Philippine Startups Clouted, OneLot Earn Forbes Asia's "100 to Watch" Recognition

Two Philippine technology ventures, Clouted and OneLot, have been recognized on Forbes Asia’s 2026 “100 to Watch” list, highlighting the country's growing presence in the Asia-Pacific startup ecosystem and showcasing homegrown innovation in AI-driven enterprise solutions and fintech. This recognition signals expanding opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs and tech professionals regionally.

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Two Philippine startups, Clouted and OneLot, are gaining significant regional attention after being featured on Forbes Asia’s prestigious 2026 “100 to Watch” list. This recognition places these young tech ventures among the most promising emerging companies across the Asia-Pacific region, signaling a growing international spotlight on Filipino innovation. The announcement highlights the dynamic entrepreneurial landscape within the Philippines, which continues to attract investor confidence and foster technology-driven solutions for diverse markets.

Clouted, an enterprise technology startup established in 2024, specializes in leveraging the short-video content trend for businesses. Its platform uniquely combines artificial intelligence with a vast network of over 100,000 freelance video editors to automate video creation and distribution for brands across social media. With headquarters in Manila and Los Angeles, the company, led by CEO Justin Banusing, has already secured significant campaigns with clients like movie studio Lionsgate. In May 2026, Clouted successfully raised USD 7 million in seed funding from prominent investors including Slow Ventures, AppWorks, a16z Speedrun, and Peak XV’s Surge.

Meanwhile, OneLot, founded in 2023, addresses a critical need in the automotive sector by providing working-capital credit lines to used-car dealers. This fintech startup, spearheaded by CEO Harm-Julian Schumacher, utilizes artificial intelligence and physical vehicle inspections to accurately assess cars, thereby enabling dealers to secure financing against their inventory. Representing the Philippines in Forbes Asia’s finance category, OneLot has also demonstrated strong investor appeal, raising USD 3.3 million in seed funding to support its operations.

The inclusion of Clouted and OneLot on this influential list illustrates a significant trend in Philippine entrepreneurship: the application of advanced technology, particularly artificial intelligence, not just to consumer products but also to essential business functions like marketing and finance. According to Forbes Asia, nearly a quarter of the 100 featured companies are enterprise technology firms offering AI-related services, underscoring AI's integral role in regional business models. This development aligns with government efforts to strengthen the startup ecosystem, such as the "Innovative Startup Act" (Republic Act No. 11337), which provides benefits and programs to foster an innovative entrepreneurial culture, with calls for proposals for startup grant funds ongoing in 2026.

For Filipino founders and technologists in the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand, this international recognition provides a boost in visibility and credibility, potentially opening doors for collaborations, partnerships, and further investment. The success stories of these startups showcase the potential for homegrown ideas to achieve global relevance, encouraging more Filipinos to venture into tech entrepreneurship, as exemplified by Filipino-Australian and Filipino-New Zealander tech leaders. The Philippine startup ecosystem itself has seen remarkable growth, with Manila's ecosystem valued at an estimated $3.5 billion as of 2023, indicating a fertile ground for new ventures to thrive and expand their reach internationally, attracting interest from venture capital and accelerators both locally and abroad.