🎙️ Episode Title

Philippines Startup Shift with Joseph De Leon

📌 Episode Summary (100–150 words)

In this episode, Joseph De Leon (JDL) shares strategic insights into the evolution of the Philippine startup ecosystem: why $5K angel checks still teach more than $5M rounds, how conservative capital is learning to take risks, and what separates founders who pitch beautifully from those who can actually execute. We unpack how the Manila Angel Investor Network was built from the ground up, common red flags in founder profiles, and what’s next in climate tech and AI. If you're building in Southeast Asia—or exploring where to place your next bet—this conversation blends grit, strategy, and real-world lessons from the trenches.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Why small bets matter: A $5,000 angel check often teaches more than flashy multi-million‑dollar rounds—in part because it surfaces execution risk early.

Capital learning curve: Conservative investors in the Philippines are cautiously shifting toward higher-risk startup bets by getting closer to founders with measurable traction.

Execution over charisma: Plenty of founders pitch beautifully, but real dollars flow to those who can ship and scale.

Red flags that kill deals: “Airport‑test” personalities, grant-chasing founders, and ideas without real customer insight quickly turn seasoned investors away.

Ambition is rising: Startups are transitioning from local lifestyle plays to globally-oriented scale businesses focused on climate-tech, AI, and human-centric platforms.

Ecosystem leverage: Over half a billion dollars in institutional capital stands ready—if founders can meet the institutional investor readiness bar.

🚀 Why You Should Listen

Get candid insights from someone who’s built the largest active angel network in the Philippines.

Understand how the region’s investment thesis is evolving, amid risk-averse capital, system friction, and emerging ambition drivers.

Discover what early-stage founders often overlook—and what seasoned investors demand.

👤 Guest & Host Info

Guest: Joseph De Leon (JDL) — Partner at Gravitas Prime, Director of Founder Institute Philippines, and founder of consulting practice Bullet Day. Built MAN, syndicated angel capital, and currently prepping Filipino startups for institutional scaling.

Host: Kevin Brockland, CFA — Co‑host of SEA of Startups, focused on SEA capital flows and founder narratives.

Co‑Host: Kimberley (Kim) Yeoh — Producer & Editor, known for sharp framing and narrative tone.

🔑 SEO Keywords

Philippine startup ecosystem

Angel investing Philippines

Startup execution vs pitching

Climate tech Southeast Asia

ASEAN early‑stage founders

Joseph De Leon Philippines

Manila Angel Investor Network (MAN)

Southeast Asia venture insights

📎 Resources & Links

Manila Angel Investor Network

Founder Institute Philippines & Google Cloud partnership

Bullet Day consulting

Kumu (startup referenced in episode)

Related episode: SEA of Startups #4A – Infrastructure shift in Jakarta & Malaysia

✅ Call to Action

If you found the episode useful, rate and subscribe, and drop a review to help others discover it.Interested founders: email your 5-minute pitch deck to pitch@main.ph.Investors wanting exposure to Philippine capital flows: book a chat at cal.com/bulletday.🎧 Link to full episode is at the top of this page—or check it in your favorite podcast app.

📜 Transcript & Quotes

For accessibility and SEO, the full transcript is embedded below in an expandable section.Highlight quotes:

“Sometimes a $5,000 check teaches you more than a $5 million one.”“Ambition without discipline isn’t brave. It’s just recklessness.”