AHG Lab
AHG Lab is a Philippines-based independent venture builder that co-creates, accelerates, and invests in early-stage technology startups across Southeast Asia through four studio strategies: Builder, Accelerator (Founders Launchpad), Investor, and Fund Partner.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersManila, Philippines
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AHG Lab does
AHG Lab is an independent venture builder headquartered in Makati, Philippines, operating across Southeast Asia and the Middle East through legal entities in the Philippines (AHGLab Consultancy Services, Inc.), Singapore (Alternative Housing Group Pte. Ltd.), and the UAE (AHG Future Vision Holdings). Founded in 2020, the firm operates a venture studio model structured around four engagement strategies: Builder (co-creating ventures with founders from pre-product to pre-seed stages), Accelerator (Founders Launchpad incubator program), Investor (capital deployment with reduced operational involvement), and Fund Partner (specialized funds addressing early-stage funding gaps, including New Avenue Capital). The company supports a portfolio of more than ten technology and tech-enabled startups spanning B2B e-commerce (Shoppable Business), fitness (GoGym), peer-to-peer mobility (DOON), real estate (Dormy, Collo), talent acquisition (TalentHero), remote work (Weremote), payments (Helixpay), and developer education (Stacktrek).
The studio's operational model provides end-to-end support to portfolio companies, including technology development, finance, marketing, and back-office assistance, in exchange for equity stakes rather than direct service fees. The company's proprietary venture-building framework and four-strategy structure represent its core operational methodology rather than technology products; the closest platform-level technology is the Collo property management software managing 9,016 beds for 21 clients as of Q2 2024. Revenue generation is structurally tied to equity appreciation in portfolio companies and management fees from funds rather than recurring product revenue. The customer base comprises early-stage founders in the primary segment, with secondary stakeholders including institutional investors, government bodies (DOST-TAPI, NDC, PEZA), and ecosystem partners such as Sinigang Valley Association members.
AHG Lab has raised approximately $5.22 million across three funding rounds (2020-2023), with the most recent being a $4 million Pre-Series A from US, Filipino, and European investors including the Rufino Family and Seaborne Capital. The company employs 51-100 staff and is led by co-founders Rene Cuartero (CEO), Patrick Llamoso, and Revianne Sesante, alongside Chief Product Officer Andrew Pineda. Six portfolio companies have been featured in QBO Innovation Hub's Top 100 Startups Showcase, and Shoppable Business was recognized in Echelon's 2024 TOP100 Growth Program.
AHG Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AHG Lab
- Legal name
- AHGLab Consultancy Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://ahglab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- AHG Lab is a Philippines-based independent venture builder that co-creates, accelerates, and invests in early-stage technology startups across Southeast Asia through four studio strategies: Builder, Accelerator (Founders Launchpad), Investor, and Fund Partner.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AHG Lab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Studio Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)
Keywords
Where AHG Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manila
- HQ country
- Philippines
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
AHG Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Venture Building and Equity Ownership: AHG Lab generates returns through equity ownership in portfolio companies. As a venture builder, the company co-creates ventures with founders and takes equity stakes, benefiting from the growth and eventual exits of portfolio companies.
- Incubator and Accelerator Programs: The Founders Launchpad incubator program provides startups with hands-on guidance and support. Revenue is generated through equity participation in incubator/accelerator cohort companies.
- Fund Management: Through Fund Partner strategy, AHG Lab launches and manages specialized funds to address funding gaps in early-stage startup investing, generating returns through management fees and carried interest.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
AHG Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AHG Lab operates as an independent venture studio that co-creates startups with founders from pre-product to pre-seed stages. The company delivers end-to-end strategic, commercial, technology development, and back-office operational support to portfolio companies, taking equity ownership in exchange for these services. Its four studio strategies — Builder, Accelerator (Founders Launchpad), Investor, and Fund Partner — address funding and operational gaps for early-stage Philippine and Southeast Asian technology and tech-enabled startups across sectors including fintech, health tech, e-commerce, fitness, real estate, and peer-to-peer services.
