Co-Creating the Future with Startups — How RCBC and SMBC are Driving Financial Innovation

My journey has always been about bridging innovation with impact—delivering meaningful services that drive financial inclusion for every Filipino. As Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer of RCBC, and head of our Digital Enterprise and Innovations Group, I’ve had the privilege of leading the bank’s digital transformation—turning RCBC into one of the most agile and internationally awarded banks in the region.

As Founding Chairman of FinTech Alliance.ph, I’ve also worked to grow the Philippine fintech ecosystem through bold policy advocacy, cross-border partnerships, and regional collaboration. Over the past two decades, I’ve witnessed the evolution of our startup landscape—from fragmented early efforts to a thriving, mission-driven community. Today, it’s no longer just about profit; it’s about building a future where innovation powers nation-building.

At RCBC, we’ve strategically fused startup agility with the strength and trust of a leading universal bank—redefining customer experience and earning global and regional recognition in the process. But for us, digitization isn’t the end goal. We’re co-creating solutions that uplift lives and empower every Filipino.

Among our latest partnerships is APIwiz, a Singapore-based startup piloting a cutting-edge financial services distribution platform. Through real-time, seamless API integrations, this collaboration enhances our API management capabilities—accelerating the deployment of fintech solutions with greater speed, security, and scalability across our ecosystem.

We’re also working with Higala, a homegrown Philippine startup developing a low-cost, real-time remittance platform. By leveraging the instant-settlement network we helped pioneer, RCBC can now offer affordable, real-time mobile remittances to individuals and organizations previously excluded from the formal financial system.

These partnerships are more than just technology integrations—they reflect our commitment to harnessing innovation for impact. By working hand-in-hand with startups, RCBC continues to elevate digital banking while advancing financial inclusion throughout the Philippines.

The talent is here. The ideas are here. But scaling remains a challenge—hindered by outdated regulations, underdeveloped digital infrastructure, and limited access to capital. At FinTech Alliance.ph, we work to bridge these gaps through sustained policy advocacy, investor engagement, and cross-border collaboration.

We believe that innovation ecosystems flourish when startups, corporates, and regulators move in lockstep—guided by insights from more mature markets like Japan and Singapore. Our mission is to create an enabling environment where homegrown ideas can scale, compete globally, and drive inclusive economic growth.

We aimed to go beyond transactional, one-off partnerships and move into true ecosystem-building. The Dōjō in Manila convened around 70 key players—from startups and corporates to investors and regulators—for direct, meaningful, and actionable dialogue. Many startups shared how rare and valuable it was to engage with decision-makers from both the public and private sectors under one roof.

This is just the beginning of deeper, more intentional co-creation—with partners like RCBC and SMBC Group leading the way.

At the ecosystem level, collaboration becomes more inclusive, drawing in diverse voices, ideas, and expertise across industries. This sparks richer conversations, fosters unlikely partnerships, and ultimately delivers more scalable, sustainable solutions to real-world challenges.

The Dōjō in Manila marked a significant milestone for SMBC Group and SARF. As the first startup-focused co-creation event hosted by SMBC Group in the Philippines, the Dōjō in Manila served as a platform to demonstrate the Group’s commitment to supporting the country’s vibrant startup ecosystem. Through direct engagement with local entrepreneurs, the event aimed to deepen SMBC Group’s understanding of the Philippine market and identify promising candidates for future SARF investments. One of the most striking observations was the proactive global mindset of many Philippine startups. Compared to other regions, a notable number of companies are already making steady progress in expanding overseas at an early stage. For example, an HR tech startup showcased a highly localized service that monitors and swiftly adapts to the country’s complex and evolving payroll and HR regulations earning strong customer approval. At the same time, the company has designed its platform with international scalability in mind. By separating country-specific features from core functionalities, it maintains its competitive edge while enabling rapid deployment across multiple markets. This dual focus, deep local relevance and global readiness, reflects the strategic sophistication of Philippine startups and reinforces the importance of co-creation as a pathway to inclusive innovation.

When evaluating potential investments from SARF, one of the key considerations is the potential for synergy with the broader SMBC Group. During the Dōjō in Manila, this synergy was not only explored between startups and SMBC Group itself, but also actively discussed between startups and SMBC’s corporate clients. A standout example was a startup offering end-to-end support for corporate e-commerce operations. Functioning as a modern-day digital agency, the company facilitates everything from online storefront setup to logistics and customer engagement. During the networking sessions, representatives from Japanese trading houses whose core business includes acting as brand agents engaged in ideation around online/offline collaboration with the startup, exploring new ways to bridge traditional and digital commerce. This dynamic exchange underscored the broader potential for SMBC Group to leverage its global footprint and client network to support the international expansion of startups. The event offered a glimpse into how strategic partnerships could evolve, enabling startups to scale across borders while maintaining their unique value propositions.

Following the Dōjō, RCBC is set to deepen its engagement with select startups to co-develop and pilot cutting-edge financial solutions. Our mission remains clear: to deliver smarter, more inclusive, and customer-centric digital banking experiences.

We are focused on solving real pain points faced by Filipinos—leveraging emerging technologies such as embedded finance, AI-driven services, and open APIs to ensure that innovation translates into tangible impact.

With strong regional partners like SMBC, we envision scaling these collaborations beyond Philippine borders, creating a ripple effect of inclusive innovation across the region.