Welcome to Hustleshare, a Filipino podcast that features the journeys of startup founders, business leaders and unique hustlers to show not our differences but to show that most of us are very much alike. Hustleshare was made to showcase the triumphs and challenges people go through in their unique hustle and learn how we can apply them to our own daily hustles.
The Hustle Behind Tonik Bank with Greg Krasnov | Hustleshare Ep 395
Season 11 · Episode 395
Sunday, September 6, 2026 • Duration 01:01:41
Behind every fast-scaling startup is often a founder who's already been through a few reinventions. In this episode, Greg Krasnov, Founder and CEO of Tonik Bank, shares how his early hustles in finance and tech carried him through private equity and into founding a bank in Ukraine, shaping his approach to risk-taking, leadership, and building financial institutions from the ground up.
Dive into how Greg’s journey through fintech and emerging markets shaped his approach to building Tonik—from earning customer trust to taking a bold bet on digital banking in the Philippines, which quickly reached 1 billion pesos in retail deposits and raised $17 million in Pre-Series B funding.
00:00:38 - The sacrifices and long hours of Greg’s early career
00:05:37 - How coding and technology helped Greg pay his way through college
00:10:26 - Investment banking and private equity as career path
00:14:59 - Transition into private equity in Central Europe
00:18:09 - Why scaling consumer lending required a banking license
00:21:29 - Finding purpose and a new direction after a major business exit
00:27:16 - Identifying opportunities by combining existing technologies to solve major problems
00:31:34 - What Greg saw in the Philippines that led him to build a digital bank
00:36:23 - Building an international team to launch Tonic in the Philippines
00:40:09 - How Tonik integrates its values into hiring and employee development
00:45:24 - Greg’s six P’s framework for building a winning product
00:49:38 - Creating a more approachable and customer-friendly banking brand
00:55:12 - The importance of resilience and reliability in digital banking
00:58:36 - Why passion and commitment are essential to building a successful business
01:00:05 - What’s next for Tonik and where listeners can connect with him
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The Hustle Behind Carmen's Best Ice Cream with Paco Magsaysay | Hustleshare Ep 394
Season 11 · Episode 394
Monday, August 31, 2026 • Duration 01:12:25
Great ventures often begin in the places you least expect them. In this episode, Paco Magsaysay, founder of Carmen's Best, shares how his journey from sales in the US to working in his family's cable business led him to an unlikely calling in dairy, shaping his approach to entrepreneurship, leadership, and building a business from scratch.
Explore how Paco turned surplus milk into a premium ice cream brand, tackling the challenges of building trust in a new category, scaling production, and creating a business rooted in resilience and hands-on grit.
00:01:07 – Meet Paco Magsaysay and the story behind Carmen’s Best
00:08:51 – Working in the US and learning the value of hard work
00:13:05 – Selling long-distance packages and discovering his strength in sales
00:18:19 – Understanding your audience and learning to listen
00:22:51 – Learning the ropes and earning the respect of his father’s employees
00:28:38 – Learning to make ice cream through YouTube
00:31:32 – The story behind the salted caramel flavor
00:36:35 – Why Paco initially resisted the dairy business
00:38:44 – Starting Carmen’s Best without a business plan
00:50:03 – Sticking to your strengths and hiring to complement your weaknesses
00:53:40 – Scaling through smart sales and partnerships
00:58:27 – The numbers that matter when running a growing business
01:02:14 – Having a North Star and chasing meaningful goals
01:07:43 – Why doing what you enjoy makes work easier
01:09:44 – Building a business that works and continues to grow
Website:
Founders Only S2 EP13: 10 Brutal Lessons I Wish I Knew Before Building a Company w/ Ronster Baetiong
Season 2 · Episode 13
Sunday, August 23, 2026 • Duration 44:07
Being a founder and being a CEO are two different jobs.
Ron Baetiong explores the hard truths behind opportunity, execution, and leadership—and why great ideas don't always make it to market.
A conversation on ownership, resilience, and turning potential into results, for founders, leaders, creators, and anyone building something of their own.
