Women-Led Startups Driving Innovation in the Philippines

At Kerubin Capital, we invest in women who are driving innovation. Across the Philippines, female founders continue to build companies that modernize traditional sectors, such as taxation, logistics, sustainability, and digital law. Below we spotlight four ventures recently making waves: Taxumo, Fortuna Cools, ZendEase (1Export), and SignSecure (UNAWA).

Taxumo: Simplifying compliance and empowering MSMEs

Taxumo further drives its mission for accessible financial technology in the Philippines. Recent partnerships with Cebuana Lhuillier and Security Bank¹ signal a growing ecosystem around digital tax and financial inclusion. These collaborations will expand Taxumo’s reach to thousands of MSMEs, providing integrated tools for tax compliance and lending.

Their State of Online Taxation 2025 report² also revealed a marked increase in voluntary compliance among freelancers and small business owners, reflecting evidence of shifting workforces and expanding digital opportunities.

Fortuna Cools: Turning waste into opportunity

Fortuna Cools further invests in blending environmental innovation with social impact. Using discarded coconut husks, the company manufactures eco-friendly coolers that support smallholder farmers while reducing plastic waste. Following its seed funding in 2024, Fortuna has expanded operations, further validating sustainable agritech as a viable frontier for climate-positive innovation in the Philippines.³

ZendEase (1Export): Powering global trade for Filipino and Southeast Asia SMEs

Through its logistics arm ZendEase, 1Export is helping Filipino and Southeast Asia SMEs ship globally with greater ease. The company’s expansion to Vietnam and Indonesia⁴ mark a significant milestone in their mission to drive global trade. 

ZendEase’s latest insights “Shipping from the Philippines to the U.S.”⁵ reflect the company’s commitment to further empowering local entrepreneurs through compliance-ready, technology driven solutions. 

Unawa: Building the digital legal infrastructure for SMEs

With growing partnerships, such as its collaboration with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI) on e-signature adoption⁶, Unawa is helping SMEs streamline operations and embrace secure digital documentation further positioning itself as an enabler in the country’s digital transformation with their SignSecure platform. SignSecure is UNAWA’s flagship e-signature technology uses technology, such as facial recognition, in compliance with Philippines' E-Commerce Act and the Supreme Court's Rules on Electronic Evidence.

What unites these founders is a commitment to access, empowerment, and sustainability. Each company addresses barriers, financial inclusion, export, agricultural waste, and legal accessibility, through technology. As the Philippine startup ecosystem matures, these women-led ventures demonstrate that equitable innovation is a necessary blueprint for sustainable growth.

Sources

¹ www.taxumo.com/blog/cebuana-lhuillier-loans/

² www.taxumo.com/state-of-online-taxation-2025/#:~:text=In%202025%2C%20Millennials%20continued%20to,begin%20earning%20and%20filing%20taxes. 

³ zendease.com/blog/article/1export-journey-to-vietnam-15 

⁴ zendease.com/blog/article/shipping-from-the-philippines-to-the-us-in-2025-market-opportunities-for-smes-56 

⁵ unawa.asia/unawa-news-announcements/unawa-and-pcci-adopt-e-signatures-at-capacity-development-for-smes-event/ 

⁶ asiafoodjournal.com/sustainable-insulation-a-paradigm-shift-in-the-food-delivery-industry/