This Angel Investor Network Offers Funding, Mentoring for Startups in PH

Angels are generally known as heavenly beings who act as messengers of the Almighty, but in the context of the business world, angels mean different. 

In layman’s terms, angel investors are individuals with a high net worth and who can provide financial assistance for startups and entrepreneurs. Technically, angel funding is not a loan, but in exchange, angels have the right to own equity in the company. Most angel investors are successful entrepreneurs, and are also called private investors, seed investors, or angel funders.

In the Philippines, the Manila Angel Investors Network (MAIN.PH) exists as the largest private investor network that primarily funds technology driven startups with high potential to become globally scalable.

Who is the MAIN

MAIN is a non-stock, non-profit corporation that supports the country’s startup ecosystem. Aside from providing capital, they also mentor entrepreneurs to share their knowledge and expertise. 

It is the company’s vision to “positively impact the Philippines by facilitating startup investments and advocating a startup friendly business environment.” 

The company is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (CN201916891) under the Corporation Code of the Philippines.

Partnerships and Investments

Angel funding is a type of high-risk, high-reward opportunity. With this, MAIN prefers to invest in startups with a strong competitive stance and the ability to expand into broader markets. This increases the possibility of generating substantial returns on its investment.

Each year, hundreds of businesses are screened to determine whether they should be included in the Pre-seed, Seed, and Series A rounds. These stages are considered “impact-focused” areas in terms of financial inclusion, employment, and education.

As an angel investor network founded entirely by men, they ventured with #GenderLensInvesting. It is a four-year partnership with Investing in Women, an Australian Aid Program (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). It is their way of bringing on board “women angels” with the following goals:

• Provide opportunities for risk-tolerant and conventional investments led by women-owned SMEs in the Philippines.
• Increase the number of female investors by diversifying the membership of the angel group.
• Expand gender-neutral services and activities among its members.

Here are some of the angel-supported startups funded by MAIN:

• Kumu
• Gappify
• Fortuna
• Aqwire
• Tabella
• Flowerstore.PH
• 1Export
• Taxumo
• TANGapp
• MadEats
• MedCheck
• Fitscovery
• Talino
• Booky
• Edusuite
• Unawa
• Podcast Network Asia

Criteria and Application Process

Startups who wish to be funded by MAIN are required to develop their own Minimum Viable Product (MVP), or a reasonable amount generated from their product, clients, revenues, and others. This is done to boost confidence that the new venture fits the market.

As part of the assessment, they evaluate the founders and the team, how they build marketing opportunities and solutions to identify problems, their defensibility or competitive advantage, roadmaps, processing budgets, and realistic exit strategies. 

For interested startups, you may fill out the application using this link. You may also get the latest updates and happenings through its Facebook page.

Location: 11th Floor, Ore Central, 31st Street, corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City