The Manila Angel Investors Network Inc. (MAIN) is a non-stock, non-profit corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Corporation Code of the Philippines.
MAIN is the largest committed private investors network in the Philippines that was formed to support the country’s startup ecosystem by connecting investors with promising early-stage companies. Apart from providing capital funding, it also mentors entrepreneurs, provides expertise support, and opens networking opportunities. This innovative startup ecosystem will benefit both MAIN members’ portfolio and overall growth of Filipino startups.
MAIN invests in pre-seed, Seed and Series A rounds. Many of its initial investments to date can be characterized as “impact-focused” in the areas of financial inclusion, employment and education. We screen hundreds of startups each year, and continuously track dozens that are promising, providing them with the mentoring, training and assistance to make them investment ready.
MAIN embarked on Gender Lens Investing through the four-year partnership with Investing in Women, an Australian Aid program (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). The project aims to:
Provide catalytic investment capital for women-owned and women-led SMEs in the Philippines
Diversify the angel membership to include more women investors
Expand their member services and activities
MAIN is actively seeking to support and invest in female founders. Kerubin Capital has been established as MAIN’s gender focused fund, with a mandate to match members' investments in female founders.
From an angel investor network founded by all men to bringing on board women angels and investing in women SMEs, follow MAIN’s remarkable journey on embracing #GenderLensInvesting in this case study:
Mission and Vision
It is in the interest of our members to supercharge the Philippines’ startup ecosystem. We do this by growing, nurturing and developing startups through an environment that will attract and retain angel investors.
It is the vision of the members that MAIN will positively impact the Philippines by facilitating startup investments and advocating a startup friendly business environment.
Board of Trustees
Francisco Dennis Manzano
Rene Benitez
Jojo Malolos
Samuel Jeanblanc
Atty. Mark Sarabia Gorriceta
Román V. Azanza III
Tina Di Cicco
Quenby Tiu Go
Antonio Umali Jr.
Maria Gaitanidou
Atty. Kenneth Sy
Fergus Curran
George Uy-Tioco Jr.
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President
Francisco Dennis “Den” Manzano is the Convenor and President of the Manila Angel Investors Network Inc. (MAIN). He is also the President and CEO of Techtitan Technology Inc. President of Polaristitans Philippines Inc., Director of Pacificfortia Marine Technologies Inc., Director of Kerubin Capital Pte. Ltd., and a Board Trustee of the American Association of the Philippines.
Mr. Manzano completed the Executive Education Program of the London Business School, University of London in 2005. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree, Major in Business Administration from the University of Santo Tomas. He finished his primary and secondary education at the Ateneo De Manila University, Philippines.
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Trustee
Rene Benitez is an experienced wholesale investor and businessman. He is a former investment banker with extensive financial services experience, having served as a CEO of a leading independent investment bank and of a Euromoney/Asiamoney-rated stockbroking operation. Rene co-founded MAIN to which he remains deeply committed. Apart from his interest in startups, he has also either founded or co-founded numerous successful organizations in varied industries such as financial services, commercial real estate, automotive trading, utilities infrastructure and digital media. Rene has considerable experience and knowledge in corporate development, mergers & acquisitions, capital markets, and other methods of company capital raising. He has extensive international contacts and good knowledge of corporate governance best practices serving as Chairman, Vice Chair, or board member in numerous local and international organizations
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Trustee
Atty. Mark Sarabia Gorriceta is the Managing Partner, Head of the Corporate Group and Head of the Technology Media and Telecommunications Group of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, a top tier Law Firm in the Philippines.
With over 20 years of experience, Mark has developed an expertise in corporate transactions, commercial contracts and regulatory matters. He is a leading lawyer in the fields of Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Law. Mark has been recognized as one of the Philippines' Top 100 Lawyers for four consecutive years. With expertise on the law on digital assets, fintech, blockchain, virtual currencies, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence, he is legal counsel to the most impactful technology and online companies in the Philippines and has been recognized as one of the Top Technology Media & Telco Lawyers in Asia and Ranked # 1 in the Philippines in the Tech/Fintech space.
Mark is also a faculty member of the Ateneo de Manila University’s Graduate School of Business and serves as lecturer at Mapua University. He's a Board Trustee for organizations such as the Fintech Philippines Association, Blockchain Council of the Philippines and the Go Digital Pilipinas Movement under the Private Sector Advisory Council linked to the Office of the President of the Philippines.
