Investor Profile: Kaya Founders — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Introduction

Kaya Founders is a Manila-based early-stage venture firm founded in 2021 that partners with founders from day zero. It describes itself as a venture enabler as well as a fund, combining investment with strategic and operational support. It aims to position the Philippines as a leading regional technology hub.

Thesis

The thesis centres on the new Filipino consumer and on digitising critical services in large, underpenetrated markets. Kaya Founders looks for tech-enabled, scalable businesses that can improve unit economics where digital adoption is still catching up with demand. It is thesis-led: each January the team revisits its themes against structural trends and the founders it met the previous year. In 2024 it spoke to about 650 startups and invested in 14 of them.

Sectors and stages

Kaya Founders invests at pre-seed to Series A stage, focusing on e-commerce, fintech, e-logistics, healthtech, edtech and related commerce and critical services. Its wider list also spans agriculture, healthcare and software as a service. The firm says it will build a venture from scratch where no credible play exists, as well as invest in existing teams.

Fund size and cheque size

Kaya Founders has closed a $25 million second fund, Fund II, structured as two investment vehicles to allow flexibility across entry points and follow-on support. It plans to invest in 10 to 20 additional startups over three years through Fund II. A fixed cheque range for Fund II is not publicly disclosed in the sources reviewed; the firm says cheques will be calibrated to stage and traction, with reserves set aside for top performers. Ask directly what range fits your stage.

Notable portfolio

Since launching in 2021, Kaya Founders has invested in more than 40 startups. Notable names cited in credible coverage include e-commerce enabler Etaily, salary-on-demand startup Advance and micro, small and medium enterprise point-of-sale app Peddlr. Recent investments reported alongside Fund II include Datung, ProTech, LenderLink and SunFund, spanning financial access and clean energy.

Partners and team

Kaya Founders was founded by Paulo Campos, former chief executive of ZALORA Philippines, Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, president of Summit Media and senior vice president of JG Summit, and Constantin Robertz, chief executive of Locad and former chief executive of Entrego. Paulo Campos serves as managing general partner. Fund II backers include Pavilion Capital, Gabriel and Geraldine Sunshine of Bracebridge Capital, Concentric Equity Partners, and leading Filipino family offices and technology operators.

Programs, credits and perks

Kaya Founders does not publish a standalone accelerator, credits programme or perks catalogue in the sources reviewed. Its stated support is strategic and operational: go-to-market guidance, recruiting help, connections to downstream investors and corporate partners, and sector specialist input. It also publishes investment themes and market research, which founders can use to test fit before approaching the firm.

How to apply for funding from Kaya Founders

Kaya Founders does not publish a public application portal in the sources reviewed, so founders should approach via the firm's official site and contact route only, at kayafounders.com, where [email protected] is published. Explain the Philippine market problem, why the solution is tech-enabled and scalable, and what traction or insight justifies early conviction. Name your sector, stage and funding need clearly, since Fund II cheques are calibrated to stage and traction.