菲律賓：新創企業和創新的溫床

隨著經濟的成長、年輕而充滿活力的人口以及數位化應用的不斷增加，菲律賓可以為新興新創公司提供許多機會。

The Philippines is quickly becoming a hotbed for startups and innovation, thanks to its growing economy, young and vibrant population, and increasing digital adoption. At the recent Endeavor Philippines 10th anniversary celebration, I had the chance to chat with high-impact entrepreneurs and industry leaders to uncover the “secret sauce” to scaling businesses in this dynamic market. From embracing technology to fostering a culture of innovation, here are some key takeaways for startups, developers, and Web3 enthusiasts.

由於其不斷增長的經濟、年輕而充滿活力的人口以及不斷增加的數位化採用，菲律賓正迅速成為新創企業和創新的溫床。在最近舉行的奮進菲律賓十週年慶典上，我有機會與具有高影響力的企業家和行業領袖交談，以揭示在這個充滿活力的市場中擴展業務的「秘密武器」。從擁抱科技到培養創新文化，以下是新創公司、開發人員和 Web3 愛好者的一些重要收穫。

Manny Ayala, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Endeavor Philippines, painted an optimistic picture of the country’s potential.

Endeavor 菲律賓公司聯合創始人兼董事總經理 Manny Ayala 對該國的潛力描繪了一幅樂觀的圖景。

“The long-term macroeconomic prospects of the Philippines are very, very promising,” he said. “We’re a large country with an average age of 24 and a healthy GDP per capita growth rate of 5-6%. By 2050, some economists predict we could be the 16th largest economy in the world, so by that alone, it’s an attractive market.”

「菲律賓的長期宏觀經濟前景非常非常有希望，」他說。 「我們是一個大國，平均年齡為 24 歲，人均 GDP 成長率為 5-6%。一些經濟學家預測，到 2050 年，我們可能成為世界第 16 大經濟體，因此僅憑這一點，這是一個有吸引力的市場。

For his part, this mix of youthful energy and untapped opportunities positions the Philippines as a “frontier market” for both traditional and Web3 startups. Entrepreneurs looking to scale must recognize and adapt to these evolving market dynamics.

對他而言，年輕的活力和未開發的機會的結合使菲律賓成為傳統和 Web3 新創公司的「前沿市場」。想要擴大規模的企業家必須認識並適應這些不斷變化的市場動態。

Technology as the catalyst for growth

技術是成長的催化劑

Ayala also highlighted the crucial role of technology in driving growth and innovation.

阿亞拉也強調了科技在推動成長和創新方面的關鍵作用。

“Technology is like the yeast in the bread,” Ayala explained. “You sprinkle technology in, and things expand. You can do things faster, better, cheaper, and even create brand-new categories.”

「技術就像麵包中的酵母，」阿亞拉解釋。 「你融入了技術，事物就會擴展。你可以更快、更好、更便宜地做事，甚至創造全新的品類。

A perfect example is CloudEats, a virtual kitchen platform that uses data-driven processes to optimize everything from cooking to delivery. Its Co-Founder and Group CEO, Kimberly Yao, stressed the transformative role of innovation, saying, “Our food production facilities are designed to address real-world problems like transportation and food accessibility. While global technologies like robotics are exciting, we’re focused on solving these immediate, on-the-ground challenges.”

一個完美的例子是 CloudEats，這是一個虛擬廚房平台，它使用數據驅動的流程來優化從烹飪到送貨的一切。其聯合創始人兼集團首席執行官 Kimberly Yao 強調了創新的變革作用，她表示：「我們的食品生產設施旨在解決交通和食品可及性等現實問題。雖然機器人技術等全球技術令人興奮，但我們專注於解決這些迫在眉睫的實際挑戰。

For startups in Web3, blockchain presents similar transformative potential. For Endeavor-supported company Coins.ph, for instance, blockchain is utilized to facilitate global money transfers without branding itself explicitly as a blockchain company.

對於 Web3 領域的新創公司來說，區塊鏈也呈現類似的變革潛力。例如，對於 Endeavor 支持的公司 Coins.ph，區塊鏈被用來促進全球資金轉移，而無需明確地將自己標榜為區塊鏈公司。

Embracing digital transformation in legacy industries

擁抱傳統產業的數位轉型

Even legacy businesses are harnessing technology to stay relevant. President of SSI Group, Anthony Huang, shared insights from their digital journey, saying, “We’ve evolved into a unified retail operation, merging both digital and brick-and-mortar. As part of a massive transformation project, we’re integrating AI tools into our ERP system for demand forecasting and optimizing our CRM practices.”