The conversations happening on Founders Only are the ones every entrepreneur needs to hear. Don't be the last to know. Watch the full episode on YouTube. ⏭️
00:00:00 – The difference between being a founder and a CEO
00:01:04 – What it really takes to build something from nothing
00:01:53 – 10 lessons from Ron’s startup journey
00:03:29 – Building an AI-first and agentic company
00:08:09 – The most important thing founders need to do
00:13:35 – Why AI is bridging the skill gap
00:18:39 – Speed, volume, and finding product-market fit
00:21:44 – Why one-and-done creator campaigns don't work
00:28:03 – What Ron would do with ₱10 million to rebuild PNA
00:30:00 – Going fully agentic and system-first
00:34:43 – What Ron believed about startups five years ago
00:41:39 – Eliminating distractions and focusing on the main goal
00:42:16 – Ron’s final lessons for founders
The Hustle Behind Solviva with Coby Cobankiat | Hustleshare Ep 393
Season 11 · Episode 393
Sunday, August 16, 2026 • Duration 01:26:00
We often think about energy in terms of one thing: cost. But what if the bigger question is how much that mindset limits productivity, comfort, and growth?
Coby Cobankiat of Solviva shares the thinking behind SoViva and why energy should be seen not simply as an expense, but as a resource that gives people more choice and the ability to live and work better.
00:00:00 – Why Solviva is about empowerment, not just saving on electricity
00:02:24 – Meet Coby Cobankiat, CEO of Solviva Energy
00:04:15 – Coby's hustle and finding the opportunity in solar
00:07:26 – From basketball dreams to discovering the hustle through events
00:13:54 – Learning to say no and developing leadership endurance in university
00:17:34 – Moving to Canada and starting over from the ground up
00:21:45 – Adapting to a new culture and discovering a broader career identity
00:25:18 – Breaking down business through logic, data, and financial thinking
00:33:05 – The skill stack: preparation, P&L, data, and storytelling
00:40:32 – Rethinking hard work and learning to work smarter
00:42:24 – Building household brands and learning the power of innovation
00:46:34 – Returning to the Philippines and finding the path to Solviva
00:48:28 – Discovering Solviva through a secretive venture builder opportunity
00:51:12 – From rejection to becoming Solviva's head of marketing
00:56:19 – Building Solviva's brand around empowerment and living light
00:59:36 – Making complex solar technology easier for consumers to understand
01:00:27 – Why residential solar is an underserved opportunity
Founders Only S2 EP12: What It Takes For Startups to Build a Legacy w/ Jecky Pelaez of Kickstart Ventures
Season 2 · Episode 12
Sunday, August 9, 2026 • Duration 01:16:22
Status can open doors. Character determines what happens after.
In this episode, we discuss why successful leaders stay grounded, manage resources carefully, and keep their focus beyond short-term rewards.
A conversation about discipline, resilience, and building success that lasts.
00:00:00 – What successful founders understand about money and character
00:03:00 – Jecky’s journey from law to venture capital
00:06:00 – Joining Kickstart and discovering the startup ecosystem
00:09:00 – Why Kickstart evolved its investment strategy
00:12:00 – CVC vs. VC and how Kickstart invests
00:18:00 – The value of fundamentals, governance, and checkpoints
00:21:00 – Understanding the post-pandemic “tech fog”
00:27:00 – What separates startups that scale from legacy builders
00:30:00 – Scaling correctly and building sustainable systems
00:33:00 – Learning from successful founders and global companies
00:36:00 – Staying humble and disciplined as a company grows
00:39:00 – The founder traits that drive long-term success
00:42:00 – Openness, transparency, and strong governance
00:45:00 – Execution, fundamentals, and building the right skills
00:48:00 – AI, talent gaps, and the future of startups
00:51:00 – What the Philippine startup ecosystem needs
00:57:00 – Cash flow, runway, and surviving a tougher funding climate
01:00:00 – How to approach Kickstart Ventures
The Hustle Behind Malayan Insurance with Anthony Louis Guanzon | Hustleshare Ep 392
Season 11 · Episode 392
Sunday, August 2, 2026 • Duration 01:11:26
For nearly a century, Malayan Insurance has built a reputation rooted in trust, reliability, and long-term relationships. But in today's rapidly changing business landscape, legacy alone isn't enough.
In this episode, Anthony Louis Guanzon of Malayan Insurance joins us to discuss what it takes for an established organization to remain relevant across generations. From reshaping how people think about insurance to embracing digital platforms and omnichannel experiences, Anthony shares how businesses can evolve without compromising the values that earned customers' trust in the first place.
