Key Takeaways
- • Gobi Partners, a Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur-headquartered venture capital firm with nearly $2 billion in assets under management, is shifting its Philippine focus toward artificial intelligence and deep technology, according to Managing Partner Chibo Tang in an interview with Manila Bulletin.
- • The firm currently backs 10 Philippine companies, including Kumu, Etaily, FlowerStore and ProCredit Financing Corp., and sees emerging AI-related opportunities that could become investable startups.
- • Gobi Partners has made no firm commitments yet, citing the Philippines' early-stage innovation ecosystem and the need for more government funding to produce consistently investable startups.
- • Gobi plans to replicate its university-partnership model from Hong Kong in the Philippines and will launch a landing program with Cyberport for Philippine startups seeking to expand into Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
- • Tang said the firm is looking to scale its funds and investment activity in the Philippines over the next decade.
Summary
Regional venture capital firm Gobi Partners is redirecting its Philippine investment strategy toward artificial intelligence and deep technology, building on earlier investments in regional digital platforms and financial services. In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Managing Partner Chibo Tang said the firm is entering a new phase in the country, which it now designates as one of its most important markets in Southeast Asia. He spoke on the sidelines of the 2026 Cyberport Venture Capital Forum (CVCF) in Hong Kong.
Tang said the firm sees a strong talent pool in the Philippines, particularly in an AI era, and is already identifying AI-related opportunities that could eventually grow into startups it might support. He stressed, however, that Gobi Partners has not made any firm commitments, as the country's innovation technology ecosystem is still at an early stage and has not yet consistently produced investable startups. According to Tang, maturing that ecosystem will require greater government funding to help local innovators develop ideas and support startup activity.
Gobi Partners, headquartered in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, has more than 450 portfolio companies across 18 locations in Asia. It currently supports 10 companies in the Philippines, including social media platform Kumu, e-commerce enabler Etaily, e-commerce platform FlowerStore and lending firm ProCredit Financing Corp. To extend its reach into AI and deep tech, the firm plans to replicate its model of partnering with universities, which it has used in Hong Kong to commercialize research and develop future unicorns.
The firm also plans to launch a landing program with state-run digital technology hub Cyberport, under an agreement signed at the 2026 CVCF. The program is designed to help Philippine startups expanding into Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area become familiar with funding sources and connect with local stakeholders. Hosted by Cyberport, the 2026 CVCF recorded more than 600 deal flows and drew over 2,800 international investors and high-growth technology enterprises.
Tang said the firm sees a strong talent pool in the Philippines, particularly in an AI era, and is already identifying AI-related opportunities that could eventually grow into startups it might support. He stressed, however, that Gobi Partners has not made any firm commitments, as the country's innovation technology ecosystem is still at an early stage and has not yet consistently produced investable startups. According to Tang, maturing that ecosystem will require greater government funding to help local innovators develop ideas and support startup activity.
Gobi Partners, headquartered in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, has more than 450 portfolio companies across 18 locations in Asia. It currently supports 10 companies in the Philippines, including social media platform Kumu, e-commerce enabler Etaily, e-commerce platform FlowerStore and lending firm ProCredit Financing Corp. To extend its reach into AI and deep tech, the firm plans to replicate its model of partnering with universities, which it has used in Hong Kong to commercialize research and develop future unicorns.
The firm also plans to launch a landing program with state-run digital technology hub Cyberport, under an agreement signed at the 2026 CVCF. The program is designed to help Philippine startups expanding into Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area become familiar with funding sources and connect with local stakeholders. Hosted by Cyberport, the 2026 CVCF recorded more than 600 deal flows and drew over 2,800 international investors and high-growth technology enterprises.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.