AI Strategist & Speaker · Social Entrepreneur · Ecosystem Builder

Hi, I'm Jay Jaboneta — AI Strategist in the Philippines.

I help schools and SMEs across the Philippines and Southeast Asia build real AI fluency — not just awareness. I also co-founded the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, consult on emerging technologies, and spend my time helping people turn ideas into movements that last.

5,000+Yellow boats delivered to children across the Philippines
200+Communities served through the foundation
50+Keynotes, workshops and talks delivered per year
Jay Jaboneta — AI Strategist and social entrepreneur from the Philippines

One post.
Thousands of boats.

In 2010, I learned that nearly 200 children in the mangrove village of Layag-Layag, Zamboanga City, had to swim half a mile across open water just to get to school. I shared their story on Facebook. That single post changed everything.

Strangers became donors. One boat became thousands. What started as the Zamboanga Fund for Little Kids is now the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation — providing school boats, classrooms, bridges, dormitories, and livelihood programs to island communities where talent is universal but opportunity is not.

We often hear of kids that skip school to go swimming — but here we've got kids swimming so that they can go to school.

— CNN interview

The foundation's mission is unfinished by design: it exists until no child is left behind.

Watch the Yellow Boat of Hope story →

Building things that matter.

I work with founders, schools, nonprofits, and organizations at the intersection of technology, innovation, and storytelling.

Ecosystem Building & Innovation Labs

Designing and launching innovation labs or hubs, incubation programs, and founder communities that nurture ideas from concept to lasting impact.

20 years of ecosystem building →

Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies

Helping schools and businesses adopt AI tools and emerging technologies for education, administration, and operations through structured workshops and consulting programs.

What is an AI Strategist? →

Storytelling & Digital Presence

Turning complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives across digital channels — built on years of new media experience from the ground up.

Story, stage, and digital portfolio →

Education & Leadership

Delivering talks, workshops, and programs on social entrepreneurship, youth leadership, and innovation for schools, companies, and organizations.

The HOPE Framework & 16 years in education →

Career

The path so far.

2024 – Present

Founder & CEO

Kenzo AI Consulting — Philippines & Southeast Asia

Helping schools and SMEs adopt AI tools for lesson planning, administration, and business operations through structured workshop programs.

2024 – 2026

Web3 Developer Advocate

AngelHack

Supporting developers entering the Web3 ecosystem through hackathons, mentorship, and community building across Southeast Asia.

2010 – Present

Co-Founder (Fire Starter & Chief Storyteller)

Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation

Scaled a national nonprofit from a Facebook post to a foundation serving 200+ communities with school boats, classrooms, bridges, and livelihood programs.

2015 – 2022

Consultant on Social Innovation

De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde / De La Salle Lipa

Supported HIFI (Hub of Innovation For Inclusion) and managed NEXUS Innovation Labs — building social innovation ecosystems inside Philippine universities.

2010 – 2011

First Director for New Media

Office of the President of the Philippines

Built and managed President Aquino III's official digital presence. Pioneered the Philippine government's social media and online communications strategy at PCOO.

2005 – 2010

Sales, Business Development, Portfolio Management

Procter & Gamble · ANZ Banking Group · Metrobank Card Corp.

Built a foundation in corporate sales, business development, and banking operations before pivoting to public service and social entrepreneurship.

Awards & Honours

7 Modern Day Pinoy Heroes

Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Power30Under30 Honoree

Apex Society, New York

Bayaning Pilipino Regional Awardee

Gawad Geny Lopez Jr.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Damers & Clarions of Cotabato

Pillar of Hope Award

Eton International School

TEDx Speaker — TEDxMontpellier 2012

Only Asian speaker invited

TEDx Speaker — TEDxKinnairdCollege 2013

Only Filipino invited in Pakistan

TEDx Speaker — TEDxBritishSchoolManila 2016

Bringing our story to an international school

TEDx Speaker — TEDxYouth@MGCNLCA 2018

The most powerful ideas travel to the youngest rooms

Apple Leadership Academy Ambassador 2026

Exclusive group in the Philippines

Books

Written works.

Start with HOPE book cover by Jay Jaboneta — entrepreneurship guide
Coming Soon

Start with HOPE

Entrepreneurship Guide

Harness Small Acts to Spark Big Change — the HOPE framework born from lessons from Jay's projects, for anyone ready to turn compassion into action.

startwithhopebook.com →
Philosophy in a Dream book cover — philosophical novella by Jay Jaboneta
Coming Soon

Philosophy in a Dream

A Novella

A seven-day dream journey through the Garden of Sophia — where ancient questions meet a wanderer searching for meaning.

philosophyinadream.com →
Hiding in Plain Sight
Coming Soon

Hiding in Plain Sight

A Novel

A gripping story that weaves science, mystery, and the human condition into a narrative that will keep you turning pages.

Talks that move people.

I deliver 50+ keynotes annually to audiences spanning multinational corporations, government agencies, universities, and nonprofits. My talks weave personal narrative with practical frameworks — including the HOPE methodology (Harness potential, Open your wallet, Perspire through action, Empower others) — to inspire action, not just applause.

Social Entrepreneurship AI for Education and Business Web3 & Blockchain Youth Leadership Innovation Social Media for Social Change Digital Communications Nation Building Advocacy Marketing

Past Clients Include

Philippine Airlines · Facebook · De La Salle Lipa · De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde · Ateneo de Davao University · and dozens of educational institutions and nonprofits

Education

Academic background.

Ateneo de Davao University

BS Commerce — Management Accounting, minor in Philosophy (2005)

Notre Dame of Cotabato

High School Valedictorian (1998)

Let's build something together.

Whether it's a speaking engagement, a consulting project, or a conversation about building something meaningful.