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).

Joan Yao

Investor

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.

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 Structuring

Languages 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).