Founders Only is a podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the dynamic and ever-evolving world of startups. Join us every week as we sit down with some of the most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders of our time, and hear their stories and perspectives on leadership, management, and strategy. Hosted by Ron Baetiong of Hustleshare.
Our guests will share their personal journeys, revealing their challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. From dealing with funding challenges and market fluctuations to navigating the demands of running a successful business, our guests will offer valuable insights on what it takes to succeed in the competitive startup world.
Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or an established business leader, Founders Only provides a unique and engaging perspective that will inspire and inform you as you navigate your own journey in the startup world. Join us on this exciting adventure as we explore the hustle, struggles, and successes of the most innovative and driven founders of our time.
Maria Sucgang and Erwin Kok reveal how Remotify is changing the way companies hire globally. By removing the legal and operational friction of international teams, they’re giving founders something powerful back: time. Time to stop managing admin work—and start scaling.
Read MoreDiscover the tactical blueprint of Katrina Chan, the force behind the Philippines’ premier startup launchpad, as she reveals the high-stakes diplomacy and "founder’s grit" required to build a national ecosystem from scratch. This episode of Founders Only delivers a raw masterclass in navigating public-private partnerships, overcoming burnout, and unifying a fragmented market into a world-class engine for growth.
Read MoreIn this episode of Founders Only, we are joined by Dennis Velasco of Prosperna, for an unfiltered and deep dive into the high-stakes reality of leadership that most business books gloss over. Dennis pulls back the curtain on the psychological toll of managing a team, sharing a candid look at the unique stresses and "lonely-at-the-top" difficulties that only those in the driver's seat can truly understand. From the weight of decision-making to the daily grind of aligning diverse personalities toward a single vision, this conversation explores the raw emotional fortitude required to lead a company through the inevitable fires of the startup world.
Beyond the internal struggles of management, Dennis opens up about the external battlefield of fundraising and the grueling reality of facing constant rejection from investors. He discusses the challenge of navigating a sea of conflicting opinions and "expert" advice without losing sight of his original mission. Finally, he highlights how Prosperna is staying ahead of the curve by aggressively integrating AI to enhance adaptability in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.
Read MoreIn this episode of Founders Only, Symph co-founder David Marquez recounts the rise and eventual decline of Shipmates amidst a shifting e-commerce landscape. He opens up about the "emotional reckoning" required to acknowledge that the venture was no longer sustainable despite his deep personal investment. David illustrates that true resilience often lies in the maturity to accept a setback rather than forcing a failing business to continue.
Following the closure, he shares his process of taking a necessary hiatus to decompress and regain professional clarity. This period of reflection paved the way for his pivot into Agentic AI, where he now focuses on the future of autonomous business workflows. Ultimately, David explains how the lessons learned from his past failures provided the strategic wisdom to lead in this new technological era.
Read MoreThis week on Founders Only, we sit down with James Fernando of Armada Brands as he opens up about one of the most honest and emotional journeys a founder can experience. From reaching the heights of success to facing unexpected setbacks, James shares what it truly feels like to go from being on top to suddenly finding yourself starting over again.
In this episode, he reflects on the bittersweet reality of accepting defeat—something many entrepreneurs struggle to confront. James talks about the difficult moments of humility, self-doubt, and rebuilding, while also revealing the resilience and determination that pushed him to keep moving forward. Rather than letting failure define his story, he used it as fuel to rise again.
Read MoreThis week on Founders Only, we sit down with Jojo Malolos of PayMongo for a powerful conversation about one of the most compelling turnaround stories in the local business landscape.
In this episode, we take a deep dive into what it truly means to step into a company at its lowest point. Jojo shares the reality of walking into an organization that many believed was beyond saving — a company facing internal challenges, shaken confidence, and the lingering impact of a highly publicized controversy in 2022.
Jessica Ouano of Kinabuhi and Nikki Sevilla of EcoNest Philippines sit down for a real, no-frills conversation on building businesses that put people and the planet first. From crafting handwoven fashion with artisan weavers to producing cassava-based bioplastics for everyday packaging, they share how personal values—and frustrations—turned into sustainable ventures. With support from Villgro Philippines, they talk about the highs and lows of bootstrapping, what it really takes to get quality and pricing right, and why staying mission-driven matters when things get tough. It’s a story about making room for impact, one challenge at a time.
