When Paola Betita Tan first dipped her toes into entrepreneurship support, she didn’t picture herself shaping a national ecosystem. There was no grand, movie-moment turning point. Instead, her journey was built on years of noticing the same thing, over and over: brilliant, values-driven founders all across the Philippines were tackling real community challenges, but running into the same walls—hard-to-find capital, limited networks, and not enough visibility to help them grow.

Through her work with The Spark Project, Paola saw it up close: so many Filipino entrepreneurs—especially women, persons with disabilities, and community‑based changemakers—were building in isolation. 

Ideas? Check. 

Traction? Absolutely. 

Commitment? Off the charts. 

But what they didn’t have was an ecosystem built for them. That missing piece quickly turned into Spark’s North Star.

The Spark Project began as a crowdfunding platform, dreamed up by Patch Dulay to help Filipino creators and entrepreneurs raise capital when the traditional pathways were out of reach. But as Paola came on board and the team grew, Spark levelled up—evolving into a full-blown organisation supporting entrepreneurs. They rolled out programmes, built communities, and knocked down barriers to make entrepreneurship more accessible and more inclusive.

Championing women-led enterprises? Check.

Backing PWD-led founders through regional initiatives? You bet.

Spark became a trusted partner in Southeast Asia’s growing impact landscape.

We’ve always believed that Filipino entrepreneurs have the creativity and commitment to build meaningful solutions. What they need is an ecosystem that sees them, supports them, and walks with them.

Of course, none of this was a walk in the park. The Philippine entrepreneurial scene? Vibrant, yes—but also fragmented. Funding is a maze and difficult to navigate. ESOs often operate in silos. Regional collaboration is still emerging and finding its feet. And the magic ingredient for true partnership—in-person convenings—is chronically underfunded. Spark’s small-but-mighty team felt this strain acutely; juggling programme delivery, resource hunts, and long-game strategy (all before their second cup of tea).

But did that slow them down? Not a chance. Spark doubled down: shoring up their HR and finance game, growing the team with fresh talent for programme design and community magic, and diving into monitoring and evaluation like pros. Their regional footprint? Bigger than ever, thanks to co-designing the Nippon Foundation’s Elevate programme for PWD-led entrepreneurs across five APAC countries. Wherever there was a convening, a regional gathering, or a peer learning session, you could bet Spark was there—building visibility, trust, and a little bit of FOMO.

When Spark joined the Pollinate Impact network, they weren’t looking for a lifeline—they wanted a real connection. What they found was a crew that truly got the rollercoaster of running an ESO in the Global South. Pollinate Impact’s in-person gatherings? Game-changers. Suddenly, doors to funders and collaborators swung open—no more cold emails into the void. The Growth Guidance Programme sessions gave Paola, Patch, and the team a playbook for tackling leadership puzzles and developing a long-term vision. Peer learning? It made the work a lot less lonely. And Spark’s feedback? It actually helped sharpen Pollinate Impact’s own tools—like tweaks to the grant discovery database that now work even better for Global South organisations.

Joining Pollinate Impact gave us something we didn’t know we were missing: a community of ESOs who understand the realities of building in the Global South.

This wasn’t just a business deal—it was a real partnership. Spark added their spark (pun intended) to the network’s collective brainpower, co-hosted energising sessions, and helped steer member-driven programming. Pollinate Impact turned up the volume on Spark’s work, made introductions to regional partners, and set the scene for collaboration to thrive. The result? Momentum for everyone, not just Spark, but for the whole Filipino entrepreneurial scene.

By early 2026, Spark hit its stride.

Internal systems? Solid. 

Team? Growing by the week.

Regional partnerships? Expanding faster than you can say ‘collaboration.’ 

Leadership? Crystal clear.

They weren’t just putting out fires anymore—they were drawing up blueprints for the future of their ecosystem.

So when Pollinate Impact announced that its Global Potluck 2026 was coming to Manila, Spark immediately understood what this could mean. This wasn’t just another event on the calendar—it was a golden ticket to bring the world to the Philippines. A chance to spotlight Filipino entrepreneurs, tighten regional bonds, and place Manila on the map as the Global South’s next big innovation hotspot.

Seeing the Potluck come to Manila feels like a full‑circle moment — a chance to celebrate how far the ecosystem has come and how far we can go together.

For Spark, becoming a Host Sponsor wasn’t a symbolic gesture. It was a strategic, values‑aligned decision. They believe deeply in the power of in‑person convenings to unlock collaboration and funding. They want to elevate Filipino founders by giving them a global stage. They see the Global Potluck as a catalyst for long-term ecosystem building in Southeast Asia. And they want to give back to a network that has supported their growth.

But above all, they’re ready.

Ready to lead.

Ready to gather their people.

Ready to help write the next chapter of impact incubation—one that’s brighter (and a lot more fun) for the whole region.

The Spark Project’s story isn’t about overnight success. It’s about steady, purposeful hustle—building community, shoring up systems, and creating opportunities from scratch. Partnering with Pollinate Impact put that work into high gear. Hosting the Global Potluck 2026? That’s proof of their deep commitment to the region. And their ongoing leadership? It’s helping shape a future where Filipino entrepreneurs get the support, spotlight, and sense of belonging they’ve always deserved.

In a lot of ways, the Global Potluck couldn’t come at a better time. Spark’s spent years helping others build—now, they get to welcome the world into the ecosystem they’ve been quietly powering up. And they’re more than ready to show what happens when a spark turns into a beacon.

Join us in Manila, October 6-8, 2026!