Cebu has the second startup scene in the Philippines. But local angel money is thin. Most cheques fly in from Manila or abroad. Here are 10 backers funding Cebu startups in 2026.
Cebu has real talent and a scene that keeps growing. Local angel money, though, stays scarce on the island itself.
Founders here often end up pitching in Manila, because that is where most of the funds actually sit. The good news is that the city's groups connect you straight to that capital and run the local scene.
You will pitch backers who sit far away from Cebu. Ellty puts all of your data behind one link, so every one of them sees the same thing.
| Type | Check size | Sector focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foxmont Capital Partners | Manila early-stage VC | ~US$100K-$1M+ | Consumer, fintech, SaaS | foxmontcapital.com |
| Kaya Founders | Manila early-stage VC | ~US$100K-$500K | Sector-agnostic, fintech | kayafounders.com |
| Gobi-Core Philippine Fund | Manila / regional VC | Seed range | Tech, climate, fintech | gobicore.vc |
| Manila Angel Investors Network | Manila angel network | ~US$10K-$50K per angel | Broad, pre-seed to Series A | main.ph |
| Kickstart Ventures | Manila corporate CVC | ~US$500K-$2M | Fintech, AI, enterprise | kickstart.ph |
| IdeaSpace | Manila accelerator | ~US$10K-$300K | Sector-agnostic, deep tech | ideaspace.vc |
| Quest Ventures | Singapore early fund | Seed range | Tech, broad SEA | questventures.com |
| Startup Island PH | Cebu govt accelerator (connector) | Connector, no cheque | Sector-agnostic | startupisland.ph |
| Geeks on a Beach | Cebu dealmaking event (connector) | Connector, no cheque | Sector-agnostic | geeksonabeach.com |
| Symph Startup Labs | Cebu venture builder | Builds and incubates startups | Software, digital | startuplabs.symph.co |
Pitch backers in any city from one link
Most Cebu capital sits in Manila or abroad. Ellty shows who opened your deck so you follow up while interest is warm.
Start free 14-day trialWhat a Cebu backer wants
They back a strong team first, and early traction goes a long way toward proving you can deliver. What they really look for is a credible path to big markets, since Cebu startups have to scale well beyond the island.
A clear, simple story is what wins them over in the room. A tidy fundraising file backs that story up and shows you run a tight process.
Ellty gives each backer a single link to everything they need. From there you can see exactly who opens your deck and when.
The problem used to be creating better products. Now it is about accessing bigger markets.
10 Cebu startup backers
1. Foxmont Capital Partners
Foxmont is the largest PH independent VC.
Recent Activity: Led Cebu startup Prosperna's seed in 2021
LinkedIn: Foxmont Capital LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Consumer, fintech, SaaS
Stage Focus: Pre-seed to Series A
Check Size: ~US$100K-$1M+
Location: Makati, Manila
Website: foxmontcapital.com
2. Kaya Founders
Kaya backs founders across the country.
Recent Activity: Joined Cebu's GOAB as a backer in 2025
LinkedIn: Kaya Founders LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Sector-agnostic, fintech
Stage Focus: Pre-seed to Series A
Check Size: ~US$100K-$500K
Location: Manila
Website: kayafounders.com
3. Gobi-Core Philippine Fund
Gobi-Core actively engages Cebu's scene.
Recent Activity: Ran investor matching at Cebu GOAB 2025
Sector Focus: Tech, climate, fintech
Stage Focus: Pre-seed, seed
Check Size: Seed range
Location: Manila
Website: gobicore.vc
4. Manila Angel Investors Network
MAIN is the largest PH angel network.
Recent Activity: Urged Cebu magnates to back startups
LinkedIn: MAIN LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Broad, pre-seed to Series A
Stage Focus: Pre-seed, seed
Check Size: ~US$10K-$50K per angel
Location: Makati, Manila
Website: main.ph
5. Kickstart Ventures
Kickstart is the country's largest tech CVC.
