MANILA, Philippines — 27 August 2025 — Entrepreneurs from across the Philippines gathered for the Alibaba Netpreneur Masterclass 2025, an annual programme designed to help founders, business leaders, and innovators harness technology for growth.
This year’s cohort was the largest to date, representing 50 cities nationwide and reflecting the diversity of the archipelago. Beyond business education, the programme highlighted its mission of enabling the Philippines’ tech ecosystem to flourish and compete on the global stage.
The programme officially kicked off on 8 July 2025 with a livestream from Alibaba Global Initiatives. Since its launch in 2019, the Masterclass has provided entrepreneurs worldwide with learning and networking opportunities from Alibaba’s global network of business leaders. The 2025 edition placed a special emphasis on how technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) are reshaping industries and accelerating company growth.
From 15-31 July 2025, participants engaged in online classes led by Alibaba executives, followed by in-person closing ceremonies in Cebu on 4 August and in Manila on 5 August. The programme adopted a dual-city format for the first time, co-presented with partners including KMC, Lazada, Alibaba Cloud, and Power Mac Center. More than 150 participants attended the ceremonies, with a 60:40 male-to-female ratio, supported by 29 Philippine community partners.
Over the years, the Alibaba Netpreneur Masterclass has reached far beyond Metro Manila’s business districts. More than 600 Filipino entrepreneurs have now graduated from the programme, with alumni companies collectively raising over US$70 million in funding.
This year underscored one of the Philippines’ greatest strengths: its readiness to embrace digital transformation. By connecting leaders from urban hubs and rural regions alike, the programme showcased the dynamism of the local entrepreneurial landscape and its ability to contribute to Southeast Asia’s broader tech story.
Gobi Partners, through the Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, has long partnered with the programme, reinforcing its role as both a venture capital investor and an ecosystem builder. Supporting entrepreneurs from a wide range of industries—including those outside of traditional tech—Gobi-Core helps bridge the gap between local founders and global digital transformation trends.
The Alibaba Netpreneur Masterclass 2025 not only trained entrepreneurs but also strengthened connections across the ecosystem. Each edition expands the Philippines’ community of globally minded founders, equipped with the knowledge and networks to scale their ventures.
As the Philippine startup ecosystem continues to mature, initiatives like this one highlight a shared belief: that Filipino innovation is ready to lead, not just follow, in the global digital economy.