SoGal Foundation Chapter Lead Spotlight Series: Manila, Singapore, Montreal & Hyderabad
SoGal Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to closing the diversity gap in entrepreneurship. SoGal wouldn’t be possible without our 50 global chapters who direct their local entrepreneur circles with monthly events, curated resources and community building.
In this series, SoGal reaches out to Chapter Leads across the globe who are active in their startup ecosystems to learn how they built their careers.
This round, we’re chatting with leads from Manila, Philippines; Singapore, Montreal, Canada; and Hyderabad, India.
Raya Buensuceso
SoGal Manila Chapter Lead and Analyst at Polestrom
What inspired you to start your business or get into your current role in the startup ecosystem?
I think of myself as an enabler in the start-up ecosystem. It was my frustration with the lackluster performance of the Philippine start-up industry, despite favorable demographics and rosy projections for so many years, which inspired me to first get involved in this space and eventually take on my current role as a SoGal Chapter Co-Lead.
All the basic building blocks are there: a young and tech savvy population, an endless supply of driven and talented college graduates, and a plethora of investors who would be willing to fund promising start-ups. What’s lacking are widespread awareness about entrepreneurship as a viable career path, support for current and aspiring founders, a pipeline of bankable businesses (especially ones that are women-led), and avenues for start-ups to connect with investors, particularly from overseas.
I felt that SoGal could be a powerful platform to help address these various gaps. So far, this has proven to be true. For example, one of the teams we sent to the SoGal Global Pitch Competition — 1Export — ended up taking home their first ever VC investment in San Francisco. Their victory has been instrumental in attracting the attention of other investors.
What is the entrepreneurial landscape like in your city?
The start-up scene in Manila (and the Philippines at large) may be young, but it is brimming with potential. While we are not yet on par with regional neighbors like Indonesia and Singapore, the industry has been gaining momentum, thanks in part to the efforts of the national government. Particularly exciting for us at SoGal Manila is the government’s Startup Pinay program, which focuses on providing extra support for female tech founders. Aside from the government, well-established business conglomerates also play a critical role in incubating, funding, and facilitating the expansion of early-stage companies.
As I previously alluded to, some of the biggest barriers that still need to be overcome are limited access to investment capital, weak connectivity infrastructure, and an environment that disincentives people from taking risks or makes it difficult for them to start their own ventures. Unfortunately, becoming a founder is not a very common career path and mostly remains to be an option for the more privileged.
Did you ever make a huge mistake in your business, and if so, how did you overcome it?
A few years back, I co-founded a youth-focused summer accelerator program in Manila. It was the first business I’d ever been involved in, and the program had a successful run for two years. After the second year, however, it became apparent that we could no longer sustain the program financially and operationally. There were also a number of better-resourced accelerator programs that were cropping up, rendering ours redundant and less competitive. We decided to close up shop, which seemed like a massive failure at the time. But looking back, it ended up being the right decision for all stakeholders involved.
I wish every founder success, but sometimes, the right decision may be to scale down or even cease operations entirely — and that’s totally okay! Take the lessons in stride, and trust that they will guide you down the line.
Best advice you have for founders or operators who are less experienced?
Be mindful of who you take advice and investment from. There are many people out there who will try to give you advice (perhaps in exchange for advisory shares), even if they don’t necessarily have the right expertise or motives. So make sure to find mentors with proven track records and who really understand your vision. In terms of funding, don’t fret if you can’t get VC money, even after multiple attempts. There are many alternative financing options out there, and VC may not even be the most appropriate type of capital for your business.
How has SoGal Foundation impacted your life?
The biggest impact SoGal has had on me is the connections I have forged. It’s been incredible to meet so many inspiring people from the local start-up community, as well as other members of the global SoGal family! The most recent SoGal Global Pitch has been one of the most memorable and enriching experiences of my life.
On a more personal level, I would say that joining SoGal has encouraged me to think about more issues through a gendered lens. We’re all familiar with the troubling diversity gap facing the entrepreneurship and VC industries; but there are so many other areas in which the disparity manifests in more subtle, insidious ways. Take the current COVID-19 pandemic. It may seem like males are at a disadvantage, as it is well-documented that they tend to be more affected by the virus than women. But in fact, there are several ways that women are actively being excluded from the current pandemic response and may end up losing out. As this New York Times article points out, the initial 12-person COVID task force in the U.S. was entirely male. Patient data in the country currently doesn’t include a sex breakdown, which is worrisome to the extent that it might perpetuate the long-standing trend of women being underrepresented in and relatively underserved by medical research. SoGal has helped me understand why inclusion and diversity are truly important.
Nicole Ong
SoGal Singapore Chapter Lead, Founding Partner at Athena Advisory and Investor Relations at Kai Investment Management
What inspired you to start your business or get into your current role in the startup ecosystem?
