
Welcome to Hustleshare, a Filipino podcast that features the journeys of startup founders, business leaders and unique hustlers to show not our differences but to show that most of us are very much alike. Hustleshare was made to showcase the triumphs and challenges people go through in their unique hustle and learn how we can apply them to our own daily hustles.
OUR LATEST EPISODES
In this episode of Hustleshare, we chat with Stephanie Sy, founder and CEO of Thinking Machines, to unpack her journey from Stanford and Silicon Valley to building one of the Philippines’ leading AI and data science companies. Stephanie shares how her early startup attempts and time at Google shaped her hustle, why she made the leap back home to start from scratch, and what it took to grow Thinking Machines in a market that was still new to data science. She also gets real about the challenges of building an AI team in a resource-constrained environment, the scrappy moves that helped them thrive, and how purpose-driven projects are helping shape the future of tech in Southeast Asia.
In this episode of Hustleshare, we sit down with Jake Go, Founder and CEO of Springboard Philippines, to trace his path from coasting through a dead-end dev job to running one of the country’s most resilient niche staffing firms. He shares how lessons from his grandma’s tiny Recto canteen stuck with him, the career-shaping mentorship he got at Kalibrr, and the leap into entrepreneurship that saw him earn back his first investment in six months—completely bootstrapped. Jake talks about winning boardroom deals as a baby-faced 23-year-old, how teaming up with his wife brought a much-needed dose of frugality, and why balancing “push” and “pull” has kept Springboard profitable for over a decade. He also opens up about teaching at La Salle, mentoring students, and the leadership shifts that turned him from a people-pleasing founder into a decisive, purpose-driven leader.
In this episode of Hustleshare, we sit down with Bimbo Adewoyin, founder and CTO of Doublesquare Networks Inc., to talk about how he went from installing DIY wireless setups in college to leading a nationwide tech company. Bimbo shares how growing up in Nigeria shaped his work ethic, how he adjusted to life in Bicol, and how he hustled his way into city-wide projects—all while figuring things out on his own. He also talks about building a team, learning the ropes of government procurement, and how PLDT Enterprise helped them grow through the toughest moments of the pandemic.
In this episode of Hustleshare, we chat with Alex de Leon, Group VP of Marketing at PropertyGuru, to unpack the wild journey that took him from tinkering with computers in Manila to working at Google in Silicon Valley—and eventually marketing for one of Southeast Asia's biggest proptech companies. Alex shares how growing up between cultures shaped his hustle, what working three jobs in college taught him about grit, and why it took 26 tries before he finally landed at Google. He also gets real about what it’s like starting from customer support, how being a generalist became his edge in tech, and why building from scratch in the Philippines was the most career-defining move he made.
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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.
Juvien 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.
Jovy 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.
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.
Beryl 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.
In this episode of Hustleshare, we sit down with Clive Aranha, General Manager of Hotel Casiana, to talk about how he went from running bars on cruise ships to leading one of the top hotels in Tagaytay. Clive shares how growing up in the hustle of Mumbai sparked his love for hospitality, how he built and sold his own restaurant in Australia, and what brought him back to the Philippines. He also talks about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, building strong teams, and how he helped turn things around at Hotel Casiana in just over a year—with the help of partners to fix key challenges and support their rapid growth.