Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng
About Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng
Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng is a Manila-based media and digital executive from the family that controls the JG Summit conglomerate. A former journalist, she founded Summit Media in June 1995. It started with the fashion magazine Preview and later became a fully digital publisher. She holds a degree in communications from Ateneo de Manila University and a master's degree from Columbia University's journalism school.
She later became Senior Vice President for Digital Transformation and Corporate Services at the Gokongwei Group, then Chief Digital Officer of JG Summit. JG Summit disclosed that she would step down from that role effective January 1, 2025. She now focuses on Summit Media and the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, where she is General Manager and Trustee.
She is a founding partner of Kaya Founders, a Philippines-based early-stage fund started in 2021 with Paulo Campos (ex-CEO of Zalora Philippines) and Constantin Robertz (CEO of Locad). MarketScreener also lists her as a member of the investment committee at JG Digital Equity Ventures.
TechCrunch described her in 2023 as a prolific angel investor who had backed Good Glamm Group, Kumu, Dali and Edamama. Tracxn and Crunchbase list her earlier deals, which include POPxo (Series B, 2018), Kumu (seed, 2018), Podcast Network Asia (seed, 2021), NextPay (seed, 2021), Peddlr (seed, 2021 and 2022), Armada (2022), Edamama (Series A, 2022) and VAMA (seed, 2022 and 2023). Crunchbase also lists PayMongo, Vietcetera and Fewcents. Tracxn records POPxo as an exit through acquisition in 2020.
In August 2026, Kita announced a $4.5M seed round led by BoxGroup. Kita builds AI credit assessment for lenders. Other participants included Y Combinator, Golden Gate Ventures, BEENEXT and Kaya Founders. Gokongwei-Cheng joined a group of strategic angels that also included Tala founder Shivani Siroya.
Crunchbase also lists a seed investment in Otis AI, with funding activity dated January 2022. Her earlier portfolio is mostly consumer, media, commerce and fintech companies.
Through Kaya Founders she backs Filipino and regional founders from the earliest stages. Kaya says it invests in technology-driven companies for the Philippines and the region. Kaya announced a $25M final fund close in November 2025. Her personal deals run from pre-seed and seed to Series A and B rounds, mainly in the Philippines, with some in India, Singapore and Vietnam. Her personal check size has not been made public. Founders can reach her through Kaya Founders or a warm introduction.
- Kita: AI credit assessment for lenders; participated in the $4.5M seed round announced August 2026.
- Kumu: Filipino social app; seed round, 2018.
- POPxo: lifestyle content platform in India; Series B, 2018; acquired in 2020.
- NextPay: seed round, 2021.
- Peddlr: seed rounds, 2021 and 2022.
- Edamama: Series A, 2022.
- PayMongo: Philippine payments company; Series B listed on Crunchbase, 2022.
- Otis AI: seed round listed on Crunchbase, January 2022.
- esquiremag.ph/money/capital/kita-ai-credit-assessment-startup-seed-rou
- americanbazaaronline.com/2026/08/24/open-for-hiring-kita-raises-4-5m-t
- techcrunch.com/2023/06/13/kaya-founders
- bworldonline.com/bw-launchpad/2025/11/11/711386/kaya-founders-raises-2
- mb.com.ph/2024/12/4/lisa-gokongwei-cheng-resigns-as-jg-summit-digital-
- tatlerasia.com/people/liza-gokongwei-cheng
- crunchbase.com/person/lisa-gokongwei
- marketscreener.com/insider/LISA-GOKONGWEI-CHENG-A390HN
Investing activity
Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng appears in 1 AI deal tracked by the Lounge deals desk. The rounds are mostly Seed, with a median round size of $5M. The most recent is Kita (Seed, $4.5M, Aug 2026).
Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng most often invests alongside BoxGroup, US News Digital Ventures, Tala and Apex Star Capital, and the companies they back on Lounge are mostly in AI.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng
Does Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng invest in AI startups?
Yes. She was a strategic angel in Kita's $4.5M seed round, announced in August 2026. Kita builds AI credit assessment for lenders. Most of her earlier deals were in consumer, media, commerce and fintech.
What stage does Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng invest in?
Mostly pre-seed and seed. Her record also includes Series A and B rounds. Kaya Founders, where she is a partner, says it backs founders from the earliest stage.
What is Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng's check size?
Her check size has not been made public. Round sizes in public databases show only the size of the whole round, not her share.
Where does Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng invest geographically?
Mainly the Philippines and Southeast Asia, including Filipino-founded companies based abroad, such as San Francisco-based Kita. Some of her earlier investments were in India and Singapore.
What is Kaya Founders?
Kaya Founders is a Philippines-based early-stage venture firm that Gokongwei-Cheng co-founded with Paulo Campos and Constantin Robertz. It announced a $25M final close in November 2025.
How can founders contact Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng?
Her LinkedIn profile is the public starting point. A warm introduction or an application through Kaya Founders is likely to work better than a cold message.
Is Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng an angel investor?
Yes. Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng invests personally as an angel.
What AI companies has Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng invested in?
Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng's AI investments include Kita. The 1 round on Lounge are listed on this page with amounts, dates and co-investors.
What stage does Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng invest at?
In the rounds tracked on Lounge, Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng has invested at Seed, with a median round of $5M.
Who does Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng co-invest with?
Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng's most frequent co-investors on Lounge are BoxGroup (1 deal), US News Digital Ventures (1 deal), Tala (1 deal), Apex Star Capital (1 deal) and Genting Ventures (1 deal).