Kaya Founders has closed a $25 million second fund to scale its backing of Filipino and Southeast Asian entrepreneurs building technology-led businesses. The Manila-based venture firm says the capital will be deployed across pre-seed to Series A, with a focus on founders tackling category-defining problems in the region. The raise underscores continued investor appetite for early-stage opportunities in the Philippines despite shifting global capital flows.
Fund Details
Fund II is structured as two investment vehicles designed to provide flexibility across entry points and follow-on support. Kaya Founders plans to invest in 10 to 20 additional startups over the next three years, complementing its existing portfolio. The firm indicates that check sizes will be calibrated to stage and traction, with reserves set aside to keep supporting top-performing teams.
Investor Base and Strategy
The fund is backed by a mix of international and local limited partners that combine institutional capital with operator experience. Named investors include Pavilion Capital in Singapore, Gabriel and Geraldine Sunshine of Boston-based Bracebridge Capital, Chicago’s Concentric Equity Partners, and leading Filipino family offices and technology operators. Kaya Founders frames this blend as a strategic advantage, pairing deep regional knowledge with global networks and capital depth.
Portfolio and Recent Bets
Since launching in 2021, the firm has invested in more than 40 startups spanning ecommerce, fintech, healthcare, education, agriculture, and SaaS. Recent investments include Datung, ProTech, LenderLink, and SunFund, companies focused on financial access and clean energy solutions. Management says the portfolio reflects a thesis around digitizing critical services and improving unit economics in large, underpenetrated markets.
Market Context
The firm’s close comes as global investors concentrate heavily on United States AI leaders while Southeast Asian venture funding rebalances. Kaya Founders argues that this creates an opening in the Philippines, where demographic momentum, rising digital adoption, and policy initiatives are expanding the addressable market. Against that backdrop, the firm intends to lean into local founder pipelines while maintaining a Southeast Asia lens for scale.
Deployment Focus
Kaya Founders will continue to prioritize companies at the earliest stages, where hands-on support and local context can have outsized impact. The team highlights product-market fit, operational discipline, and capital efficiency as core selection criteria, particularly given the current cost of capital. Follow-on participation will be guided by traction quality and path to defensibility, rather than valuation momentum.
Platform and Support
Beyond capital, the firm emphasizes founder services that include go-to-market guidance, recruiting, and connections to downstream investors and corporate partners. Sector specialists and operator LPs are expected to play a greater role in diligence and post-investment work. The goal is to accelerate time to revenue milestones while strengthening governance, reporting, and compliance from day one.
Signals for the Ecosystem
The close of Fund II sends a positive signal to Philippine startups that seed and early growth financing remains available for credible teams. It may also attract additional foreign investors seeking co-investment and local insight without building in-country infrastructure. More broadly, it adds to the case that Southeast Asia’s next wave will include enduring companies born in the Philippines.
What Comes Next
Near-term deployment will target founders building in financial services, commerce enablement, healthcare access, climate and energy, and software infrastructure. Kaya Founders expects to syndicate alongside regional and global funds where complementary capabilities are clear. The firm plans regular disclosures on portfolio progress as companies reach product, revenue, and regulatory milestones.
Kaya Founders’ $25 million Fund II marks a deliberate bet on early-stage innovation in the Philippines and neighboring markets. With two vehicles, a diversified LP base, and a track record across 40 plus companies, the firm is positioning to help founders navigate a more discerning funding cycle. If execution matches ambition, the fund could shape a pivotal chapter for Philippine tech over the next three years.