00:00:00 – Building a legacy brand while driving digital transformation
00:02:55 – Meet Anthony Louis Guanzon, CMO of Malayan Insurance
00:04:20 – Louis' career journey from Alaska Milk to Malayan Insurance
00:06:02 – Early influences, mentors, and lessons from Globe's culture
00:08:28 – College years, Communication Arts, and landing his first job
00:11:19 – Learning sales, accounts, and customer relationships at Alaska Milk
00:15:08 – Moving to Globe and discovering the world of marketing
00:18:26 – Speed, data, and collaboration: key lessons from Globe
00:20:40 – Starting a business and the realities of entrepreneurship
00:22:57 – Cash flow struggles and the humbling side of building a company
00:25:15 – Returning to corporate with a founder's mindset at Planet Sports
00:30:07 – Building KonsultaMD and pioneering telemedicine before the pandemic
00:35:22 – Entering the insurance industry through AXA and digital strategy
00:37:13 – Why non-life insurance needs digital transformation
00:39:06 – Understanding what non-life insurance actually covers
Founders Only S2 EP11: Mel Nava of Zendease Shares Why She Left The Philippines To Win in Indonesia and Vietnam
Season 2 · Episode 11
Sunday, July 26, 2026 • Duration 01:22:26
Strong businesses are built by strong teams, and strong teams are built by leaders who earn trust every single day.
In our latest episode of Founders Only, Mel Nava of Zendease shares valuable lessons on leadership, personal growth, and building a culture where people remain committed even during the toughest moments. Discover why resilience, accountability, and continuous self-improvement are just as important as strategy when creating a business that lasts.
00:00:00 – Why founders need to give themselves grace to grow
00:01:38 – Mel Nava returns to Founders Only for her third appearance
00:03:20 – Revisiting the challenges and heartbreak of 2023
00:06:38 – Surviving rock bottom with honesty, grit, and teamwork
00:09:28 – Pivoting the business and adapting to a changing startup landscape
00:11:54 – Leading a team through crisis and prioritizing survival
00:14:44 – The family and investors who helped Mel keep going
00:19:26 – How hardship transformed Mel into a stronger founder
00:20:55 – Self-awareness, forgiveness, and redefining leadership
00:24:15 – Staying mission-driven through global disruptions and uncertainty
00:29:34 – How ZendEase expanded from the Philippines to Southeast Asia
00:31:29 – Why Mel went all in on Indonesia and Vietnam
00:34:24 – Building an international company despite limited resources
00:39:35 – Comparing export opportunities across Southeast Asia
00:46:06 – Finding product-market fit through customer feedback
00:50:23 – Leading multicultural teams across three countries
The Hustle Behind Sip and Scale with Leonard Ang and Sharan Mansukhani | Hustleshare Ep 391
Season 11 · Episode 391
Monday, July 20, 2026 • Duration 01:10:30
Building a successful career or business starts with the right mindset. In this episode, Leonard Ang and Sharan Mansukhani of Sip and Scale discuss how community, AI literacy, and continuous learning create long-term opportunities for founders, professionals, and future leaders.
Learn practical lessons on navigating uncertainty, simplifying decisions, and staying adaptable in an evolving world.
00:02:30 – Meet Leonard Ang and Sharan Mansukhani of Sip & Scale
00:04:28 – Their current hustles: Diffusr and building Sip & Scale
00:09:23 – Sharan’s family migration story and entrepreneurial inspiration
00:13:03 – Grit, budgeting, and lessons inherited from their families
00:19:49 – First mentors, internships, and learning through startups
00:24:53 – Why paying it forward matters in the startup ecosystem
00:30:41 – How Sharan found purpose through startup communities
00:34:05 – How Leonard and Sharan met and launched Sip & Scale
00:37:24 – The vision behind Sip & Scale’s community-first approach
00:40:41 – A Stanford-inspired idea that shaped Sip & Scale
00:45:02 – Scaling the community from Manila to the world
00:46:54 – Curating ambitious, diverse, and high-quality communities
00:49:42 – How building a community transformed them as founders
00:54:55 – The evolution of startup founders in the AI era
00:57:46 – Building Diffusr with AI-first product development
01:00:33 – AI-powered operations and the future of startup execution
01:01:31 – Leonard’s approach to building AI-native startups
The Hustle Behind Powerhouse Tools with Charles Sy | Hustleshare Ep 390
Season 11 · Episode 390
Sunday, July 12, 2026 • Duration 01:00:10
Strong businesses are built on strong leadership—and strong leadership begins with people.
