BagoSphere Secures Equity Investment from NWTF to Expand Upskilling Initiative for Frontline Workers

Manila, Philippines– BagoSphere , a Philippine startup specializing in human capability training and upskilling solutions, secures equity investment from Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), a non-government organization dedicated to providing micro-financing and developmental services for marginalized communities. This strategic investment marks a pivotal moment for both organizations as they join forces to create impactful training programs to foster sustainable communities and advance nation-building efforts.

The new funding will drive BagoSphere's latest innovative programs, focusing on leadership development and expansion in the Philippines and exploring strategic growth in Southeast Asia over the next two years, targeting front-liners in fast-growing industries.  Furthermore, the new funding will enhance the learner community experience, aiming to reach 100,000 members.

Expressing enthusiasm about the investment, Zhihan Lee , Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of BagoSphere, stated, "This is a testament to the trust we've built with NWTF over the years. We see immense opportunities to support frontline workers in various sectors. Despite technological advancements, these roles remain deeply human-centered." He added, "Many of these workers lack formal education, and our goal is to empower workers from low-income backgrounds in forging a path to the middle class through the help of our programs."

BagoSphere has trained over 10,000 jobseekers, front-liners, and professionals. This track record underscores BagoSphere's commitment to empowering individuals and fostering continuous learning and development.

Adrian Ackeret , Partner & Chief Investment Officer at elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization, a long-standing partner of BagoSphere, welcomes NWTF’s investment to validate BagoSphere’s impactful work. He praises BagoSphere's approach to empowering entry-level workers to become resilient professionals and underscores its strong business model for future growth.

For over a decade, BagoSphere has served as NWTF's strategic talent partner, notably through their Loan Officers Foundation Training program, enhancing communication skills and the job of NWTF’s loan officer trainees. This program helped expand NWTF's workforce from 2,000 to over 5,000 employees across Luzon and the Visayas.

“We recognize that people are the heart of every business. Progress and development are achieved when individuals have the right mindsets, skills, and capabilities. Our investment with BagoSphere is a testament to our belief in their role in fostering sustainable communities across the country and beyond,” said Suzzette D. Gaston, Executive Director and Co-Founder of NWTF. 

NWTF’s investment adds to the robust support BagoSphere has received from various investors, partners, and clients, such as Ateneo Center for Educational Development, Grab Philippines, and elea Foundation, among many others. This collective backing underscores confidence in BagoSphere’s mission and its transformative impact on communities.

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About BagoSphere

BagoSphere is a human capability school focusing on human capability building blocks including self-awareness, growth mindset, and critical thinking for sustained, high performance across one’s career journey. BagoSphere offers three flagship programs: Aspiring Professionals Program, Emerging Professionals Program, and Grounded Leaders Program.

About Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF)

The Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation is a non-profit microfinance organization founded in 1984. It is committed to fighting poverty by providing Grameen-based micro-financing and developmental services to the Philippines' marginalized urban and rural poor. NWTF is one of the top five largest microfinance companies in the Philippines.