The Philippines’ creative economy is accelerating faster than ever — and global payments platform Payoneer is emerging as one of the infrastructure pillars enabling Filipino creative firms to scale beyond local borders.
According to data from the Philippine Information Agency, the creative sector accounted for 7.3% of the country’s GDP and generated 7.51 million jobs in 2024, cementing its position as one of the nation’s fastest-growing economic drivers.
As international demand for Filipino designers, animators, game developers, and digital service providers continues to climb, the need for fast, secure, and borderless payments has become critical.
This is where Payoneer is making a measurable impact.
By offering multi-currency accounts, simplified cross-border transactions, and a platform built specifically for global SMBs, Payoneer is helping Filipino creators transform international opportunities into sustained business growth.
One of the firms riding this momentum is Leveret Group, a Filipino-founded studio specializing in custom games and immersive digital experiences. The company uses gamification — the application of game mechanics in non-game environments — to make learning, training, and customer engagement more dynamic and intuitive.
“People like to play, and there’s no rule that says work has to be boring,” said Ria Lu, President and CEO of Leveret Group. “We design systems that motivate people through play, so even routine tasks become more enjoyable.”
Founded in 2021 as a fully remote team, Leveret now works with clients in the United States, Australia, Singapore, and more markets across the Asia-Pacific region. The studio’s expansion aligns with broader industry trends: APAC remains both the largest and fastest-growing hub for gaming and gamification solutions, according to a September 2025 report by Mordor Intelligence.
“The growth is driven by Southeast Asia as a major force, Japan, Korea, and China as creative powerhouses, and Australia and New Zealand as very active markets,” Lu added.
Payments: The backbone of going global
Monique Avila, Payoneer’s Senior Director of Customer Success for APAC
As Leveret’s client base expanded across multiple jurisdictions, managing contracts and collecting payments became increasingly complex — until Payoneer streamlined the process.
“Creators thrive when they can focus on their craft instead of the logistics of getting paid,” said Monique Avila, Payoneer’s Senior Director of Customer Success for APAC. “With Payoneer, teams like Leveret can manage global transactions with ease and continue expanding their work across borders.”
Leveret uses Payoneer’s multi-currency accounts to send and receive payments efficiently, eliminating delays and reducing the administrative burden of international banking.
Games for change: Where creativity meets impact
Beyond commercial work, Leveret has built a reputation for developing serious games — interactive experiences designed to address education, health, development, or social issues. One of the company’s recent projects involves a live-action, choice-based interactive film for an NGO, aimed at strengthening critical thinking among learners.
These projects reflect a growing global market for socially relevant game design and underline the capability of Filipino studios to contribute meaningfully in this space.
Looking ahead: From client work to original IP
Leveret is now preparing to balance its portfolio between client work and original game development.
“We want to release our own titles,” Lu shared. “When it’s your own product, it continues to create value over time. That’s how we sustain creativity in the long term.”
For Lu, expanding globally is no longer optional — it’s essential. “If you really want to make it as a creative entrepreneur, you have to expand. Technology and financial platforms like Payoneer make it possible.”
As the Philippines strengthens its position as a rising creative hub, firms like Leveret demonstrate how Filipino talent can compete — and lead — on the world stage.
With Payoneer powering their financial backbone, the country’s creative innovators are better equipped to scale their ideas, unlock markets, and shape the global digital experience economy.
