Fundraising Fox

Joan Yao

Investor

General Partner at Kickstart Ventures

Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines

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.

LinkedIn ↗

Experience

  1. Kickstart VenturesGeneral Partnercurrent2025 — present
  2. Kickstart VenturesVice President, Investments2016 — 2025
  3. Cartier Women's InitiativeJury President, Creating Opportunities Category2021 — 2022
  4. Cartier Women's InitiativeJury Member, South Asia & Oceania2018 — 2021
  5. Republic of the Philippines - Department of Trade & IndustryConsultant, Office of the Secretary2015
  6. LGT Venture Philanthropy FoundationInvestment Manager, Southeast Asia2009 — 2015
  7. UBSIntern, Investment Research2007 — 2008
  8. Credit SuisseIntern, Investment Banking2007

Education

  1. Ateneo de Manila UniversityBachelor of Science, Management Engineering2003 — 2008

Skills & more

Venture Capital56Financial Modeling44Investments28Business Strategy25Emerging Markets23Social Entrepreneurship22Valuation23Strategy21Start-ups15Due Diligence15Portfolio Management8Entrepreneurship9
+12 moreVenture PhilanthropyPrivate EquityFinanceInvestment BankingStrategic PlanningImpact InvestingCorporate DevelopmentCorporate FinanceBusiness DevelopmentDeal SourcingDeal ExecutionFinancial Structuring

Languages English · Filipino · Hokkien

From Joan's professional profile.

Same school

Also attended Ateneo de Manila University49

Gabby DizonCEO at Bitkraft Esports VenturesDon 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 Ventures

+ 43 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Kickstart Ventures18

Dan SiazonFounder & Managing Partner at Kickstart VenturesMike MatéGeneral 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

+ 12 more

Also worked at Cartier Women's Initiative2

Sonia WeymullerCo-Founder and General Partner at VentureSouqDan MadhavanPartner at Ecotone Partners

Also worked at LGT Venture Philanthropy Foundation8

Wolfgang HafenmayerFounding Partner & Chief Investment Officer at Circulate CapitalLise BirikundavyiManaging Partner at BKR CapitalRaya PappFounding Partner at SAGANAAshley LewisManaging Partner VC at Development Partners InternationalGraham DayInvestor at Spring Impact CapitalPaolo LimcaocoPrincipal at Accion

+ 2 more

Also worked at Credit Suisse492

Bill GurleyGeneral Partner Emeritus at BenchmarkMike SpeiserManaging Director at Sutter Hill VenturesRyan IsonoDeal Partner at Felicis VenturesAryo TehranianManaging Director at Mayfair Equity PartnersNic LowdenInvestor at Moonfire VenturesLeone PattofattoOperating Advisor at P101 Ventures

+ 486 more

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
Ernest Cu
Chairman of the Board, Mynt at Kickstart Ventures
Jan Kendrick Ong
Investment Senior Associate at Kickstart Ventures
Janis Nolasco
Office Manager at Kickstart Ventures