Product overview
AHG Lab is a venture studio operating as a unified platform with four core strategies: Builder (co-creating ventures with founders from pre-product to pre-seed stages), Accelerator/Founders Launchpad (incubator and accelerator programs with mentorship and resources), Investor (providing capital to high-potential ventures with strategic evaluation), and Fund Partner (creating specialized funds with institutions to address funding gaps). The portfolio includes diverse startups across sectors including e-commerce (Shoppable Business), fitness (GoGym), transportation (DOON), remote work (WeRemote), talent acquisition (TalentHero), property management (Collo), rental housing (Dormy), payment solutions (Helixpay), and developer education (Stacktrek). The studio supports these ventures with operational, strategic, and back-office assistance including tech development, finance, and marketing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Founders Launchpad: An incubator program supporting startups with hands-on guidance, co-founded by AHG Lab
- Shoppable Business
- GoGym
- DOON
- Helixpay
- Stacktrek
- Exam Athlete
- Collo
- TalentHero
- Weremote
- Dormy
Products and services
- Builder Strategy
Quantifiable outcome
- 10+ startups supported through Pre-Series A funding
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AHG Lab
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AHG Lab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
AHG Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DOST-TAPI SAGE CouncilcoreAHG Lab, represented by CEO Rene Cuartero, participates as a member of the DOST Technology Application and Promotion Institute SAGE Council. The council focuses on strengthening innovation, commercialization, and collaboration within the local startup, regulatory body, and technology ecosystem.
- National Development Company (NDC)coreAHG Lab signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NDC as its knowledge partner on January 22, 2024. This partnership strengthens collaborative efforts to empower local startups and is expected to attract more foreign investors to the Philippine market. AHG Lab and NDC jointly facilitate discussions on key opportunities and challenges in the Philippine startup ecosystem.
- Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL)minorIPOPHL participates as a member of the DOST-TAPI SAGE Council alongside AHG Lab and other ecosystem stakeholders, contributing to discussions on strengthening innovation and commercialization.
- Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)minorPEZA participates as a member of the DOST-TAPI SAGE Council alongside AHG Lab, contributing to ecosystem development discussions.
- Ideaspace VenturesminorIdeaspace Ventures participates as a member of the DOST-TAPI SAGE Council alongside AHG Lab, contributing to discussions on strengthening the Philippine startup ecosystem.
- University of the Philippines Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP ISSI)minorUP ISSI participates as a member of the DOST-TAPI SAGE Council alongside AHG Lab, contributing to innovation and commercialization initiatives.
- BrinccoreBrinc serves as a knowledge partner alongside AHG Lab with the National Development Company (NDC). Both organizations engage in discussions about key opportunities and challenges in the Philippine startup ecosystem at the Philippine Innovation Hub.
- Plug and Play APACcoreAHG Lab participates in Plug and Play APAC's Global Innovation Alliance Manila Batch Acceleration Program. Plug and Play has been instrumental in building strong connections between Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, enabling neighboring ecosystems to engage with and welcome Singapore-based startups.
- Enterprise SingaporeminorEnterprise Singapore co-hosted the 9th ecosystem mixer with Plug and Play APAC in Manila, showcasing Singapore-based tech startups and fostering cross-border innovation and regional partnerships.
- Clout KitchencoreClout Kitchen organized the &FRIENDS Festival Manila 2025 Inner Circle Summit, which brought together 200+ leading entrepreneurs, investors and executives across SEA and the US. AHG Lab portfolio venture DOON Philippines showcased their services during the expo.
- Singapore Global Network (SGN)minorSingapore Global Network supported the &FRIENDS Festival Manila 2025 Inner Circle Summit organized by Clout Kitchen, contributing to cross-border ecosystem connections between Singapore and the Philippines.
- Russian Agricultural Bank Venture StudiominorRussian Agricultural Bank Venture Studio organized the AgriTech Horizons online pitch session in which AHG Lab participated. The event aims to foster cross-border partnerships and promote the global expansion of Russian high-tech agricultural solutions.
- Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in the PhilippinesminorTrade Representation of the Russian Federation in the Philippines co-organized the AgriTech Horizons event with Russian Agricultural Bank Venture Studio, part of international agro meetups led by Rosselkhozbank.
- Sinigang Valley AssociationcoreSinigang Valley Association (SVA), launched in 2022, has been instrumental in transforming the Philippine startup ecosystem. AHG Lab is an active member, collaborating with other SVA member organizations including Foxmont Capital Partners, Kaya Founders, Kickstart Ventures, and QBO Innovation Hub.
- Foxmont Capital PartnersminorFoxmont Capital Partners is a member organization of Sinigang Valley Association, hosting SVA meetings and contributing to collaborative efforts in the Philippine startup ecosystem.
- Kaya FoundersminorKaya Founders is a member organization of Sinigang Valley Association, participating in collaborative ecosystem development initiatives.
- Kickstart VenturesminorKickstart Ventures is a member organization of Sinigang Valley Association, contributing to ecosystem collaboration efforts.
- QBO Innovation HubminorQBO Innovation Hub is a member organization of Sinigang Valley Association and has recognized six AHG Lab portfolio companies in their Top 100 Startups Showcase.
- Block Dojo PhilippinesminorBlock Dojo Philippines partnered with AHG Lab for Kampai Night, an evening dedicated to networking and collaboration among founders, incubators, accelerators, and investors.