In this episode, Charles Sy of Powerhouse Tools shares his leadership philosophy on building trust, embracing different perspectives, and creating a culture where people can grow together. From hiring realities to leading through challenges, this conversation offers practical lessons for entrepreneurs, professionals, managers, and aspiring leaders.
Discover why successful organizations aren't built by perfect people, but by leaders who know how to adapt, develop talent, and continuously create value.
00:01:06 – Charles Sy's outlook on leadership and building great teams
00:02:03 – Meet Charles Sy, CEO of Hap Suy Hardware and Powerhouse Tools
00:05:13 – Growing up in Binondo's multi-generational hardware business
00:07:01 – Why trust is the foundation of a lasting family business
00:10:12 – Studying export management and preparing for business
00:12:35 – Learning entrepreneurship through college buy-and-sell ventures
00:15:22 – Studying in Shanghai and learning from China's business culture
00:18:55 – Navigating generational differences in family enterprises
00:23:44 – How Hap Suy has thrived for nearly 80 years
00:26:21 – The role of family constitutions in business succession
00:28:15 – Traditional business principles every founder should know
00:31:37 – Why Charles launched the Powerhouse Tools brand
00:35:18 – Building products through research, design, and affordability
00:36:44 – Creating the Philippines' hardware franchising model
The Hustle Behind Amico with Kharl Yeung | Hustleshare Ep 389
Season 11 · Episode 389
Sunday, July 5, 2026 • Duration 01:13:18
Every meaningful achievement begins with a mindset that values progress over perfection. In this episode of Hustleshare, Kharl Yeung of Amico Innovations shares why growth comes from staying curious, learning from experience, and welcoming perspectives that challenge your own. He explains how consistent improvement creates advantages that compound over time.
The discussion highlights why building something valuable is a process, not a one-time event. Kharl talks about applying lessons across different industries without repeating the same mistakes.
00:00:00 – Why better pet nutrition starts with better ingredients
00:02:34 – Meet Kharl Yeung and the mission behind Amico
00:03:27 – Solving the biggest problems in pet nutrition
00:10:25 – Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs
00:15:39 – Math, finance, and learning the language of business
00:20:15 – Leaving banking to pursue entrepreneurship
00:23:26 – Choosing startups over a higher-paying career
00:30:11 – Building ventures and learning the startup playbook
00:35:31 – Lessons from Web3, venture building, and failing fast
00:41:11 – The personal loss that inspired Amico
00:48:22 – Launching Amico through lean execution and customer feedback
00:53:10 – Why Amico is built around science, not marketing
00:55:32 – Partnering with Monde Nissin to scale the business
01:00:22 – Building trust while staying independent as a founder
01:06:23 – Raising the standard of pet nutrition in the Philippines
01:09:16 – Forbes 30 Under 30 and the future of Amico
01:12:09 – Where to connect with Kharl Yeung and Amico
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01:03:00 – Final advice for founders building for the long term
The conversations happening on Founders Only are the ones every entrepreneur needs to hear. Don't be the last to know. Watch the full episode on YouTube. ⏭️
Follow now and never miss an episode. 🎧
Founders Only is powered by PayMongo, the financial operating system for growing businesses.
Learn more about PayMongo's product suite: https://pay.mg/pna-learnmore
Sign up for free in as fast as 5 minutes: https://pay.mg/pna-signup
PayMongo is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
💡Follow Founders Only on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@foundersonlypodcast
💡Follow Founders Only on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6fPsNbi8m8mCIyGZH1YGm1?si=2c67a0451949498b
00:57:50 – Evaluating markets before expanding internationally
01:02:01 – Recognizing when the business moved beyond survival mode
01:07:26 – Reflecting on ten years of entrepreneurship
01:17:12 – What Mel would do differently if she started over
01:19:04 – What's next for ZendEase and Mel Nava
The conversations happening on Founders Only are the ones every entrepreneur needs to hear. Don't be the last to know. Watch the full episode on YouTube. ⏭️
Follow now and never miss an episode. 🎧
Founders Only is powered by PayMongo, the financial operating system for growing businesses.
Learn more about PayMongo's product suite: https://pay.mg/pna-learnmore
Sign up for free in as fast as 5 minutes: https://pay.mg/pna-signup
PayMongo is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
💡Follow Founders Only on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@foundersonlypodcast
💡Follow Founders Only on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6fPsNbi8m8mCIyGZH1YGm1?si=2c67a0451949498b