I think what inspired me to venture into a very traditional asset class like private credit, was how it has normally been associated with complex structures, and negative market climates. I want to show that private credit has nuances, where it can contribute as non-dilutive capital and also where as an entrepreneur myself, I understand the loneliness and difficult times that businesses go through, and when things are not going well, I am willing to jump into the mud with you, roll up my sleeves and dig deep to get you out of a setback the business might be facing now.
What is the entrepreneurial landscape like in your city?
The entrepreneurial landscape in Singapore is young, and by young I mean innovation is supported, and just starting to be accepted and more encouraged. I feel like the last start up wave of successful businesses was in the 60s or 70s. It is a whole new landscape now, things are exceedingly different, and there are communities supporting the growth of this new landscape.
Did you ever make a huge mistake in your business, and if so, how did you overcome it?
In any business, at any point in time, you will fail, at many things, a lot of the time. In fact, you might fail more often than you succeed, because you are likely doing something that has not been done before, or at least not done in the way it has been traditionally done before. Overcoming it involves adaptability, rolling with the punches, and a really great support network who will offer great advice, and also remind you not to be overly critical of your own failure, because in my experience if you sit with failure for too long, you might just forget to get back up, and get back in the running.
Best advice you have for founders or operators who are less experienced?
This is tricky. Could you ever have enough experience? Every one of us have had different experiences in life that have now shaped the decisions we make, and also offer fresh insight into solving a problem in a way not done before. I have never believed doing 10 years in a role would make you best equipped to now solve problems in a unique way, you will know how to solve problems, but you might only know how to solve problems in the same way you have been ingrained to do so. Try a few things at a time, an interdisciplinary method combining all your strengths, what could be the worst thing that could happen; you find out what you don’t like about the industry and then find out what it needs?
How has SoGal Foundation impacted your life?
The SoGal Foundation is a constant source of inspiration, motivation and support of like-minded individuals who face the same struggles I face. They have given me courage to pursue lofty and seemingly elusive goals, and who wouldn’t reach for the stars if you knew you had an entire girl gang behind you?
Jessy Santana
SoGal Montreal Chapter Lead and Founder of The Way We Work Consulting
What inspired you to start your business or get into your current role in the startup ecosystem?
I have a two year old and for her future as well as mine, I know that I need to create something that will make our world better, even if it’s in small ways.
I’ve worked around startup culture for years in China and the U.S. Some startups did better than others, but I’ve always loved the adaptability. You can get a taste of everything, all while working with those that know more and helping pull up those that may need to know more.
What is the entrepreneurial landscape like in your city?
There’s a lot going on. Montreal has so many groups that cater to so many niches within diversity and it’s great to be a small part of it.
Did you ever make a huge mistake in your business, and if so, how did you overcome it?
The biggest mistake was to overextend in hiring young talent which needed a lot of guidance and that took away from being able to meet the demands of our projects. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to recover from that loss but we did learn a lot of lessons. Number one: have your marketing hat on always.
Best advice you have for founders or operators who are less experienced?
Make genuine connections. Period. Every networking event one goes to can pass in a blur, but if you can make one or two genuine connections, then it’s worth it.
How has SoGal Foundation impacted your life?
It’s allowed me to have a platform through which I can meet and collaborate with other amazing people. As a Latina with an international family, diversity for me is key. In everything I do, I love to make sure inclusion is at the forefront. Luckily I’ve found an organization where inclusion is not just a trend.
Pooja EA
SoGal Hyderabad Chapter Lead and CEO of Yugen Solutions
What inspired you to start your business or get into your current role in the startup ecosystem?
My inspiration is Rahul Gedupudi (CEO , Kensium). His leadership style, vision and mindset to running a business are awe-inspiring and extraordinary.
I used to work at Kensium and they gave me the much needed headstart to what I could achieve. The fact that Kensium nurtures every individual who works with them is an accomplishment in itself.
What is the entrepreneurial landscape like in your city?
Hyderabad is the capital city for the Telangana state, is well known for it’s startup friendly policies and infrastructure. Hyderabad is home to nearly 1200 startups. It is one of the top 3 buzzing startup ecosystems in the nation.
Did you ever make a huge mistake in your business, and if so, how did you overcome it?
I didn’t market early enough. Later, I did some social media posts to talk about what Yugen Solutions does and has done so far. This made people take notice. Better late than never :)
Best advice you have for founders or operators who are less experienced?
Don’t compare yourself with others, only focus on your progress.
How has SoGal Foundation impacted your life?
Being part of the SoGal community as chapter lead for Hyderabad gave me access to resources and education from around the world. It was easier to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, businesswomen and mentors. It definitely has made a positive impact in my life.
Interested in becoming a SoGal Chapter Lead and changing the world through your local entrepreneurship community? Check out our Chapter Lead Info Page & apply.
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