan Philippines, Inc. (HPPI), one of the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) service providers in the country. With this strategic initiative, Hive Health will be able to share its technology and data-driven innovations with HPPI’s existing members.

Filipino startup Swarm raises $1.1M in Pre-Seed funding round

Swarm, a Filipino tech company that connects startup founders with freelance tech builders, has announced that it has raised $1.1 million in a pre-seed funding round. Leading the round are two early institutional investors, Hustle Fund and Plug and Play.

The leading role of embedded finance in the Philippines’ renewed digitalization thrust

With the powerful growth of widespread digitalization in the #Philippines, #embeddedfinance promises to get integrated into the national digital economy so deeply that it may become a benchmark for the global #fintech industry. And ultimately, the consumer wins.

US’s Chemonics invests $5M in Philippine venture builder Talino Venture Studios

United States consulting firm Chemonics International announced Monday that it has invested $5 million in Philippine venture builder Talino Venture Studios. Supported by the investment, the two firms will work together to build groundbreaking, impact-driven, scalable technology solutions for individuals and communities in emerging markets and beyond.

Smart Communications dials into Google Cloud AI to help personalize digital services for Filipinos

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), the mobile services arm of PLDT Group, and Google Cloud have on Wednesday announced a collaboration to improve the accessibility of essential digital services for Filipinos, with Searce providing technical implementation support.

917Ventures creates MSME ecosystem to address digitalization woes

917Ventures, a venture builder in the Philippines, has established six startups dedicated to supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in their digital transformation efforts, from securing funding and upskilling to expanding their customer reach.

Y Combinator-backed stock trading platform Cera rolls out in the Philippines

Cera, a United States stock trading platform backed by Y Combinator, in partnership with Fireblocks, announced its Beta launch, allowing Filipinos and anyone anywhere in the world to invest in US stocks using stablecoins.

Philippines’ top crypto traders form association to advocate crypto investment literacy

As crypto adoption continues to grow in the country, top cryptocurrency traders have formally announced the formation of the Innovative Movement of the Philippine Association of Crypto Traders (IMPACT).

Altara Ventures and Gentree Fund co-lead $3M seed round into Philippine startup Kita

Philippine agritech startup Kita has closed its oversubscribed $3 million seed round with Gentree Fund and Altara Ventures as co-lead investors. With the fundraising proceeds, the firm aims to digitize the agriculture supply chain through big data and artificial intelligence (AI).