AVPN Virtual Deal Share Live: Showcase of Women-Led Enterprises in the Philippines

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While the Philippines comes second place among East Asia and the Pacific region in gender parity as reported by the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Gap Index report, much more needs to be done. In partnership with Investing In Women, this session focuses on uplifting women-founded/led enterprises with the aim of further narrowing the gender gap in economic participation and opportunity through Gender Lens Investing.

In alignment with AVPN’s gender efforts to move more capital towards improving the outcomes of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment across the region, we are pleased to invite Asia’s social investing community to the upcoming virtual Deal Share Live that focuses on highlighting gender-focused investable opportunities in the Philippines. Other renditions to watch out for in the future will highlight similar opportunities in markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia.

This session will give participants the opportunity to:

• Hear from 4 women-led & Philippines-based social enterprises who will share their high-impact business models, the ups and downs of their entrepreneurial journeys and strategic growth plans.
• Engage in interactive Q&A during dedicated segments for each speaker as well as a group discussion panel to wrap it up.
• Get directly connected with the women entrepreneurs to explore partnerships and investment opportunities.

	Carmina Bayombong Co-Founder & CEO, InvestEd More Info Carmina is the CEO and Founder of InvestEd. In May 2017, she was included in Social Enablers’ Top 100 Most Inspiring Social Innovations and Entrepreneurs around the world. Her recent work involved fundraising for international non-profits in the fields of college access and success and youth unemployment. In the past, Carmina has started several initiatives- she co-founded Watson Institute Philippines, a summer entrepreneurial program for youth innovators, entrepreneurs and student leaders; Peace is Simple, a global non profit organization that advocates for United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and People Power Against Corruption, a non-profit that fights corruption using technology and non-violent methods. She has a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Philippines and an Entrepreneurship Certificate from the Asian Institute of Management.
	Ruth Yu-Owen Co-Founder, Connected Women More Info Ruth is a passionate women’s empowerment advocate with a focus on creating opportunities for women in the online workforce and the future of work. She is the Co-Founder of Connected Women, a social impact tech startup that provides socially responsible AI & digital task outsourcing and job creation through inclusive innovation. Connected Women aims to increase household income and create livelihood opportunities for Filipino women through technology upskilling and reskilling, ensuring that no woman is left behind. In her “day job”, Ms. Yu-Owen has almost 20 years of experience in the field of renewable energy, developing wind power, hydro power and solar projects. Ms. Yu-Owen is the President of the Upgrade Energy Philippines, Inc., a subsidiary of her own company PhilCarbon. She is Chairperson on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and also Vice President for External Affairs for the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2). She sits as a Board of Trustee of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
	Tamara Mekler Co-Founder & COO, Fortuna Cools More Info Tamara is the co-founder of Fortuna Cools, a startup building sustainable coolers made of coconuts to replace plastic foam insulation once and for all. Tamara studied at Stanford University, where she earned a B.S. in Human Behavioral Biology and an M.S. in Conservation and Sustainable Development. While at Stanford, Tamara was trained in the human-centered design approach, a methodology that she has applied over the last three years co-designing products with small-scale fishing and farming communities in the Philippines. Before founding Fortuna Cools, Tamara worked on community-based conservation and environmental education projects in the United States and in her home countries, Spain and Mexico.
	Jojo Gumino Co-Founder & COO, Agrabah Ventures More Info JoJo is the Co-Founder and COO of Agrabah Ventures, a social impact agri-tech startup that provides improved efficiencies in Agriculture Trading, Financing, and Logistics. Agrabah aims to create long-term partnerships between Enterprise Businesses and Filipino Farming and Fishing Communities. Agrabah was created to empower Filipino Farmers & Fisherfolks to steadily earn fair profit through online platforms. Growing up in a farming community, she soon felt her calling to leave the corporate setting and get back to her roots.  She is an active member of the startup community, where she has in the past, headed Human Resources for Fearless Ventures Inc, and Headed Partnerships at STORM Learning. JoJo has more than a decade of experience as a seasoned Human Resources & Business Professional with varied experiences across industries, cultures, and HR disciplines and has worked and lived in various countries along the way such as the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines. She has a degree in International Studies from Barry University and an Entrepreneurship Certificate from the Asian Institute of Management.

*Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (“AVPN”) is a non-profit registered charity in Singapore dedicated to the power of networks to mobilise capital for impact. Our signature events are intended to be neutral, non-political and non-partisan platforms for AVPN members, partners and other stakeholders to connect and share best practices, experiences and knowledge within the network for the development of an impactful social investment community. Participants should refer to the information provided prior to each session about the session’s speakers, objectives and topic, including the audience profile who are expected to attend, where applicable. Information shared by the speakers at AVPN events and conferences is provided by third-parties, and does not represent the views of AVPN on any matter. AVPN does not warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of this information and is not liable nor responsible for reliance anyone may place on such information, participants should consume this information at their own risk. AVPN reserves the right to edit, cut down and adapt the content and materials at these activities to align with the stated agenda or purpose of the AVPN events or conferences. Any information or materials provided at these activities are only for information and knowledge sharing within the stated agenda or purpose and does not in any way constitute tax, legal, financial or investment advice, nor do they constitute offers, solicitations, or recommendations for any investment activity.