Balik*Bayan SF 2026 unites Filipino diaspora founders and Philippine policymakers in Silicon Valley for a third edition
San Francisco, USA, April 2026 —
Endeavor Philippines, in partnership with the National Innovation Council (NIC), the highest policy-making body for innovation in the Philippines, chaired by the President of the Republic, hosted Balik*Bayan San Francisco 2026 at Kalayaan Hall in the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. Held for the third time in San Francisco, the event gathered over 50 Filipino founders, investors, and ecosystem builders for an evening exploring what the Philippines represents as a business opportunity right now. The event was co-presented by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and sponsored by Hotel101.
Balik*Bayan SF 2026 reinforced Endeavor Philippines’ commitment to mobilizing the Filipino diaspora and deepening the bridge between Silicon Valley and Manila. The evening convened a curated group of founders exploring the Philippines as a market, talent base, or expansion opportunity; investors with active or emerging interest in Philippine deal flow; and operators and ecosystem builders already on the ground, all united by a shared conviction that the Philippines is one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets.
The evening opened with an exclusive, invitation-only roundtable on policy, bringing together NIC representatives, founders, and capital allocators to examine the regulatory and innovation landscape shaping the Philippine startup ecosystem. The roundtable was followed by introductory remarks from the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, Endeavor Philippines, and the National Innovation Council. A Q&A and networking reception closed the program.
The evening featured insights from a lineup of accomplished Filipino entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders, including Nix Nolledo of Eden Holdings; Kendrick Kho of Hyperparameter VC; Jonathan Buenaventura of Chestnut Run Capital; Joshua Tan of Stanford; Kris Mercado of Emari; Earl Valencia of the National Innovation Council; and Ellen Damaso of Filipino Founders and Funders. Their perspectives spanned venture capital, company-building, policy, and diaspora community organizing, reflecting the breadth of talent and ambition in the room.
The partnership with the National Innovation Council marked a significant milestone for the Balik*Bayan series, bringing Philippine government policy leadership directly into conversation with the diaspora and private sector. The NIC’s participation underscored the government’s recognition that diaspora capital, talent, and networks are critical inputs to building a globally competitive innovation economy.
The Balik*Bayan series, which has previously convened gatherings in Singapore, Los Angeles, and New York, continues to grow as a signature Endeavor Philippines initiative, designed to create intentional, high-value spaces where diaspora professionals and Philippine based ecosystem players can move from conversation to concrete action. The San Francisco edition reflects the depth of Filipino entrepreneurial talent concentrated in Silicon Valley and the region’s strategic importance as a source of capital and global networks for Philippine startups.
Balik*Bayan SF 2026 was made possible through the support of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and Hotel101, whose partnership helped create an intimate, high-quality experience for the over 50 attendees.