# Higala: Financial services, Philippines

> Higala: Higala is a fintech startup based in the Philippines, focused on enhancing financial inclusion through open-source payments infrastructure and...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/startup/higala (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

Philippines · [Financial services startup](https://millionrounds.com/companies)

# Higala

Higala is a fintech startup based in the Philippines, focused on enhancing financial inclusion through open-source payments infrastructure and digital banking solutions.

Funding reported Last round: Series A

Financial services Philippines

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Company summary

- **Founded:** 2023 3 years old
- **Team:** 7 1 to 10 people
- **Funding reported:** 5.3M as listed, currency not stated
- **Last round:** Series A Apr 2025

How sure we are

- ✓ **Listed** We know it exists and what it does
- 2 **Funding reported** A company dataset reports a raise
- 3 **Observed** A filing or a dated announcement confirms a round

No round for Higala has been confirmed by a filing or an announcement yet, so nothing here counts toward an investor's record. [How we decide](https://millionrounds.com/methodology)

## About Higala

Higala is a fintech startup based in the Philippines, focused on enhancing financial inclusion through open-source payments infrastructure and digital banking solutions.

Launched in 2024, Higala Technology Inc. aims to support underserved communities, rural banks, thrift banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), and cooperatives. The company utilizes Mojaloop open-source technology and ISO 20022 standards to create affordable, interoperable instant payment systems and real-time payment solutions. Higala's offerings include an Instant Payment System that facilitates low-cost, real-time transactions and a Platform Bank Enabler that provides digital banking capabilities to smaller institutions. These platforms help traditional banks transition to digital services, enabling them to serve unbanked and underbanked Filipinos efficiently. With a mission to connect thousands of financial institutions to national payment networks, Higala is positioned as a key partner for regulators, central banks, and payment operators in the Philippines.

## What company datasets say Higala raised

Funding, as reported

Reported in all **5.3M** in the source's currency

Last round **Series A**

Last round date **Apr 2025**

## Founders and team

From Higala's own website: 5 on the team.

- **Efraín Laureano** CEO and Global Expansion Lead, Higala
- **Jamey Butcher** Co-Chairman, Higala | CEO, Chemonics International
- **Francis Plaza** Chief Strategy Officer, Higala
- **Rhiza Mae Talavera** Chief Technology Officer, Higala
- **Macel Legaspi** VP for Business Development, Higala

## On a portfolio page

Investors who name them

- [1982 Ventures](https://millionrounds.com/fund/1982-ventures)

Each firm lists Higala on its own website. That is the firm's claim, a weaker thing than a round we watched, but a named source.

## The company, in detail

What they build

Known for

api digital payments consumers digital banking solutions reserve payment settlement real-time transactions banking services interoperability open_source banking microservices microfinance information technology & services payment hub financial services payment interoperability

Built with from their website

Amazon CloudFront Google Workspace CloudFlare Viewport Meta Webflow Hosting Google Meet CloudFlare CDN Google Font API Mobile Friendly Open Graph

+8 more

Amazon Route 53 jQuery Cloudflare DNS HTTP/3 Amazon AWS Google Hosted Libraries HSTS AWS Cloud

- **Sector:** Financial services
- **Industry code:** NAICS 52232, 541512, 541511, SIC 7389, 7371, 7373
- **Full record:** [Every detail in the company directory](https://millionrounds.com/directory/higala)

## Financial services in Philippines

Startups like it

- [**OneLot** Makati · founded 2023 *Raised*](https://millionrounds.com/company/onelot)
- [**PayMongo** Taguig · founded 2019 *Raised*](https://millionrounds.com/company/paymongo)
- [**Maya** Mandaluyong · founded 2013](https://millionrounds.com/startup/maya-3)
- [**PayMaya Philippines** Mandaluyong · founded 2013](https://millionrounds.com/startup/paymaya-philippines)
- [**coins.ph** Pasig · founded 2014](https://millionrounds.com/startup/coins-ph)
- [**Asialink Group of Companies** Pasig](https://millionrounds.com/startup/asialink-group-of-companies)
- [**PDAX** Pasig · founded 2018](https://millionrounds.com/startup/pdax)
- [**Squads** Solana · founded 2021](https://millionrounds.com/startup/squads-5)

## Is this your company?

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