即使是傳統企業也在利用科技來保持相關性。 SSI 集團總裁 Anthony Huang 分享了他們的數位化之旅的見解，他表示：「我們已經發展成為統一的零售業務，融合了數位化和實體化。作為大規模轉型專案的一部分，我們正在將人工智慧工具整合到我們的 ERP 系統中，以進行需求預測並優化我們的 CRM 實踐。

SSI’s hybrid approach shows that scalability isn’t just about digital-first models but also about reimagining traditional businesses with technology.

SSI 的混合方法表明，可擴展性不僅涉及數位優先模型，還涉及利用技術重新構想傳統業務。

Navigating the challenges of Web3 adoption

應對 Web3 採用的挑戰

Web3 technologies like blockchain and digital currency are generating buzz, but their adoption in consumer-facing industries remains nascent in the Philippines, says Bela Gupta D’Souza, Founder and CEO of Edamame.

Edamame 創辦人兼執行長 Bela Gupta D'Souza 表示，區塊鏈和數位貨幣等 Web3 技術正在引起轟動，但它們在菲律賓面向消費者的行業的採用仍處於萌芽階段。

“There needs to be regulatory alignment and infrastructure development; the government must recognize and adopt blockchain as a strategy across industries before consumers can truly benefit,” Gupta D’Souza said, highlighting the need for foundational changes.

「需要協調監管和開發基礎設施；政府必須承認並採用區塊鏈作為跨行業的策略，消費者才能真正受益。

This perspective aligns with Ayala’s observation of a “blockchain winter” that temporarily slowed its growth but is now picking up steam again after the re-election of Donald Trump as United States president, particularly in the gaming and digital currency sectors. Ayala advised startups entering this space to focus on creating value beyond hype, ensuring practical and scalable applications of the technology.

這一觀點與阿亞拉對「區塊鏈冬天」的觀察一致，「區塊鏈冬天」的成長暫時放緩，但在唐納德·川普連任美國總統後，現在又重新回升，特別是在遊戲和數位貨幣領域。阿亞拉建議進入這一領域的新創公司專注於創造超越炒作的價值，確保該技術的實際和可擴展應用。

Building a resilient business model

建立有彈性的商業模式

Gupta D’Souza also stressed the importance of sustainability in scaling a startup.

Gupta D'Souza 也強調了永續發展對於新創公司規模的重要性。

“Scaling a startup is not just about rapid growth—it demands sustainability,” she said. “Find a problem to solve that achieves product-market fit, pursue your passions, but ensure they align with market opportunities. Also, be profit-focused. The days of blitz-scaling without sustainable growth are behind us.”

「擴大新創公司規模不僅意味著快速成長，還需要永續性，」她說。 「找到一個需要解決的問題，以實現產品與市場的契合，追求你的熱情，但確保它們與市場機會保持一致。另外，要以利潤為中心。沒有可持續增長的閃電式擴張的日子已經過去了。

This focus on sustainability resonates with global trends, where investors highly favor businesses that demonstrate both growth and profitability.

這種對永續發展的關注與全球趨勢產生了共鳴，投資者高度青睞具有成長和獲利能力的企業。

The role of mentorship and community

指導和社區的作用

Ayala also highlighted the role of mentorship in helping entrepreneurs navigate challenges and achieve success.

阿亞拉也強調了指導在幫助企業家應對挑戰和取得成功方面的作用。

“We (Endeavor) connect startups with 50 of the best corporate leaders and entrepreneurs locally and globally. Access to experienced mentors and niche VCs is crucial for scaling tech-enabled businesses,” he said.

「我們 (Endeavor) 將新創公司與本地和全球 50 名最優秀的企業領導者和企業家聯繫起來。獲得經驗豐富的導師和利基風險投資對於擴大技術支援的業務至關重要，」他說。

Huang agreed with Ayala, emphasizing that the retail sector’s digital evolution was fueled by learning from global best practices and adapting them locally.

黃同意阿亞拉的觀點，並強調零售業的數位化發展是透過學習全球最佳實踐並在本地進行調整來推動的。

Fostering a culture of entrepreneurship

培育創業文化

Culturally, the Philippines is shifting toward greater acceptance of entrepreneurial risk.

在文化上，菲律賓正在轉向更加接受創業風險。

“Young graduates today see the value of being entrepreneurial, whether it’s running a Shopee store or starting a small business. However, the ecosystem needs more success stories to inspire others to take the plunge,” Gupta D’Souza observed

「如今的年輕畢業生看到了創業的價值，無論是經營 Shopee 商店還是創辦小型企業。然而，生態系統需要更多的成功案例來激勵其他人冒險嘗試，」Gupta D’Souza 觀察到