From Grants to Grit: Building Agri-Tech Startups with Gillian Santos & Neil Kho

Gillian 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.

Episode Timeline: 

00:03:42 - What’s your hustle? Gill and Neil share their startup missions

00:05:50 - Origin stories: From the physics labs and corporate job to agri-tech founders

00:19:04 - Why they chose the founder path despite safer options

00:27:53 - First steps and growing pains after receiving Neil’s initial grants

00:33:19 - Raising from investors vs. government grants—Jill’s unique startup path

00:37:02 - The hardest struggles: delayed payments, trust-building, market entry

00:47:11 - Gill’s Villgro journey: founder-safe spaces, matching, and real support

00:53:39 - Neil’s Villgro journey: Startup community and founder-to-founder collaboration

01:02:43 - What agri-tech startups really need to succeed

01:09:23 - What’s next for Anitech and ARCA, and how to collaborate with them

Resources:

LinkedIn (Gillian Santos): https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-santos-3aa1ba115 

Website (AniTech): https://www.anihan.tech 

LinkedIn (Neil Kho): https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilkho

Website (Arka Inc.): https://arka.asia 

This episode is brought to you by Villgro Philippines: , Paymongo, GoTyme Bank & SeekCap
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