Philippine Startups Gain Recognition on Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2026
Two young Philippine companies have earned a place among Asia-Pacific’s emerging businesses, with Clouted and OneLot appearing on the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2026 list.
The sixth annual list highlights privately held small companies and startups considered notable for their innovation, market potential, business models and ability to attract investment. This year’s selection spans 16 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific region.
For the Philippines, the inclusion of Clouted and OneLot is significant because the two companies represent different corners of the technology economy. Clouted is building tools around AI-assisted digital marketing and short-form video, while OneLot is applying technology to financing for used-car dealers.
Together, their selection illustrates how Philippine startups are increasingly using technology to address both digital-economy opportunities and traditional business challenges.
Clouted Brings AI and Scale to Short-Form Video Marketing
Founded in 2024 and led by CEO Justin Banusing, Clouted operates in the enterprise technology sector and has headquarters in Manila and Los Angeles.
Its platform is designed to automate the creation and distribution of short-form video content. The company combines artificial intelligence with a network of more than 100,000 freelance video editors, allowing brands to produce and distribute social-media content at scale.
The model reflects a major shift in digital marketing. Short-form videos have become an important channel for reaching consumers, but producing enough content for multiple social platforms can be expensive and labor-intensive. Clouted is attempting to reduce that friction by combining automation with a large network of human creators.
The company has also attracted venture capital. Clouted raised $7 million in seed funding in May 2026, in a round led by Slow Ventures, with participation from AppWorks, a16z Speedrun and Peak XV’s Surge.
Its appearance on the Forbes Asia list suggests that the combination of AI, creator talent and automated content distribution is attracting attention beyond the Philippine market.
OneLot Targets a Financing Gap in the Used-Car Business
The second Philippine company on the list, OneLot, operates in a very different sector.
Founded in 2023 and led by CEO Harm-Julian Schumacher, the fintech startup provides working-capital financing to used-car dealers in the Philippines. Its goal is to help dealerships acquire and maintain more vehicle inventory without relying entirely on their own capital.
OneLot combines artificial intelligence with physical vehicle inspections to assess a dealer's inventory before providing a credit line secured against the vehicles.
That approach addresses a practical challenge for smaller dealers: inventory requires substantial upfront capital, while revenue arrives only after vehicles are sold.
The opportunity is potentially sizable. Forbes cited an estimate from Mordor Intelligence putting the Philippine used-car market at approximately $6.3 billion.
OneLot has raised $3.3 million in seed funding, with Accion Ventures and 468 Capital co-leading investment and participation from Crestone Venture Capital and Everywhere Ventures.
AI Emerges as a Major Theme Across Asia's Startup Landscape
Clouted and OneLot are part of a wider technological shift reflected in the 2026 Forbes Asia selection.
Artificial intelligence is one of the strongest themes running through this year's list. Nearly a quarter of the selected businesses are enterprise technology companies offering AI-related products or services, while robotics is another rapidly expanding category.
The 100 companies have collectively raised about $2.4 billion, including nearly $1 billion during 2026 alone.
Geographically, India leads the 2026 list with 19 companies, followed by Singapore with 15 and China with 10. Japan and South Korea each contribute nine companies, while Indonesia and Australia have eight each.
This distribution also demonstrates the scale of competition facing Philippine startups. Two companies gaining recognition is encouraging, but larger startup ecosystems across the region continue to produce considerably more companies capable of attracting international attention and capital.
Why the Recognition Matters for the Philippines
For Clouted and OneLot, inclusion on a regional startup list does not guarantee commercial success. What it can provide, however, is greater visibility among investors, potential customers, business partners and technology talent.
There is also a broader message for the Philippine startup ecosystem.
The two companies are not competing in identical markets. Clouted is targeting the rapidly evolving global creator and marketing economy, while OneLot is applying technology and financing to a traditional industry.
That diversity is important because a strong startup ecosystem cannot depend on a single technology trend. Sustainable growth typically comes when entrepreneurs find ways to solve problems across industries—from marketing and finance to logistics, healthcare, manufacturing and commerce.
A Recognition, Not a Finish Line
The Forbes Asia recognition gives Clouted and OneLot a stronger regional profile, but both remain relatively young businesses operating in highly competitive sectors.
Clouted must demonstrate that its combination of AI automation and freelance creators can deliver consistent value as generative AI makes content production increasingly accessible. OneLot, meanwhile, faces the challenges that accompany lending businesses, including credit assessment, risk management and maintaining healthy loan performance while expanding.
Those factors make the next stage more important than the recognition itself.
If the two companies can translate early investment and visibility into sustainable revenue, strong customer retention and responsible expansion, their inclusion could become another indicator of a maturing Philippine startup ecosystem.
For now, their appearance on the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2026 list puts two Philippine ventures on a wider regional stage—and shows how entrepreneurs in the country are finding opportunities both in the AI-driven digital economy and in technology-enabled financial services.
This article is based on reporting published by bworldonline com.
