Founders Only S2 EP14: Why Startup Pilots With Corporates Die And How to Make Them Work w/ Natasha Bautista of 917Ventures

What happens when you reach a point where leaving feels easier than staying? In this episode, we explore what it means to confront that uncertainty and turn it into a stronger sense of purpose. From questioning whether there is still a future worth building in the Philippines to realizing that success can also mean contributing to something bigger, this conversation looks at the mindset behind staying the course. Because sometimes, the biggest shift isn’t finding a better opportunity. It’s changing the way you see the opportunity already in front of you.The conversations happening on Founders Only are the ones every entrepreneur needs to hear. Don't be the last to know. Watch the full episode on YouTube. ⏭️ Founders Only is powered by PayMongo, the financial operating system for growing businesses. 00:00:00 – Why discipline matters when motivation disappears 00:03:00 – Natasha’s journey from QBO to 917Ventures 00:09:00 – Building 917Ventures and its evolution 00:12:00 – From venture building to focusing on bigger bets 00:15:00 – Becoming AI-native and building agentic teams 00:18:00 – What Natasha learned from Grab, QBO, and 917Ventures 00:24:00 – Persistence, impact, and the reward of building 00:27:00 – How Velocity evolved into what it is today 00:33:00 – What startups need to qualify for Velocity 00:36:00 – How startups can stand out when applying 00:39:00 – Why startups get rejected and the role of timing 00:42:00 – Speed, relationships, and startup instinct in corporate environments 00:45:00 – The Netopia and Predicta AI success story 00:51:00 – How Velocity handholds startups through enterprise partnerships 00:57:00 – Building a startup community through awareness and identity 01:03:00 – Why corporate venture building is an alternative to fundraising 01:06:00 – The Hustleshare time machine: advice to her younger self 01:12:00 – Natasha’s journey and building for the startup ecosystem 01:14:00 – How startups can apply to Velocity Learn more about PayMongo's product suite: https://pay.mg/pna-learnmore Sign up for free in as fast as 5 minutes: https://pay.mg/pna-signupPayMongo is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Follow now and never miss an episode. 🎧 💡Follow Founders Only on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@foundersonlypodcast 💡Follow Founders Only on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6fPsNbi8m8mCIyGZH1YGm1?si=2c67a0451949498b 💡Visit Hustleshare Website: https://www.hustleshare.com/Build your empire—subscribe and hit the bell for a new masterclass every Monday! 🚀Watch more episodes of FOUNDERS ONLY: https://www.youtube.com/@foundersonlypodcastAnd follow HUSTLESHARE YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@hustlesharepodcastSubscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@foundersonlypodcastListen to: FOUNDERS ONLYSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/76aB39CuQ2nEKXgaS2O3rYApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/founders-only/id1651692553Follow: FOUNDERS ONLYFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hustleshare/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hustlesharepodcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hustlesharepodcastLinkedIn: https://ph.linkedin.com/showcase/founders-only/Squarespace: https://wolf-triceratops-l4zp.squarespace.com/config/pages/64621a804fd2593808aa363b Follow: ONE CFOWebsite: https://www.onecfoph.coFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/onecfoph/LinkedIn: https://ph.linkedin.com/company/onecfoFollow: PAYMONGOWebsite: https://www.paymongo.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paymongo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paymongo/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/paymongo/ #Podcast #FoundersOnly #OneCFO #PayMongo #RonBaetiong #NatashaBautista See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.