Cebuano Startup SariKo Seeks $750K Pre-Seed for Global Overseas Filipino E-commerce

Cebuano-founded startup SariKo is actively seeking $750,000 in pre-seed funding to expand its e-commerce platform designed for overseas Filipino communities, leveraging a global market estimated at $840 billion. The platform aims to facilitate community-based commerce by offering a unique licensing model for global Pinoy associations and local entrepreneurs.

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SariKo, a startup with Cebuano roots, is actively pursuing $750,000 in pre-seed funding to expand its e-commerce platform tailored for overseas communities. Founded by Poppet Celdran, a pioneer in Cebu's e-commerce landscape, the Ho Chi Minh City-based company aims to tap into a substantial global market, which it estimates at $840 billion, driven by the collective spending power of migrant consumers. The capital is being raised through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) at a $10 million valuation cap and a 20 percent discount.

The platform, which soft-launched on April 18, 2026, has already onboarded 19 sellers without any paid marketing, demonstrating genuine demand, according to Celdran. SariKo is preparing for its full commercial rollout on June 21, timed with the 128th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with the Filipino community organization Samahan ng mga Pilipino (SAPI). This strategic approach highlights the company's focus on community engagement as a key driver for growth among Filipinos abroad, including those in New Zealand and Australia.

SariKo positions itself as the inaugural platform under Pangea, a planned global network of commerce marketplaces designed to expand city-by-city worldwide. The company's innovative business model combines transaction commissions, subscription services, featured listings, and advertising. A core component of its international expansion strategy is the "City License" model, which enables global Pinoy communities or associations and local entrepreneurs to operate localized SariKo platforms in their respective cities for a flat $25,000 fee plus tiered gross merchandise value royalties. This structure aims to empower Filipino diaspora organizations and reduce the company's operational burden while facilitating independent marketplace replication.

The anticipated fresh capital will be allocated primarily towards engineering and product development (55%), go-to-market initiatives and seller acquisition (25%), and legal and operational requirements (20%), ensuring operations are funded through October 2027. This initiative aligns with the evolving narrative of overseas Filipinos, who are increasingly seen not just as workers sending remittances, but as innovators and economic contributors globally, as noted by Philstar Tech. The Philippine government, through bodies like the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), also actively seeks to boost diaspora engagement and connect migrant Filipinos with opportunities back home, which platforms like SariKo can facilitate.

Poppet Celdran's entrepreneurial journey includes founding Zen Wellness, a Top 50 startup at Vietnam’s Startup Wheel in 2022, and BridgeAI, which was recognized in the ITEC 2025 Top 50 Startups list. His extensive experience in developing e-commerce platforms, including Padala.com and the BestofCebu “pasalubong” delivery platform, underpins SariKo's strategic direction. The advisory board includes Rico Mariano for trade and regulatory guidance, Beth C. Candol for community engagement, and founding investor Tin Anadilla. SariKo is also seeking an additional $50,000 through a "Founders Circle" offering targeting diaspora and community investors.