For millions of Filipino families, the aspiration to own a home feels out of reach. Proptech company Lhoopa is fundamentally reshaping this reality, reporting 2.5x more homes sold in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. This surge reflects the company’s growing momentum, helping almost 7,000 low- to middle-income Filipinos across 64 cities secure their own homes through its proprietary AI-enabled technology. 75% of these homeowners had no other option before discovering Lhoopa.

Making Homeownership Accessible at Scale

Lhoopa was founded in 2018 with a clear and vital mission: to streamline through technology the entire property journey, from acquisition to move-in, so homeownership becomes accessible to underserved communities at scale. “This mission guides our work every day, as we address the core challenges faced by aspiring homeowners,” said CEO and Co-Founder Marco Caillot. 

Lhoopa’s end-to-end model combines AI-powered land assessment and real-time supply-demand matching tools together with a growing network of decentralized partner contractors, brokers, and agents working on-ground. Through Lhoopa’s mobile applications, partners can access a suite of features to easily track and manage property listings, oversee construction progress, and monitor legal documentation and payments, just to name a few. Upon purchase, buyers are also assisted with their loan applications, closing the loop on an innovative system that drives efficiency while enabling scale where it’s needed most: affordable housing.

“Our technology and network bring together available properties, accessible financing options, and user-friendly tools that simplify each step of the homeownership process,” Caillot added. “People need a straightforward and practical way to buy a home that doesn’t leave them guessing or overwhelmed. Lhoopa is here to support them through this journey from start to finish.”

Building an Inclusive Housing Ecosystem

The average Lhoopa homebuyer has a monthly income of PHP 20,000 (about USD 350), a segment not fully served by traditional real estate systems. Lhoopa’s impact is best seen in people like Mario and Yhang, both visually impaired massage therapists who recently bought their first home in Laguna, and Jennifer, a church caretaker who now lives with her family in their Cabanatuan home. “Malaking bagay yun samin na magkaroon ng sariling bahay [It’s a big deal for us to own a home],” Jennifer shared. “Talagang masasabi mong maiinvest mo sa pamilya mo, mabibigay mo sa anak mo [This is an investment for your family, something you can pass on to your children].” These are just some of the stories that reflect Lhoopa’s firm commitment to homeownership for the underserved.

“We’re committed to building a more inclusive housing ecosystem, where more families can say, ‘This home is ours’,” Caillot highlighted. “Our focus now is to scale: continue enhancing our platform and expanding our network of local partners to further bridge the housing backlog, while helping more and more families access safe, quality, and affordable homeownership.”

In the high-energy world of sports and entertainment, success often hinges on flawless execution. But behind every sold-out concert or adrenaline-filled match is a web of risk—accidents, cancellations, or unexpected disruptions can jeopardize the entire experience. 

Globally, platforms are increasingly integrating insurance directly into ticketing and registration processes, creating a seamless experience for both organizers and attendees. In Brazil, global insurtech firm discovermarket has partnered with Sympla, the country’s leading event platform, to offer public liability insurance. With this partnership, event organizers on Sympla can secure coverage by simply answering two quick questions on an online portal. 

This streamlined, digital-first approach offers a smart model for the Philippine events industry, which is making a strong post-pandemic comeback. The market is expected to grow rapidly, reaching USD 1.4 trillion by 2028 with an average annual growth rate of 8% from 2023. Locally, demand is rising for concerts, sports leagues, cultural festivals, and trade shows, drawing renewed interest and participation. 

But with this comeback comes a growing need to protect both organizers and attendees from unexpected risks and financial fallout. Just last year, the sold-out Grand “BINIverse” concert by girl group Bini at Araneta Coliseum had to be postponed due to Typhoon Pepito. This example highlights how even highly anticipated events remain vulnerable to sudden disruptions beyond anyone’s control. 

