Paulo Campos: Founding Philippines ZALORA & Kaya Founders Venture Capital Lessons - E685

"A startup is nothing but a collection of talent. In 99.9% of companies and startups these days, it's a matter of the team you're able to build, and how you're able to lead and inspire them. Those are professional skills you learn that ultimately set you up for success in the long term." - Paulo Campos, Founding Managing Partner of Kaya Founders

"We provide advice, we provide capital, we provide network, and we can open doors. But most importantly, we provide courage. If seasoned executives and proven founders tell you your business is a good idea, you're going to feel 10 feet tall. You're going to feel like you can punch through walls, and that's the courage that we all need to build great companies." - Paulo Campos, Founding Managing Partner of Kaya Founders

"The Philippines is the youngest country in Southeast Asia, with a median age of 25. You will really see more leapfrogging and adoption progress here. The value you get as an investor—between the real customer traction we are seeing in these emerging companies and the reasonable valuations they command—makes it a great time to both build and invest in the Philippines." - Paulo Campos, Founding Managing Partner of Kaya Founders

Paulo Campos, Founding Managing Partner of Kaya Founders and co-founder of ZALORA Philippines, joins Jeremy Au to discuss the evolution and rapid acceleration of the Philippine startup ecosystem. Paulo shares his personal journey from Princeton and Harvard Business School to making the high-risk leap from management consulting to launching e-commerce in the Philippines.

He unpacks the early days of building ZALORA from a 10-square-meter room and the game-changing, localized insight to build an in-house fleet for cash-on-delivery logistics. Paulo also explores the post-COVID "Cambrian explosion" of Filipino tech startups, the unique leverage of the country's English fluency and global diaspora, and why the Philippines, free from legacy venture overhang—is currently positioned as the most exciting emerging market in Southeast Asia. Finally, he reflects on why early-stage investors must ultimately provide founders with the courage to build.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiWCk3Y3oqA&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_7scb97PE3whKu4yJVizIOd

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4L0uL5wbnQoTLZhHjCMemk

Keywords: Southeast Asia Venture Capital, Kaya Founders, Paulo Campos, ZALORA Philippines Origin Story, Cash on Delivery E-commerce, Emerging Markets Tech Investing