About
Yen Burao is Director of People and Finance at Kaya Founders, where she oversees internal operations including finance, compliance, people systems, and risk, and supports portfolio companies in developing their finance and HR functions. She has more than 16 years of experience across venture capital, startup operations, and management consulting, including helping scale Thumbtack's Philippine office, serving as Chief of Staff to U.S.-based founders, and leading advisory and audit work at Grant Thornton Philippines. She is a Certified Public Accountant with a BS in Accountancy from the University of the Philippines Visayas.
Experience
- Project PEARLSBoard Membercurrent2025 — presentManila, National Capital Region, Philippines
- Kaya FoundersDirector of People and Financecurrent2025 — present
- Kaya FoundersHead of People and Finance2022 — 2025
- Awana ®Board Membercurrent2023 — presentSoutheast Asia
- JK Family OfficeChief Of Staff2020 — 2022
- Thumbtack PhilippinesSr. Manager of People Operations, People Lead2019 — 2020Philippines
- Thumbtack PhilippinesPeople Business Partner2019Makati
- Thumbtack PhilippinesLearning and Development Manager2017 — 2019Makati
- Punongbayan & AraulloManaging Consultant2015 — 2017NCR - National Capital Region, Philippines
- Opportunity Kauswagan BankInternal Audit Officer2014 — 2015Iloilo City, Philippines
- University of the Philippines VisayasInstructor2013 — 2014Region VI - Western Visayas, Philippines
- Punongbayan & AraulloLead Consultant2011 — 2013NCR - National Capital Region, Philippines
- Punongbayan & AraulloAssociate Consultant2008 — 2011NCR - National Capital Region, Philippines
Education
- University of the PhilippinesBachelor of Science (BS), Accounting2003 — 2008
Skills & more
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft PowerPointIdeas Development2Strategic PlanningInternal Audit52Risk Assessment4IT Audit6Financial Analysis12Internal Controls26Business Analysis5Risk Management3Auditing18
+12 more
Enterprise Risk ManagementManagement ConsultingFinancial AccountingFinancial ReportingAccountingSarbanes-Oxley ActBusiness Process ImprovementDue DiligenceSarbanes-OxleyFinancial ModelingExternal AuditFinancial AuditsLanguages Cebuano · English · Filipino · Hiligaynon · Karay-a
- Certified Public Accountant — Professional Regulation Commission of the Philippines
From Yen's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended University of the Philippines17
Jecky PelaezPartner, Legal and Compliance at Kickstart VenturesPia Angeli BernalStrategic Partnerships Manager at Kickstart VenturesJedidiah VillanuevaPeople Associate at Kickstart VenturesCarl Nicholas NgGeneral Partner at Verge HealthTech FundRiana ChuaFinance & Marketing Lead at Verge HealthTech FundChristina GonzalesImpact and ESG Director at Circulate Capital
+ 11 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Kaya Founders11
Constantin RobertzInvestor at FEBE VenturesYsabel ChuaVice President at Forge VenturesPaulo CamposManaging General Partner at Kaya FoundersRay AlimurungGeneral Partner at Kaya FoundersRaya BuensucesoManaging Director at Kaya FoundersToby FloroInvestment Director at Kaya Founders
+ 5 more
Colleagues at Kaya Founders
Brandon Atienza
Associate at Kaya Founders
Calanthia Mei
Venture Partner at Kaya Founders
Constantin Robertz
Investor at FEBE Ventures
Danielle King
Senior Associate at Kaya Founders
Henry Chong
Senior Associate at Kaya Founders
Jianna Francisco
Associate at Kaya Founders
Lisa Gokongwei Cheng
General Partner at Kaya Founders
Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng
General Partner at Kaya Founders