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Startups often rely on angel investors to get the resources they need to hit the ground running. Even more so, they rely on investors for their knowledge, resourcefulness, and access within industries. Erika Aquino isn’t just investing money into startups, but also putting her full effort into meaningful projects from around the world.
As an angel investor with a global focus, she challenges founders to break free from cultural limitations that often influence their decisions. She is proud of her heritage as someone born in the Philippines, and makes sure to integrate her inclusive approach with entrepreneurship by encouraging underrepresented voices.
A Global Portfolio with Global Purpose
With investments in 26 startups across five countries, Aquino’s portfolio reflects an unwavering commitment to inclusive innovation. She helps founders scale with intention, create culturally relevant solutions, and operate with the mindset of a global force.
What sets Aquino apart from other angel investors isn’t where she invests, but how. Rather than spending time solely on pitch decks, financials, and networking, she wants to understand the founders’ personal stories, experiences, and push their ability to think expansively beyond borders. “By removing these limitations and applying a worldview lens, we enable entrepreneurs to innovate without boundaries,” she explains.
From Tenacious Entrepreneur to Strategic Advisor
Before becoming an investor, Aquino built a respectable career as an entrepreneur and marketing strategist. She co-owned an award-winning craft beer company, launched programs to uplift first-generation college students, and advised executives from various industries on growth and go-to-market strategies.
With over two decades of experience, she has filled roles in PR, business development, and global expansion, giving her a holistic view of all it takes to build and scale a business worldwide. Today, she uses that experience to help early-stage companies bridge cultural gaps, enter new markets, and clearly articulate their mission.
A Cross-Cultural Connector
Aquino’s true strength is her ability to connect people across industries and cultures. Whether she’s advising a founder in Manila or an entrepreneur in Berlin, her approach is grounded in curiosity, honesty, and a cross-cultural perspective.
As a strategic advisor, she insists that founders understand their responsibilities beyond just market opportunities. Rather than just being profitable, she urges founders to lead their companies with purpose by building systems that respect the world’s diversity. She is also a fearless advocate for founders who are often overlooked, especially women and minorities, because they, too, have the potential to change global markets.
Her advisory work goes far beyond boardrooms. Aquino is also a sought-after speaker and thought leader on topics such as angel investing, storytelling for startups, global strategy, and inclusive leadership. In her free time, she is a licensed scuba diver and advocates for educational equity in the Philippines, further highlighting her commitment to long-term, systemic change.
Investing Without Borders
What Erika Aquino offers global startups goes beyond funding. She offers founders a blueprint to build beyond any preconceived borders, whether geographical or mental. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: when leaders shed their internalized limitations and embrace a global mindset, they unlock the potential to lead at scale.
Whether she’s supporting a startup in Southeast Asia or mentoring a team in Europe, Erika Aquino is changing the norm. She’s proving that a business mindset combined with purpose, culture, and responsibility is what truly moves industries forward.
Presented by: APG
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