Recent Activity: A VC present at Cebu's GOAB 2025
LinkedIn: Kickstart Ventures LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Fintech, AI, enterprise
Stage Focus: Seed to growth
Check Size: ~US$500K-$2M
Location: Taguig, Manila
Website: kickstart.ph
6. IdeaSpace
IdeaSpace accelerates early founders nationwide.
Recent Activity: Accelerates founders, including from Cebu
Sector Focus: Sector-agnostic, deep tech
Stage Focus: Pre-seed, seed
Check Size: ~US$10K-$300K
Location: Manila
Website: ideaspace.vc
Send each backer one trackable link
Ellty logs when a backer opens your numbers. Chase the keen ones first, not days too late.
Start free 14-day trial7. Quest Ventures
Quest backs early tech across Southeast Asia.
Recent Activity: Engaged Cebu's startup summit
Sector Focus: Tech, broad SEA
Stage Focus: Seed
Check Size: Seed range
Location: Singapore
Website: questventures.com
8. Startup Island PH
Startup Island PH runs Cebu's startup program.
Recent Activity: Runs Cebu's startup mentoring program
Sector Focus: Sector-agnostic
Stage Focus: Idea to seed
Check Size: Connector, no cheque
Location: Cebu City
Website: startupisland.ph
9. Geeks on a Beach
Geeks on a Beach connects founders to VCs.
Recent Activity: Connects Cebu founders to VCs
Sector Focus: Sector-agnostic
Stage Focus: Pre-seed to seed
Check Size: Connector, no cheque
Location: Cebu (rooted)
Website: geeksonabeach.com
10. Symph Startup Labs
Symph Startup Labs builds startups from Cebu.
Recent Activity: Builds and incubates Cebu startups
Sector Focus: Software, digital
Stage Focus: Idea, pre-seed
Check Size: Builds and incubates startups
Location: Cebu City
Website: startuplabs.symph.co
Why money flies in from Manila
Cebu has very few resident funds of its own, so most of the capital still sits up in the capital. Manila and Singapore funds lead the deals here, and they back Cebu founders right alongside the local ones.
Pitch them the same way you would pitch any local fund, with the same rigor and the same numbers. For more on how to approach them, see our angel investors guide too.
Ellty lets you share the same data cleanly across every city you raise in. If you want to go deeper, see our seed investors guide.
How Cebu's scene connects you
Startup Island PH runs the mentoring that gets you ready to raise in earnest. Geeks on a Beach is where the VCs show up, and a lot of deals get matched at the event itself.
Use these events to build real ties before you ever need the money. Keep your investor relations warm long after the first handshake.
Ellty logs who actually reads your numbers once the conversations start. That signal shows you which backers have real intent.
Raising from Cebu in 2026
Run a tight remote process and line up your backers to move at once. Protect your data carefully as you share it, and use secure file sharing to keep it locked down.
Send clean, regular updates in between your calls to keep momentum up. A tool like investor update software makes that far less work.
Ellty shows you every read as it happens, in real time. That visibility helps your startup close the round faster.
How to pitch a Cebu startup backer
Lead with your team and traction.
- 1.Lead with your team and traction.Open with the people building this and the proof it is working. Make the backer believe your team can pull it off.
- 2.Show a path to bigger markets.Cebu is only the starting line, not the whole story. Map out how you grow into Manila, the region, and beyond.
- 3.Name your raise and the ask.State how much you are raising and what it buys. Keep the number and the use of funds tight and clear.
- 4.Send one Ellty link to your data.Share a single trackable link to your deck and numbers. Watch who digs in so you know where the real interest is.
How Ellty helps you land a Cebu startup backer
You have your Cebu backer list ready. Set up a data room before you reach out.
- 1.Upload your deck, metrics, and plan.Set access per backer.
- 2.Share one trackable link per backer.Each backer gets a unique link.
- 3.Watch opens and reply on time.Use analytics to time each nudge.
Cebu startup investor questions
- Very few resident ones. Most money flies in.
- Manila and Singapore funds. A few local angels too.
- At Geeks on a Beach. Startup Island PH helps too.
- A strong team and traction. A path to big markets.
- Yes, the country's second. Talent runs deep here.
- Before your first backer call. Track who opens your numbers.
