The 2026 Endeavor Outliers: 5 Philippine Startups You Need to Watch
Endeavor Outlier companies in the Philippines are driving global growth through blockchain technology and artificial intelligence innovations.
Non-profit organization Endeavor recognized five Philippine firms as “Endeavour Outliers,” or companies within its global network that demonstrated high growth and sustained scalability in 2025:
- Pickup Coffee
- BillEase
- Tonik
- Great Deals
- GrowSari
Coffee chain Pickup Coffee earned the distinction for the first time, while mobile consumer credit app BillEase and digital bank Tonik received it for the second consecutive year. E-distributor company Great Deals and B2B platform GrowSari maintained their “Outlier” statuses for the fifth year in a row.
The five companies, all founded as startups, join over 230 other companies from 35 other countries that have received the distinction.
Endeavor recognized these companies’ growth and strength despite global economic instability.
“As we like to say: When economies turn down, entrepreneurs turn up,” said Linda Rottenberg, the organization’s co-founder & CEO, in an April 7 post.
How 2026 Endeavor Outliers Drive Growth Using Blockchain Technology and Artificial Intelligence
2025 saw several Outliers utilize blockchain technology to solve issues with payment, remittances, and cross-border transactions.
Others, such as Mexican bitcoin exchange platform Bisto and Argentinian cryptocurrency wallet Xapo, incorporate blockchain technology into their services to provide wider and easier access to financial services.
Endeavor also highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in its network.
AI contributed to more than $200 billion in venture investment in 2025, accounting for more than half of all global venture capital funding, according to Endevor.
Companies recognized for their AI innovations include Jordanian AI development platform Replit and Turkish generative media cloud platform Fal.
How Outlier Startups Achieve Language-Led Growth in Global Markets
Endeavor also recognized those who expanded their operations beyond their home countries and regions.
Pickup Coffee, founded by Diego Lorenzo, Jaime González Fernández, Bien Lee, and Miguel Macaalay, expanded to Mexico and set up the brand’s first stores outside the Philippines.
Mexican used-car platform Kavak, Brazilian financial technology company EBANX, and South African digital bank Tyme Group were also mentioned for their entries into markets outside their home countries.
Outliers have also widened their scaling opportunities and reduced market friction by supporting several languages through their products and services.
Nigerian mobility fintech company Moove, for instance, partnered with several international firms to increase its presence in Latin America.
How Endeavor Outliers Supports Founder Communities Through Leadership Development and Networking
Endeavor Outliers exists not only as a platform to recognize entrepreneurs but also to provide avenues for leadership development and networking.
The non-profit organization holds initiatives to support founders and companies in different states. The “AI in Practice” program focuses on integrating AI into a company, while the “Paths to Liquidity” program welcomes entrepreneurs running later-stage firms exploring an initial public offering, merger and acquisition, or partial liquidity.
“Outliers is built on a network of trust, where founders can take off the ‘hero mask’ and be real with each other,” said Nasim Novin, lead director of entrepreneur experience at Endeavor, in the same post.
“It’s really lonely at the top, and having a community of like-minded founders who’ve been in your shoes is a beautiful thing.”
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2026 Endeavor Outlier list features five high-growth Philippine startups including first-time recipient Pickup Coffee along with BillEase and Tonik, who were recognized for their second consecutive year. E-distributor Great Deals and B2B platform GrowSari continued their dominance by maintaining their status for five straight years. These firms represent the top percentage of Endeavor’s global network, selected for sustained scalability despite economic volatility.
Endeavor Outliers are leveraging Blockchain to revolutionize cross-border payments and remittances while Artificial Intelligence has become a primary growth engine contributing to over half of global venture capital funding. Startups use AI to automate operations and build “AI-first” workflows that allow them to scale rapidly in competitive international markets. This technological adoption helps reduce market friction and enhances the accessibility of financial services worldwide.
To reduce market friction during international expansion, Outliers are adopting multi-language support for their products and services. Pickup Coffee successfully expanded into Mexico, marking its first strategic move outside the Philippines into the Latin American market. By localizing language and culture within their apps and stores, these startups can more easily compete with established regional players and foster deeper customer trust.
The AI in Practice program is a leadership development initiative designed to help founders integrate AI into their core business strategies. It focuses on several key pillars such as AI strategy and operational efficiency to use technology as a productivity multiplier. This program helps founders move beyond the “hero mask” to candidly solve technical challenges with a community of peers who have faced similar scaling hurdles.
For startups reaching advanced stages of growth, the Paths to Liquidity program provides mentorship for major financial transitions like Initial Public Offerings or mergers and acquisitions. It prepares entrepreneurs for partial liquidity events and ensures that maturing Philippine startups have the strategic clarity required to go public. This network of trust helps founders navigate the often lonely and complex process of achieving a successful exit on the global stage.