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Trustee
Tina is co-founder of two travel tech companies, led the founding team of two airlines in Asia; and managed commercial and marketing at Lufthansa and IHG. She has led, financed, grown and sold web-focused startups, and has rich experience in growing B2B and B2C companies, driving market growth in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau.
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Trustee
Samuel is an active angel investor and startup mentor with MAIN and XA Network. Samuel is an industry expert with 10 years of experience as a tech executive and investor in Europe and Asia.
Samuel started his work at Google in 2014, in Ireland. He moved to Singapore in 2017. Samuel was a member of the senior leadership team at Google Philippines. He helped take it to one of the fastest growing markets in Southeast Asia. In 2020, he took new responsibilities within Google Maps, overseeing North Asia and Japan.
Samuel is originally from France but has lived in 10 countries, 5 of which are in Asia. He is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. Samuel holds a MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Audencia Business School and INSEAD.
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Trustee
Jojo is the CEO of PayMongo, with extensive experience in digital financial services across emerging markets. He previously led JG Digital Equity Ventures under the Gokongwei Group and co-founded GoTyme Bank.
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Jun is the Board Chairman of Acabar Marketing International, Inc. He is a graduate of BS Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) at DLSU Manila in 1987. ECE board passer. Married with two (2) adult children, a twenty-eight year old son and a twenty-three (23) year old daughter. Started working as a Systems Engineer (SE) after taking the ECE boars exams and moved to Sales with another company after almost a year as a SE. Stayed in the field of Sales until ultimately set-up my own business with some partners in 1996. Have been an entrepreneur since then up to present.
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George is the Senior Vice President of GT Capital Holdings, who have over 20 years experience in investment banking, investment management, and general management.
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M&A lawyer who turned to business. Excited with the promise of digital assets for the Philippines, moved to Manila in 2015, to join early startup Coins.ph, wearing multiple hats from BizDev to legal and compliance. After acquisition of Coins.ph by GoJek, Maria spent some time exploring local ecosystem as an advisor and making some small investments. Eventually, she was asked to help build UnionDigital Bank, the digital bank subsidiary of UnionBank, as COO. Currently, she is the Co-Founder ad CEO of Hati Health.
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Honorary Trustee
Quenby is the Executive Director of MAIN and is an Honorary Trustee of the Board. She was an investment banker for 11 years before embarking on her own interior and visual design studio and launching her beverage distribution business. She is committed to grow MAIN's membership base and connect them with promising homegrown early-stage companies. She is determined to learn and practice gender-diversified and impact investing in order to expand market opportunities and drive a positive change. Her goal is to contribute to a better Philippine startup ecosystem.
Quenby comes with a unique blend of entrepreneurship, enterprise and investor experience. She is committed to nurturing MAIN's continued growth, enriching relationships with our strategic partners and ensuring we all help build a world-class Philippine start-up ecosystem.
Quenby is also part of the Master in Innovation, business (MIB) Program Advisory Board of Asian Institute of Management and member of the Board of Advisers of the John Gokongwei School of Management.
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Corporate
Kenneth Sy brings over 12 years of experience in the office furniture industry, having founded and grown an office furniture company from a four-person team into a successful and expanding operation. Throughout this journey, he has navigated the realities of building and scaling a business, developing practical expertise in managing employees, serving clients, and maintaining strong supplier relationships.
He has extensive experience in furniture manufacturing and international sourcing, particularly working with manufacturers in China, and conducting business in the Philippine B2B market. In addition to his industry expertise, Kenneth is a licensed lawyer with a strong command of corporate and labor law, enabling him to approach business decisions with both operational insight and legal rigor.
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Treasurer
Roman is an experienced C-level executive with extensive business development, governance, operations, treasury and commercial banking experience. He is in his fourth decade of developing business ecosystems as a strategic consultant to a regional accelerator and a growing roster of tech-enabled firms looking to explore the dynamic Philippine market. He is an independent board member of ATRAM, a Fellow at the Institute of Corporate Directors, an active participant in MAIN's Screening Committee and a co-founder of a healthcare startup, Biologic Life Sciences.
Roman co-founded and led Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC), the fifth strategic business leg of the Aboitiz group. He Established Aboitiz Equity Venture’s business development division and spearheaded the conglomerate’s venture into the Public Private Partnership space. Aside from building up and running the Asian regional treasury function for CEMEX, Roman also spent a decade as a banker with ING Barings and Citibank.
