Philippines Market Entry

Challenge

An 850+ vehicle tech-enabled travel platform was considering a Philippines launch, but the legal position was unclear and remote attempts to resolve it had failed. The company also needed direct evidence about customers, operating conditions, launch locations, and potential partners. I began without contacts.

Actions Taken

Get The Legal Answer In Person

Walked into government offices and worked through security, assistants, and officials until I secured the meeting. The legal clarification came directly from an Undersecretary.

Research The Market On The Ground

Spoke with tourists, locals, and potential partners about travel patterns, customer needs, product requirements, local operating conditions, and how demand varied by location.

Compare The Launch Locations

Compared legally workable locations against tourist movement, likely demand concentration, partner access, and practical operating conditions. The field research showed that the company’s preferred location was wrong for the proposed launch and identified the optimal practical location instead.

Establish A Partner Path

Used a new connection to secure a meeting with a key potential operating partner and establish a local path for the proposed launch.

Context

Diverted from a personal holiday with a carry-on for what was initially meant to be four days. The work extended to 30 days.

Results

• Secured legal clarification directly from an Undersecretary
• Documented customer needs, product requirements, local operating conditions, and location-specific demand signals
• Changed the proposed launch location to the optimal practical option identified through the field research
• Established a local partner path and delivered the research and operating roadmap to the company