Phl startup funding reaches $86 M in H1

The Philippines has overtaken Indonesia for the first time in terms of startup deal value in the first semester, according to a report from corporate venture capital firm Kickstart Ventures and media company DealStreetAsia.

- LOUELLA DESIDERIO

The Southeast Asia Startup Report for the First Half 2025 showed that Philippine startups collectively raised $86.4 million in the first half, higher than Indonesia's $78.5 million.

Kickstart Ventures general partner Joan Yao said in a media roundtable yesterday that the Philippines recorded 15 startup deals in the first half, fewer than Indonesia's 34.

"Philippine deals were fewer but larger and Indonesia had more but smaller," she said.

She said the deals in the Philippines were mostly in fintech, human resources technology and food and beverage.

Despite edging past Indonesia, the Philippines' startup deal value in the first half declined from the $191 million recorded in the same period last year.