Why Embedded Insurance Matters

“For many event organizers in the Philippines, whether it’s a sports league or major arena shows, traditional insurance often feels out of reach. It’s seen as too complicated, too costly, or simply not built for their reality,” said Marco Kamerling, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer at discovermarket. “Embedded insurance changes that. It’s integrated, and tailored to real-world event needs — from liability and cancellations, to covering mishaps or property damage. For attendees, it can mean refund protection or accident coverage. Ultimately, it helps build trust across the entire event ecosystem.”

discovermarket makes this possible and powering the entire process with its end-to-end digital platform, allowing organizers to secure coverage in just a few clicks.

Building Economic Resilience Through Safety Nets

The events industry is a key economic driver that fuels tourism, generates employment, and uplifts micro and small businesses. From stagehands and sound engineers to food vendors and freelancers, thousands of livelihoods depend on the success of live events. By embedding insurance directly into event infrastructure, we’re not just mitigating risk but we’re ensuring the sustainability of an entire ecosystem.

A Growing Opportunity for Local Platforms

With the right partnerships, this model can take root in the Philippines. Ticketing platforms, online marketplaces, and even mobile wallets could explore embedded insurance options that cater specifically to Filipino event-goers and organizers. The technology already exists and what’s needed is collaboration across sectors to bring this safety net into the local mainstream.

discovermarket, through their one-stop solution shows how insurtech can play a central role in driving this shift. discovermarket’s platform enables tailored embedded insurance products to be distributed digitally, reaching event organizers who were previously underserved.

As the country continues to embrace digital-first solutions, embedding insurance into the platforms that power our events could be the next big step in professionalizing the industry. With over 83.8% smartphone penetration in the beginning of 2025 and a high adoption of mobile wallets, the Philippine market is primed for embedded services. Integrating protection into these digital touchpoints fits naturally into the way Filipinos plan and experience events today. 

Beyond just risk mitigation, it’s a step towards a more resilient, professionalized events industry  where every organizer and attendee can focus on what truly matters: the experience.

Surely.Digital has joined forces with PhilInsure—a Gallagher company and one of the Philippines’ most established insurance brokers—to launch the TravelSmart Marketplace, a digital-first platform built to empower Filipino travelers with easy access to trusted, visa-compliant travel insurance.

This offering is backed by the underwriting strength of Malayan Insurance, one of the country’s most respected non-life insurers. With Malayan’s extensive expertise and reliability, TravelSmart delivers a robust range of affordable and comprehensive travel insurance plans—especially suited for travelers applying for Schengen and other international visas.

TravelSmart was created with the mission to enable smarter and safer travel through a seamless, technology-driven experience. By combining Surely’s cutting-edge insurtech capabilities with PhilInsure’s deep distribution network, the platform empowers individuals, OFWs and families to protect their health and finances throughout their global journeys.

Mukesh Dhawan Co-Founder and President of Surely, shares:

“By partnering with Malayan Insurance, we’ve built a marketplace that delivers real value to today’s global travelers. Malayan’s trusted legacy and underwriting strength ensure that Filipino travelers can access comprehensive and visa-compliant protection with confidence. Through digital-first solutions like TravelSmart, we’re making insurance more accessible, reliable, and relevant for every journey.”

Paolo Y. Abaya, President and CEO of Malayan Insurance, shares:

“This strategic alliance between Malayan Insurance, Surely, and PhilInsure marks a significant step in providing innovative and convenient solutions for Filipino travelers. Through the TravelSmart Marketplace, we are committed to delivering accessible and reliable travel protection.”

With TravelSmart, Surely continues to build inclusive insurance experiences that support the aspirations of Filipino travelers—wherever their journeys take them.

We invite all enthusiastic Filipinos to explore TravelSmart and access comprehensive travel insurance options via this link.

Wherever your journey takes you — for work, leisure, or family — @MalayanInsuranceCoInc Travel Insurance provides the protection you can trust. With affordable plans and real-time issuance of cover note, now powered by Surely — makes protection just a few taps away.