Roman has an MBA from the University of Virginia and has an economics degree from Colby College.
Secretariat
Quenby Tiu Go
Stephanie Ignacio
Athena Lafuente
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Executive Director
Quenby is the Executive Director of MAIN and is an Honorary Trustee of the Board. She was an investment banker for 11 years before embarking on her own interior and visual design studio and launching her beverage distribution business. She is committed to grow MAIN's membership base and connect them with promising homegrown early-stage companies. She is determined to learn and practice gender-diversified and impact investing in order to expand market opportunities and drive a positive change. Her goal is to contribute to a better Philippine startup ecosystem.
Quenby comes with a unique blend of entrepreneurship, enterprise and investor experience. She is committed to nurturing MAIN's continued growth, enriching relationships with our strategic partners and ensuring we all help build a world-class Philippine start-up ecosystem.
Quenby is also part of the Master in Innovation, business (MIB) Program Advisory Board of Asian Institute of Management and member of the Board of Advisers of the John Gokongwei School of Management.
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Portfolio Analyst
Stephanie Ignacio is a Cum Laude graduate of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Business Economics. With a strong foundation in statistical analysis and business strategy, Stephanie gained hands-on experience as an Intern at the Department of Labor and Employment – Bureau of Local Employment, where she supported daily operations, conducted research on economic trends, and assisted with key meetings and speeches.Stephanie aims to build a career as a financial analyst and investment professional, where she can apply her academic knowledge and analytical skills to help organizations make informed financial decisions. She is passionate about developing expertise in financial markets, investment strategies, and economic forecasting as she embarks on her professional journey.
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Membership and Operations Coordinator
Athena holds Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from De La Salle University. She brings a strong foundation in mental health support, organizational coordination, and client engagement. In her new role at MAIN, Athena will focus on strengthening member relationships, managing day-to-day operations, and supporting our ongoing growth.With her background in international relations and diplomacy, Athena brings an informed perspective and understanding on cross-cultural dynamics that allows her to navigate diverse environments with ease, meaningfully contributing to teams working across different markets and audiences.
Athena is driven by curiosity and a commitment to growth, all while looking for ways to improve processes and deliver impactful results.
Partners
PAGCOR is a 100 percent government-owned and controlled corporation under the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
The state-owned gaming firm was created during the Martial Law years by virtue of a Presidential Decree (PD) 1067-A issued by then President Ferdinand Marcos in response to calls for the Philippine government to put a stop to the growing proliferation of illegal casino operations in various parts of the country.
The law creating PAGCOR was later amended and consolidated under PD 1869 otherwise known as the PAGCOR Charter.
KMC is a one-stop shop for businesses seeking top Filipino talent and a productive work environment. They bridge the gap between innovative companies and the Philippines' brightest minds through employer of record services. As the leading provider of flexible office spaces, KMC designs stunning, adaptable workspaces with collaboration areas and quiet zones to cater to various work styles.
Beyond workspaces, they offer comprehensive workforce solutions like HR, payroll, and talent acquisition services, having built dedicated offshore teams for over 400 businesses across industries.
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is one of the Philippines’ leading financial institutions and a trusted pillar of public service, securing the future of government workers while advancing nation-building. Beyond its core role as the country’s premier pension and insurance institution, GSIS is a CSR champion, driving inclusive growth through education, environmental stewardship, and culture. GSIS empowers members’ families through scholarships and education support and strengthens public education nationwide through its Adopt-a-School Program, supporting 30 priority and last-mile schools annually with Php 400,000 worth of ICT package and educational equipment each, benefiting 195 schools nationwide since 2014. GSIS also mobilizes its workforce for volunteerism and champions Filipino creativity through the GSIS National Art Competition. Driven by its mission to serve, protect, and uplift, GSIS transforms public trust into purposeful action, building a stronger Philippines for generations to come.
AksyonLink is a single, all-in-one platform designed to empower users through information, access, and convenience. It provides reliable, verified news and curated content based on individual interests, helping users stay informed with confidence. Beyond information, AksyonLink offers a more efficient way to access public services, allowing users to run errands and connect with essential services without long lines or frustrating queues. The platform also enables smarter, more confident shopping through its InfoNews–E-Commerce integration, known as News-Commerce, which allows users to discover and purchase products directly from the news they read, with easy add-to-cart functionality and access to trusted sellers, all within one app.
