Gen Z founders in the Philippines, despite VC risks, are driven innovators. VCs see their potential, but urge balance: passion with fundamentals.
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Whenever the older generation thinks of Gen Z—those born between 1997 and 2012—negative stereotypes often come to mind.
It’s not uncommon to hear them labeled as “entitled” or “lazy,” or, to take it a step further, accused of being overly self-absorbed.
Many believe Gen Z is constantly looking for shortcuts to success—at least, that’s the perception. But in reality, perhaps they’re not avoiding hard work at all. Instead, they’re simply working smarter.
Gen Z is acutely aware of the struggles faced by previous generations, having witnessed firsthand the sacrifices and burnout that often accompanied traditional work life.
Many grew up observing their parents or siblings caught in the grind of the 9-to-5, unable to carve out time for family or personal pursuits due to the overwhelming demands of corporate life.
They saw the spark fade from eyes once full of passion, as the system treated them less like individuals with creative potential and more like cogs in the capitalist machine.
This system, which prioritizes output over innovation, stifles personal growth and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully—not just as workers, but as active, engaged citizens.
Though these moments may seem small on their own, when considered as a whole, they reveal a larger, more critical perspective—one that questions and redefines traditional career paths and expectations.
Our Gen Z team members took the opportunity to see what’s behind this stereotype and talked to some Gen Z founders in the Philippines.
Three founders from the “Big 3” universities—Soj Gamayon (Ateneo de Manila University), Iyana Arganoza (De La Salle University), and Leonard Ang (University of the Philippines)—are breaking barriers with their startups.
Their ventures tackle pressing issues, addressing both macro challenges and micro-level needs by targeting specific sectors. With a focus on impactful solutions, they are dedicated to healing society, one innovation at a time.
Soj Gamayon, founder of AgriConnect, is revolutionizing the way farmers assess and navigate crop risks. In 2024, the Philippines' rice consumption reached approximately [16.6 million metric tons](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1422944/philippines-total-rice-consumption/#:~:text=In the 2023%2F24 marketing,consuming countries in the world.), marking an increase from 2023’s consumption levels.
AgriConnect addresses this issue by providing a platform that helps farmers accurately predict risks, offering critical support to mitigate unforeseen damages and protect both crop production and local farmers' livelihoods in an increasingly volatile environment.
Iyana Arganoza, co-founder of Serbiz, has created a platform that enables users to earn by helping others through side hustles.
Serbiz addresses the pressing need to alleviate stress and ease the daily burdens of Filipinos by connecting them with hustlers for one-time tasks. Though these tasks may seem small, they can be life-changing for both parties—especially for those in need of quick cash in a competitive job market, offering a much-needed financial boost and flexibility.
Leonard Ang, co-founder of Sip & Scale, has launched an initiative to foster a stronger, more collaborative culture among founders, investors, and the broader startup ecosystem.
Through intimate dinners and lunches, he creates opportunities for networking and knowledge-sharing, helping individuals learn from one another. On top of this, he is developing an AI-driven EdTech startup called Stealth that focuses on personalized math education, tailoring the learning experience to meet the unique needs of each user.
All three founders are current undergraduates—one has dropped out, and two are delaying their studies to pursue an opportunity with no guarantee of success.
You might wonder: what’s the rush? Why sacrifice education for a business that could take years to reach stability?
As Soj puts it, “I’d rather move than stand still.”
This mindset drives him to relentlessly seek funding as he prepares to head to Silicon Valley this summer to join Plug & Play and further develop AgriConnect’s technology.
Soj believes Generation Z possesses a confidence that previous generations often lacked, especially when it comes to seizing opportunities.
The hardest thing is not knowing what to say no to, which is why he continues showing up and pushing forward with his mission—to support local farmers not by ‘saving’ them, but by easing their struggles in any way he can.
Iyana and Leonard share a similar mindset, both emphasizing that the big rewards at the end of their entrepreneurial journeys fuel their drive to push forward.
They believe that Gen Zs being technological savvy makes it easier for them to learn and acquire new skills independently, allowing them to manage businesses with greater ease.
Leonard notes that many Gen Z founders have the courage to drop out of school, a bold decision not as common in previous generations.
Thanks to the skills they've developed early on, as well as the tech tools and AI resources available today, they gain a significant head start.
This advantage gives them the option to opt out of school and dive into their ventures sooner.
It's worth highlighting that two out of the three founders are scholars, and all of them have bootstrapped their way into the startup ecosystem, taking on risks that many might overlook, especially considering the prestigious universities they come from.
