Joan Yao
InvestorGeneral Partner at Kickstart Ventures
Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines
Find your path to Joan
470 people in our graph share verified history with Joan — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Laura BoydunlockedJoan: together at UBS (2007–2008)
×5Joan: together at Credit Suisse
×3Joan: together at UBS
×3Joan: together at Ateneo de Manila University
About
Joan Yao is a General Partner at Kickstart Ventures, a Philippines-based venture capital firm investing in early- and growth-stage startups globally. Previously, she covered Southeast Asia for a global impact investing firm from 2009 to 2015, where she supported social enterprises and launched an accelerator program across the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. In 2015, she served as a consultant to the Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry on topics including SME development, innovation, tech startups, and social enterprise.
Experience
- Kickstart VenturesGeneral Partnercurrent2025 — present
- Kickstart VenturesVice President, Investments2016 — 2025
- Cartier Women's InitiativeJury President, Creating Opportunities Category2021 — 2022
- Cartier Women's InitiativeJury Member, South Asia & Oceania2018 — 2021
- Republic of the Philippines - Department of Trade & IndustryConsultant, Office of the Secretary2015
- LGT Venture Philanthropy FoundationInvestment Manager, Southeast Asia2009 — 2015
- UBSIntern, Investment Research2007 — 2008
- Credit SuisseIntern, Investment Banking2007
Skills & more
Venture Capital56Financial Modeling44Investments28Business Strategy25Emerging Markets23Social Entrepreneurship22Valuation23Strategy21Start-ups15Due Diligence15Portfolio Management8Entrepreneurship9
+12 more
Venture PhilanthropyPrivate EquityFinanceInvestment BankingStrategic PlanningImpact InvestingCorporate DevelopmentCorporate FinanceBusiness DevelopmentDeal SourcingDeal ExecutionFinancial StructuringLanguages English · Filipino · Hokkien
From Joan's professional profile.
Colleagues at Kickstart Ventures
Bianca Ahorro
Strategic Partnerships Sr. Associate at Kickstart Ventures
Bit Santos
Partner, Portfolio Operations at Kickstart Ventures
Carmina Reapor
Financial Planning and Accounting Director at Kickstart Ventures
Celina Durante
Head of Communications at Kickstart Ventures
Dan Siazon
Founder & Managing Partner at Kickstart Ventures
Jan Kendrick Ong
Investment Senior Associate at Kickstart Ventures
Janis Nolasco
Office Manager at Kickstart Ventures
Janna Legere
Investment Analyst at Kickstart Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Joan Yao?
- Joan Yao is a General Partner at Kickstart Ventures, a Philippines-based venture capital firm investing in early- and growth-stage startups globally. Previously, she covered Southeast Asia for a global impact investing firm from 2009 to 2015, where she supported social enterprises and launched an accelerator program across the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. In 2015, she served as a consultant to the Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry on topics including SME development, innovation, tech startups, and social enterprise.
- Where does Joan Yao work?
- Joan Yao is General Partner at Kickstart Ventures.
- Where did Joan Yao go to school?
- Joan Yao studied at Ateneo de Manila University (Bachelor of Science, Management Engineering).
Same school
Also attended Ateneo de Manila University69
Don Russel H. LimInvestor at Openspace VenturesDavid BonifacioManaging Partner, Head of Philippines at TNBAuraJessie CruzValue Creation Analyst at TNBAuraMat Jirvonn F. ReyesResearch Analyst at TNBAuraMinette NavarretePresident & Managing Partner at Kickstart VenturesJecky PelaezPartner, Legal and Compliance at Kickstart Ventures
+ 63 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Kickstart Ventures17
Minette NavarretePresident & Managing Partner at Kickstart VenturesDan SiazonFounder & Managing Partner at Kickstart VenturesJecky PelaezPartner, Legal and Compliance at Kickstart VenturesJan Kendrick OngInvestment Senior Associate at Kickstart VenturesBit SantosPartner, Portfolio Operations at Kickstart VenturesJed ZafraPortfolio Development Associate at Kickstart Ventures
+ 11 more
Also worked at Cartier Women's Initiative9
Sonia WeymullerCo-Founder and General Partner at VentureSouqDan MadhavanPartner at Ecotone PartnersMercedes BidartCEO at QuipuRasha RadyFounder at ChefaaKomal DadlaniCo-founder at Lab 4UDora PalfiExecutive Officer, Director at imagi Education
+ 3 more
Also worked at LGT Venture Philanthropy Foundation13
Wolfgang HafenmayerFounding Partner & Chief Investment Officer at Circulate CapitalLise BirikundavyiManaging Partner at BKR CapitalRaya PappFounding Partner at SAGANAGraham DayManaging Partner, Spring Impact Capital at Spring Angels CapitalGraham DayManaging Partner, Spring Impact Capital at Spring ActivatorIsis Nyong'oMadica Mentor at Madica
+ 7 more
