Rebecca Kersch

TANG app, a peer-to-peer mobile payment platform, has already raised US$1.5 million in pre-seed funding. Its founder, Rebecca Kersch, talks to Tatler about her venture

Her mission for the company is about financial inclusion and helping the unbanked. By using financial technology to provide access to the millions of adults in the Philippines without a bank account, TANG makes fund transfers and remittance payments easier for so many overseas workers. TANG app allows Filipinos in and outside of the country to top up mobile load for themselves and others within seconds. Learn more about founder, Rebecca Kersch here:

I have never met any of my teammates

in person … since we only started less than two years ago. We work virtually and remotely in building a company culture. Entirely virtual has its challenges. Fortunately, I have a phenomenal team and we are managing it well, all working together on building a trustworthy, empathic, professional and customer-centric company culture, even if fully virtual for now.

My Filipina auntie, or my Tita, helped raise me, my brother and

my sister. She motivates me to do what I do. She has lived and worked outside the Philippines most of her adult life and sends home almost everything she earns; she has done so for decades. Unfortunately, she was only able to use traditional cash remittance companies, which charge exorbitant fees and her loved ones at home receiving the money are still unbanked. It helped me understand at a young age that the financial system for Filipinos abroad and at home is broken. My driving force is inspired by my Tita’s unconditional love and sacrifice.

It is why I started TANG app.

What am I most proud of? My amazing fiancé, family and friends and their never-ending support and my incredible team at TANG app.

One of my biggest “wow” moments

in this journey so far was when my two Harvard Entrepreneurship professors decided to invest in TANG app. They rarely invest in students and have been helping me with TANG app since the early days when it was just an idea.

I was a competitive gymnast as a child and can still do some flips. I also had ten imaginary friends growing up.

One of the best pieces of advice I have ever got was when one of my mentors early on said: “You’re a natural entrepreneur, believe in yourself and stick to your gut!”