The RJ Ledesma Podcast

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Ibba Bernardo is the Chief Marketing Officer of Packworks, a mobile-first super app and multi-sided marketplace B2B ecosystem for micro-entrepreneurs.

With the goal to promote “nanay-preneurs,” the people behind Packworks have gained several recognitions from different award-giving bodies such as the 2021

Techstars Fintech Accelerator and 2022 Best Start-Up JICA Mckinsey Ninja Accelerator.

What is their current stage in the seeding round and what are their metrics in growing the business?

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We have three guests for this episode!

First, we have Simon Villalon, the Co-Founder of Catalyze Institute, a start-up digital school on a mission to educate Filipino SMEs on transformation and digital technologies. We also have Kellda Centeno, the Delivery Business Unit Head & Digital Acceleration Director of Shakey’s Philippines, a pizza restaurant chain based in the US. Lastly, Mikee Villareal is the Co-Founder of MadEats, an on-demand online restaurant group that is built for delivery.

This week, we’ll have an SME Accelerator course on Digital Success for SMEs with Kellda Centeno of Shakey’s PH and Mikee Villareal of MadEats where they will talk about how their respective companies achieved success despite the challenges of pandemic and how they plan to keep adapting to ensure sustain their growth. On the other hand, Simon Villalon will talk more about Catalyze to the listeners of The RJ Ledesma Podcast.

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Brian Cu is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Manuel “Bam” Florencio Aurelio Mejia IV is the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of SariSuki, a fast-growing e-commerce grocery platform in the Philippines.

SariSuki started at the onset of the pandemic as the collective action of Filipino community sellers began consolidating and providing the needs of their neighborhoods — Community Group Buying, which also turned out to be an actual business model in China and Indonesia.

Utilizing technology then enabled Ka-Sari Community (grocery dealers) to earn extra income via online selling, and helped Ka-Suki (customers) to purchase their needs without having to risk their lives outside.

Since its launch in May last year, SariSuki continuously supplies local communities with daily essentials and fresh groceries at affordable prices and has seen its gross merchandise value grow 36 times after nine months.

In March 2022, regional and global investors witnessed this game-changer move and supported SariSuki’s expansion with a $10.7 million funding.

Learn more about their journey in this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast.

**DISCLAIMER:** The views and opinions expressed by the podcast creators, hosts, and guests do not necessarily reflect the official policy and position of Podcast Network Asia. Any content provided by the people on the podcast are of their own opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.

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Victor Lim is the co-founder of Kraver’s Group, best known for the fastest growing cloud kitchen network in the Philippines, Kraver’s Canteen.

Cloud kitchens drive down operational costs of food brands by focusing their efforts on the delivery experience — a concept that gained momentum during the heights of the pandemic.

Running on 11 cloud kitchens across the county, Kraver’s also serves well-known brands such as Foodee Group, Pizza Hut, and other private-label restaurants.

In July 2021, Kraver’s partnered up with Grab Philippines to set up GrabKitchen for restaurants without physical locations. Less than a year after, they also launched Kra-Verse, a meta-delivery and dining experience.

This year’s May, the Kraver’s secured a $3 million investment from Series A funding, led by Quest Ventures Fund II. With this milestone, Kraver’s plans to continuously grow through expansion and product innovation. The startup envisions 100 cloud kitchens by 2025.

Learn more about his journey in this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast.

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Emman Navalan is the Chief Executive Officer of Tetrix, an interconnected ecosystem that aims to bridge the gap among all blockchain projects.Instead of all data being housed in one device, blockchains use networks of peer-to-peer connected computers and creates a unified community which allows a more convenient environment for integration.Some products built on top of Tetrix are: Lobi, an end-to-end encrypted & built on a censorship-resistant peer-to-peer network; Pitaka, a secure, multi-chain and non-custodial wallet seamlessly integrated in it; and Tetrix Explorer that can access the world of DApps and DeFi right from your phone. Step into the Future, step into Tetrix.

Learn more about Tetrix and Emman's journey in this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast.

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Kevin Carreon is the CEO of MatchMo, an online mortgage broker that helps clients with their home loans in the easiest way possible.With over thirty years of combined experience in real estate and banking, his team aims to empower Filipinos in taking control of their investments.

By matching clients with the best banks, people will get the best home loan, save time preparing and submitting documents, and get the best possible rates for their monthly amortizations.As they say, work with the best, work with MatchMo.Before spearheading MatchMo in April 2021, he started as a Marketing Associate at PLDT, as well as a Citibank's Personal Banker. And from 2012 until now, alongside leading Matchmo, he serves as a Chief Strategy Officer at the Next Asia Land Inc.

Learn more about him and his journey in this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast.

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Mike Dickinson is experienced in building multiple SaaS products in Hospitality, Digital Marketing, e-Learning, HR, Data intelligence, and being a co-founder for an online business tours business.

Mike is the Chief Product Officer at Brankas, a fintech company that bridges the access to financial services for everyone in Southeast Asia. Brankas works with numerous banks and financial institutions to improve accessibility for the market, allowing technology companies to build better financial experiences for their products.

Find out how Brankas is building bespoke financial products that enables financial access for everyone in this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast.

The RJ Ledesma Podcast is powered by Podcast Network Asia and Podmachine.

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Amerson Lin is the CEO and co-founder of Gigacover.

Gigacover exists to create a fair and financially stable ecosystem for independent workers. It also offers financial and insurance services to gig workers, freelancers and self-employed persons, who often lack the benefits of regular employment. Its first customers in the Philippines were QuadX’s logistics platform Gogo Xpress and the freelancing group Filipina Homebased Moms (FHMoms).

What are the growth opportunities that the company sees in the country this year? Learn more about these and his journey in this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast.

The RJ Ledesma Podcast is powered by Podcast Network Asia and Podmachine.

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