Currently, only AgriConnect has secured venture capital funding, while Serbiz and Stealth are continuing to raise capital through alternative channels. They are preparing to enter the traditional venture capital route once their startups reach the pre-seed stage.
During their separate interviews, it was striking to hear how all of them spoke about the loneliness they face as entrepreneurs. This emotion is often unexpected, as founders are typically seen as extroverted and well-connected.
However, the reality of their journey has been isolating, as the community of young people in their field is still emerging.
Since dropping out of college, Iyana has found it increasingly difficult to stay connected with the outside world.
Building a startup with a two-person team has consumed her time, leaving little room to reconnect with reality as she focuses on coding and improving their platform—tasks that rely heavily on her.
She shared, “Being a startup founder is much more challenging [than working in a corporate setting]. It’s been a lonely journey, especially in the Philippines, where the business landscape is dominated by conglomerates, leaving me with fewer people to turn to for support.”
While she acknowledges that choosing to dedicate herself to the startup was her decision, it has been mentally challenging, especially considering the societal stigma around dropping out in the country.
There are moments when she has to push herself to the point of delusion, convincing herself that her business will succeed.
This mental struggle is compounded by the lack of a solid community, leaving her with few people to turn to for support.
Leonard's biggest sacrifice lies in pushing himself to attend events and network after long, exhausting days at school—not just for the sake of his startup, but also for his personal growth.
Everyone has their limits when it comes to social energy, so it’s understandable that while such opportunities can be valuable, they can also be more taxing than rewarding at times.
As for Soj, the biggest challenge is balancing his responsibilities as a working student and a founder.
Juggling both roles required significant sacrifices, impacting his personal life and almost jeopardizing his chances in a competition he attended in Tokyo, Japan. Thankfully, his hard work paid off as he won the Red Bull Global Finals.
Entrepreneurship, no matter if you’re on your first venture or your fifth, is no doubt a difficult process. We’ve heard from young founders who are hoping to make it big, and seeing that drive excites people like us who are out to invest in the next generation of startups, especially in the Philippines.
However, to offer our own nuanced takes on the journey to entrepreneurship, there are some things worth mentioning to any founder hopefuls out there.
While the drive and ambition of Gen Z founders are commendable, we believe a balanced approach matters.
Dropping out of college is a risky move that may work for a select few. Yet, for most, a strong educational foundation provides them with valuable fundamentals and a depth of knowledge.
We suggest that student founders first validate their ideas during evenings and free time. This allows for a more informed transition to full-time entrepreneurship post-graduation, or upon demonstrating exceptional traction.
On the other hand, Gen Z's access to AI tools and automation presents a significant advantage. These resources enable founders to operate with unprecedented resource efficiency, building impactful ventures with lean teams and accelerating their progress.
This unique position allows them to iterate and scale rapidly, making this generation a powerful force in the evolving startup ecosystem.
To further enhance their chances of success, we encourage founders to:
Ultimately, our Gen Z founders all agree that being an entrepreneur is all about trial and error. None of them believes that years of external experience are required to have what it takes to be a founder.
While they acknowledge that not everyone is suited for the role, they all share the view that the challenges each founder faces are unique.
As a result, there’s no universal rulebook for entrepreneurship—every journey is set to be different.
Leonard added that future entrepreneurs would benefit greatly from having a mentor to guide them, making the journey more seamless and less overwhelming.
Iyana echoed this sentiment, noting that young founders should not be judged for lacking years of experience. She stressed the importance of recognizing alternative ways to gain valuable experience, without following the corporate or traditional route.
However, it is important to acknowledge that being a founder is far different from what most people expect as seen in the interviews.
It doesn’t automatically provide the time and flexibility that many assume comes with stepping outside the 9-to-5 structure.
True freedom and leisure are earned only after years of hard work, persistence, and sacrifice. In fact, the sacrifices founders make often outweigh those of a corporate job, which at least offers stability.
So perhaps the older generation is mistaken in their assumptions about Gen Z.
They are not lazy, entitled, or looking for shortcuts—they are simply rejecting outdated models of success and choosing to build their own.
The pursuit of entrepreneurship is not about escaping hard work, it is about embracing it in a way that aligns with their values and aspirations to make sure that the spark within them never fades.
In the end, no matter the path Gen Z chooses, it’s crucial that they define their own journey, as not every route is suitable for everyone.
What truly matters is the drive and motivation that propels the young generation to grow—not just as individuals, but as better Filipinos dedicated to making a positive impact to the country.
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