For years, startups and corporations have been viewed as operating in different worlds—one optimized for speed, the other for scale. But as innovation cycles accelerate, neither can succeed alone. Increasingly, the companies that stay ahead are those that know how to bridge both worlds.
Join us for a fireside chat featuring Carl Cruz, President and CEO of Globe Telecom, and Sam Gadodia, CEO and Co-founder of LotusFlare, as they unpack how a corporate-startup partnership evolved from adopting new technology into building a long-term strategic advantage. Through the Globe × LotusFlare story, we’ll explore what it really takes to move beyond innovation theater, build trust across organizations, and turn emerging technologies into lasting business impact.
What we’ll cover
Why corporates are increasingly partnering with startups—and what both sides need to create partnerships that deliver real business value.
How organizations identify technologies worth betting on, embed innovation into the business, and balance startup agility with enterprise scale.
The hard truths, common pitfalls, and practical lessons from building one of the region’s most successful corporate-startup partnerships.
Who Should Attend
- Startup Founders
- Corporates
- Investors
- Startup Enablers
- Academe
About the Speakers
Carl Raymond Cruz is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Globe Telecom, Inc., the premier digital solutions provider and leading mobile brand in the Philippines. A transformational leader with over 30 years of global experience, Carl specializes in steering large-scale organizational turnarounds, scaling businesses within competitive landscapes, and driving digital inclusion across emerging markets.
Prior to taking the helm at Globe, Carl established a distinguished track record of executive leadership across Asia and Africa in both the telecommunications and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries. He served as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, overseeing one of the largest and most critical operations within the Airtel Group, serving a subscriber base of over 60 million. This followed a celebrated 30-year career with Unilever, where he held various senior leadership roles across highly competitive environments in the Philippines, India, and Thailand, ultimately serving as Chairman and Managing Director of Unilever Sri Lanka, as well as Managing Director of Unilever West Africa and MD/CEO of Unilever Nigeria, where he successfully directed cross-border operations spanning Nigeria, Ghana, and Francophone Africa.
An alumnus of De La Salle University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management, Carl is highly regarded for his ability to cultivate high-impact teams, foster collaborative corporate cultures, and champion sustainable development. He brings a unique global perspective and operational agility to his leadership, dedicated to establishing Globe as the Philippines’ most trusted digital brand while delivering long-term value to its stakeholders.
Sam Gadodia is the CEO and Co-Founder of LotusFlare, a leading software company reshaping the telecommunications industry with its AI-powered, cloud-native SaaS solutions. Under his leadership, LotusFlare simplifies technology and customer experience for top-tier mobile operators.
A veteran of the digital growth space, Sam previously scaled international user bases as part of the Facebook Growth team and oversaw global expansion as the COO/CFO of TeleSign. He holds an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School and multiple engineering degrees, blending technical expertise with deep operational leadership.
| 5:00 PM | Doors are open to guests; networking and raiding the Kickstart Fridge begin! |
| 6:30 PM | Panel + Q&A |
| 7:30 PM | End of Program: Closing Remarks; Networking resumes |
| 9:00 PM | End of Raid The Fridge |
About the organizer
Kickstart Ventures owns and organizes Raid The Fridge, the longest-running monthly startup networking and learning mixer for the Philippine startup community of founders, investors, and entrepreneur-enabling organizations since August 2012.
Driven by its vision to shape a better future, Kickstart Ventures invests in tech startups that future-proof businesses and solve real-world problems through sustainable and holistic innovation. The corporate venture capital firm of one of SEA’s leading conglomerates, Kickstart Ventures has 71 investments globally, led by 140+ founders, and it advises the Ayala Corporation Technology Innovation (ACTIVE) Fund, the largest venture capital fund to come out of the Philippines.
Wednesday, August 19th, 2026
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Globe Tower
32nd Street corner 7th Street
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 1634