- StartUp QCminorStartUp QC partnered with AHG Lab for Kampai Night, supporting networking and collaboration in the startup ecosystem.
- LaunchgarageminorLaunchgarage Innovation Hub in Quezon City hosted Kampai Night in partnership with AHG Lab, Block Dojo Philippines, and StartUp QC.
- e27coree27 featured AHG Lab in an article titled 'How AHG Lab Empowers Entrepreneurs from the Philippines' and organized Echelon Philippines 2024, with AHG Lab serving as venture studio partner for the event.
- Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC)minorAHG Lab CEO and Chief of Staff met with Arvind Arryan, Head of Strategy & Business Development for India & UAE at TBDC, to explore the current state and potential of the Philippine startup landscape.
- e27 (Echelon Philippines 2024)coreAHG Lab served as the venture studio partner for Echelon Philippines 2024, a premier tech business conference organized by e27 in partnership with Brainsparks. The event brought together startups, investors, corporates, and other stakeholders to foster innovation and advance technology and entrepreneurship.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AHG Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brinc: Global accelerator with strong APAC and Manila presence; co-knowledge partner with AHG Lab at the Philippine Innovation Hub with NDC. Directly comparable as an accelerator providing hands-on operational support to early-stage hardware/tech startups.
- Foxmont Capital Partners: Philippine early-stage VC and a member of Sinigang Valley Association. Directly comparable to AHG Lab as a Philippines-focused startup backer; Foxmont was also an early AHG Lab investor, making them both co-investor and competitor for Philippine deal flow.
- Kaya Founders: Philippine venture builder and Sinigang Valley Association member. Closest direct competitor given its analogous venture-building model targeting early-stage Philippine founders with operational support and capital.
- Kickstart Ventures: Philippine corporate venture capital firm backed by Globe Telecom and a Sinigang Valley Association member. Comparable as a Philippines-rooted VC/accelerator deploying capital into early-stage tech startups across similar verticals.
- QBO Innovation Hub: Philippine startup hub and Sinigang Valley Association member that runs the Top 100 Startups Showcase. Comparable as a Philippines innovation ecosystem enabler; identified six AHG Lab portfolio companies in its showcase.
- Ideaspace Ventures: Philippine early-stage VC and accelerator, co-leads DOST-TAPI SAGE Council initiatives alongside AHG Lab. Directly comparable as a Philippines-focused venture builder/accelerator supporting tech-enabled startups.
Broad incumbents
- Plug and Play APAC: Global accelerator and venture platform with active APAC operations including Manila. Comparable as a multi-program accelerator working with corporate and government partners, and an active AHG Lab ecosystem partner.
- East Ventures: Largest Southeast Asian early-stage VC with deep Philippines presence. Comparable as a dominant regional early-stage investor competing for the same founders and providing both capital and operational support across SEA.
- Antler: Global venture builder with active Southeast Asia operations. Comparable as a global venture studio model; larger and better-capitalized than AHG Lab, operating across multiple geographies including the Philippines.
Regional players
- Wavemaker Partners: Southeast Asia-US early-stage VC. Comparable as a regional venture investor targeting similar early-stage tech-enabled startups across SEA; competes for cross-border deal flow relevant to AHG Lab's Singapore/UAE expansion thesis.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AHG Lab social profiles
Digital presenceAHG Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AHG Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
AHG Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AHG Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments9 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AHG Lab
What does AHG Lab do?
AHG Lab operates as an independent venture studio that co-creates startups with founders from pre-product to pre-seed stages. The company delivers end-to-end strategic, commercial, technology development, and back-office operational support to portfolio companies, taking equity ownership in exchange for these services. Its four studio strategies — Builder, Accelerator (Founders Launchpad), Investor, and Fund Partner — address funding and operational gaps for early-stage Philippine and Southeast Asian technology and tech-enabled startups across sectors including fintech, health tech, e-commerce, fitness, real estate, and peer-to-peer services.
Is AHG Lab a public or private company?
AHG Lab is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was AHG Lab founded?
AHG Lab was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is AHG Lab based?
AHG Lab is headquartered in Manila, Philippines, in the Asia region.
How does AHG Lab make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Venture Building and Equity Ownership is the primary driver. The others are incubator and Accelerator Programs and fund Management.
Who are AHG Lab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brinc, Foxmont Capital Partners, Kaya Founders, Kickstart Ventures, QBO Innovation Hub and Ideaspace Ventures. Broad incumbents are Plug and Play APAC, East Ventures and Antler. Wavemaker Partners is listed as a regional player.
Does AHG Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for AHG Lab.
What industry is AHG Lab in?
AHG Lab's product category is Venture Studio Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of FSANAHAC, Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures). Its NAICS code is 541512 and its SIC code is 7373.