Edwin Lacierda

You absolutely need to hear about Edwin Lacierda, this guy’s a straight-up legend in the Philippine startup scene now, but his story’s way more than just that. He’s an OG who’s been around the block, working with the government, big companies, and then jumping into the startup world and crushing it.

So, he’s part of YC’s S19 batch, that means he’s got some serious startup cred. Before all that, he was deep in the public sector, working at the Office of the President of the Philippines and even with the OPEN DATA PHILIPPINES TASK FORCE. Basically, he’s been on the inside of how a country runs and how data can change the game. That kind of experience? That’s pure gold when you’re trying to build something original, especially in fintech or tech in general.

Then he jumps into the private side, co-founding PayMongo, which, no cap, is a legit big change for Filipino startups. This isn’t just another payment platform, it’s the first Pinoy fintech startup to grab serious Silicon Valley attention, raising $2.7 million from big names like Global Founders Capital. That’s huge. It proves he’s got the vision and hustle to turn a local idea into a global powerhouse. And it’s about more than just money, it’s about showing Filipino tech can hang with the best and crush it on the world stage.

What does this tell us about him? Edwin’s all about having an effect. He’s been in the trenches, understands how things work behind the scenes, and then he jumps into startups to fix real problems. He’s motivated by making things better, more accessible, more original. His process’s about taking his experience, his network, and his hustle, and then channeling that into building something that’s not just successful but also meaningful for his community.

Long story short, Edwin Lacierda is that rare mix of government insider turned startup disruptor. He’s proof that if you got the skills, the vision, and the guts, you can flip the script, go big, and really change the game. No Cap, he’s the real deal.