From Grants to Grit: Building Agri-Tech Startups with Gillian Santos & Neil Kho

Gillian Santos, co-founder and CEO of AniTech, and Neil Kho, co-founder of Arka, join the Founders Only podcast to share how they turned research backgrounds and last-minute grant wins into real, working agri-tech startups. They talk about the hustle of building in a close-knit industry, earning trust from the ground up, and why working in agriculture isn’t just about deploying tech—it’s about solving real-world problems with people, persistence, and a whole lot of heart. With support from Villgro Philippines, they’re proving that collaboration—not competition—is what will move the industry forward.

"It all comes back to what you don't measure, you don't know. And what you don't know, you can't solve." – Gillian Santos

Resources:

LinkedIn (Gillian Santos): https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-santos-3aa1ba115

Website (AniTech): https://www.anihan.tech

LinkedIn (Neil Kho): https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilkho

Website (Arka Inc.): https://arka.asia

Links/Sponsors:

Villgro Philippines: https://villgrophilippines.org/

Paymongo: https://www.paymongo.com/

GoTyme Bank: https://www.gotyme.com.ph/

SeekCap: https://www.seekcap.ph/

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Diamond Supporters: Sarisuki, PayMongo, SeekCap, Shoppable Business, Qapita, GoTyme Bank, Sprout Solutions, UNO Digital Bank

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