ABOUT QBO
A Story of Bayanihan
The bahay kubo, or nipa hut, is one of the most recognizable icons of Filipino culture.
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It’s a traditional one-room house made out of native materials and suited to the local needs and conditions of Filipino communities. To build and transport the bahay kubo requires the hard work, ingenuity, and collaboration of many.
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QBO, just like the bahay kubo that inspired our name, is a modern space for Filipino startups and other players in our ecosystem to come together and flourish. The quirky twist on the name is derived from the Filipino digital transformation, where alongside the advent of cellphones and the internet also came the tendency to shorten or abbreviate words.
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We were formed in 2016 when the public and private sectors came together and united their vision of Filipino startups changing the world.
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Since then, our role has actively been about helping startups succeed, developing our ecosystem, and forwarding tech and innovation. We believe that unleashing the potential of an entrepreneurship-driven economy is a path to nation building, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.
Vision
Filipino Startups Changing the World
Mission
Creating a globally competitive startup ecosystem in the Philippines through the dynamic collaboration of local entrepreneurs, talents, mentors, investors, and other stakeholders
Rene "Butch" Meily
President
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Jay Fajardo
Executive Director
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Karla Legaspi
Head | Community & Ecosystem
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Dave Del Rosario
Head | Operations, HR, & Admin
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Matthew Cruz
Program Associate
Community & Ecosystem
Mateo Gonzalez
Investment Associate
Strategy, Investments, & Partnerships
Shoraliah Macalbe
Head | Startup Development
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Tessa Acosta
Head | Finance, Accounting, Treasury, & Tax
Maqui Igual
Program Manager
Startup Development
Karl Destreza
Creatives Specialist
Marketing & Communications
Ben Alderson
Head | Strategy,
Investments & Partnerships
Szachi Ducusin
Program Manager
Community & Ecosystem
Lileth Mortañez
Program Associate
Startup Development
Jane Acuzar
Creatives Specialist​
Marketing & Communications
Margaux Javier
Head | Marketing & Communications
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Ciara Tabaculde
Program Associate
Community & Ecosystem
Diether Bueno
Program Associate​
Startup Development
Mao Marasigan
Associate
Operations, HR, & Admin
Emma Borromeo
Admin Staff
Operations, HR, & Admin
Katy Fernandez
Senior Manager
Finance, Accounting, Treasury, & Tax
Renebert Baylon
Admin Staff
Finance, Accounting, Treasury, & Tax