Read MoreJuvien Galano of Dewaste Solutions and Pamela Mejia of PAMMÉ join the show for a heartfelt, funny, and no-holds-barred conversation on building businesses with real purpose. From growing up beside rivers filled with garbage and surviving private school on a tight budget, to turning plastic waste into fashion pieces that sell in Rockwell and building waste systems from the ground up—they share how their personal stories shaped their paths. With support from Villgro Philippines, they talk about winning grants, bouncing back from big setbacks, and why relationships matter. It’s a story of grit, growth, and going back to your roots to create real change.
Read MoreJovy Gill of Altilium Green Energy and Cecilia Miranda of Isla-Tek sit down for a raw, inspiring conversation on building businesses that stay rooted in purpose. From turning pineapple waste into fabric to powering off-grid communities with smart batteries, they share how their paths—shaped by family, failure, and full-circle moments—led to ventures that serve both people and planet. They also talk about the slow, quiet grind before markets catch up and what it takes to juggle leadership. With backing from Villgro Philippines, they’re proving that you don’t have to leave to make a difference—and that the best solutions are built with community from day one.
Read MoreGillian Santos, co-founder and CEO of AniTech, and Neil Kho, co-founder of Arka, join the Founders Only podcast to share how they turned research backgrounds and last-minute grant wins into real, working agri-tech startups. They talk about the hustle of building in a close-knit industry, earning trust from the ground up, and why working in agriculture isn’t just about deploying tech—it’s about solving real-world problems with people, persistence, and a whole lot of heart. With support from Villgro Philippines, they’re proving that collaboration—not competition—is what will move the industry forward.
Read MoreBeryl Li, co-founder of Yield Guild Games (YGG)—the world's first and largest decentralized network of gaming guilds specializing in blockchain games and Web3 education—returns to the show to share how her startup has evolved since the Play-to-Earn boom. She discusses YGG’s journey through crypto market fluctuations, the challenges of scaling a Web3 company, and their strategic shift towards "Future of Work" initiatives. As a pioneer in the Philippine crypto space and a founding team member of Coins.ph, Li offers insights into financial discipline, Web3 team building, and adapting business models during market downturns. Currently, she leads YGG’s transformation into a platform that connects Filipino talent with digital work opportunities in AI and cybersecurity.
Raffy Montemayor of Salmon Finance joins us in this episode to share how they were able to raise funding in the middle of a funding winter. He also shares the difficult milestones they had to unlock and why they acquired a rural bank to give more benefits to their consumers. Raffy also shares the rapid changes Salmon went through to keep up with their fast growth.
Read MoreIt's virtually unheard of to see a highly scaled and profitable tech startup but Dragon Pay defied all odds and did both for 14 years! Find out how they did it when the CEO of Dragon Pay, Dick Chiang, shares the success secrets.
Read MoreCrystal Lee Gonzalez of Noneaway is a seasoned industry veteran known for her leadership roles at companies like Pick A Roo, Honest Bee, and Viber in the Philippines. She shares how the pandemic impacted her leadership style, leading her to become more nurturing and present. She also delves into her personal growth, the importance of being present, and the deliberate choices she made in her career and life. Crystal also opens up about a health scare she had in 2012, which prompted her to reevaluate her life and make deliberate decisions aligned with her values.
Read MoreArtie Lopez joins us in this episode to share his unique journey coming from a startup coach to become a startup Founder. He also shares the incredible hustle that startups do in order to survive in an investment winter where runways are short. He also shares an amazing #FoundersOnlyTop5 brought to you by Shoppable Business.
Carlo Valencia of StartupPH Training joins us in this episode to discuss the fundamentals that founders often overlook in launching their startups. Carlo also discusses remedies for overcoming the key basic mistakes founders often make.
Gian de la Rama joins us in this episode to share the amazing story of how he got Aiah to be acquired by Sprout. He will share the 10 year journey it took to get to this point along with the step-by-step process of how the acquisition went. He also shared his inspiring Top 5 founders in this episode!
Read MoreChristian Blanquera, serial entrepreneur and #StartupPH creator, joins us in this episode to talk about how the Philippine startup ecosystem has changed when it got launched around 2012. We tackle the improvements, setbacks and the mistakes that startups still do on this day.
Read MoreER Rollan, Founder and CEO of GrowSari, joins us in this episode to discuss the massive tradeoffs that founders make to chase their startup success along with the pros and cons of making these life decisions. ER also shares the tough decisions they made after raising Series C to make GrowSari continue growing.
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