The Philippines is set to take the spotlight in the regional innovation scene as IGNITE 2025: Gateway ASEAN – Expanding Markets, Empowering Growth unfolds on October 15, 2025, at Fairmont Makati.
Organized by TechShake, one of Southeast Asia’s leading ecosystem builders, and dentsu, Japan’s global marketing powerhouse, this year’s conference aims to connect startups, investors, and industry leaders from across the ASEAN region — and beyond.
IGNITE 2025: A premier ASEAN innovation conference
Since its first staging in 2017, IGNITE has evolved from a local startup event into one of the Philippines’ largest international innovation conferences. From just 500 attendees during its debut, the event grew to attract over 2,000 participants by 2019, solidifying its reputation as a premier gathering of the region’s startup ecosystem.
For 2025, IGNITE expects over 1,200 participants, including startups (30%), corporate innovators (60%), and investors (10%), representing a diverse cross-section of ASEAN’s business community.
With the theme “Gateway ASEAN: Expanding Markets, Empowering Growth,” the conference underscores the Philippines’ rising role as a launchpad for innovation and cross-border collaboration.
How IGNITE 2025 fuels the growth of PH fintech ecosystem
For the Philippine fintech and startup community, IGNITE 2025 represents more than just a networking opportunity — it reflects how the country continues to emerge as a key hub for digital finance and innovation in Southeast Asia.
However, IGNITE is not solely a fintech event. It welcomes founders, innovators, and MSMEs from diverse verticals — from e-commerce and healthtech to agritech, sustainability, and creative technology. This inclusivity strengthens collaboration across industries and ensures that innovation isn’t siloed.
By bringing together leaders from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, IGNITE 2025 builds bridges for cross-border partnerships and regional investment.
As the BSP pushes for digital transformation in banking and payments, and as venture capital continues to flow into the Philippines, forums like IGNITE play a vital role in linking startups with funding, mentorship, and global exposure.
IGNITE 2025 is also expected to attract corporate venture arms and government agencies exploring partnerships with emerging tech-driven businesses, creating opportunities that extend far beyond the conference itself.
What to expect: Innovation in action
Hosted by mentor-entrepreneur April Ong Vaño and master host RJ Ledesma, IGNITE opens with an exclusive welcome dinner in the heart of Makati City, a curated, invitation-only gathering for investors, speakers, and community leaders to build meaningful connections.
The main conference takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on October 15, transforming Fairmont Makati into a hub of keynotes, fireside chats, and networking sessions.
Speakers include renowned innovators and thought leaders across the ASEAN startup ecosystem, who will share insights on emerging trends, regional collaboration, and the technologies driving growth. Breakout sessions and business matching activities will enable founders, investors, and corporate leaders to identify potential partnerships and investment opportunities.
Adding to the excitement is the WILDFIRE Pitch Competition, where early-stage startups deliver one-shot pitches to investors and judges for a chance to win prizes and gain access to international acceleration programs.
Winners from the Startup World Cup Philippines Regional Finals will also secure a spot in the Grand Finale in Silicon Valley in 2026 — putting the Philippines squarely on the global innovation map.
A platform for collaboration and growth
Throughout the day, the conference floor will host 20 to 25 exhibitor booths, showcasing cutting-edge technologies, financial products, and digital solutions.
For fintech founders, these exhibitions are a front-row look into how ASEAN startups are addressing key sectors — from payments and lending to AI-powered customer experience and blockchain-enabled enterprise tools.
IGNITE’s cross-border collaboration approach encourages partnerships that strengthen the regional economy while spotlighting the Philippines as a gateway market for innovation and fintech investment.
With participation from over 500 corporations, investors, and ecosystem builders, the event is a testament to how regional cooperation continues to drive innovation forward.
The legacy of IGNITE: Building an ecosystem that lasts
IGNITE’s founders — TechShake and dentsu — envisioned the event as more than a conference. It was designed to be a platform that empowers founders, accelerates collaboration, and fuels sustainable innovation.
Eight years since its inception, that vision remains intact.
IGNITE has become the go-to meeting point for startups, investors, and innovators looking to connect and collaborate within and beyond the Philippines.
This year’s focus on “Expanding Markets, Empowering Growth” captures the momentum of the region’s digital economy. By connecting the dots between talent, technology, and capital, IGNITE 2025 underscores why Southeast Asia — and the Philippines in particular — continues to be a fertile ground for innovation.
Interested participants can register through the official event page:
www.ignite.ph
Follow IGNITE on Facebook for updates:
facebook.com/ignite.ph.asia
