A Letter from the Co-Founder
Ten years ago, Launchpad was little more than an idea sketched out in conversations with frisbee teammates and friends.
I still remember sitting down with Mark Serrano and imagining what a different kind of workspace could look like — one that wasn’t just about desks and offices, but about creating a place where people could build, create, collaborate, and chase their ambitions here in Alabang.
Soon after, we began sharing the idea with friends who believed in the vision and wanted to be part of the journey, including Pia Ybanez-Cochien and Gisela David-Delos Santos. From those early conversations came investment rounds, construction plans, countless meetings, and eventually the exciting day we broke ground.
In June 2016, Launchpad Coworking Commercenter officially opened its doors.
What many people don’t know is how grassroots those early years really were (and still is!). We didn’t have large marketing budgets or venture capital funding waiting in the wings. We did everything ourselves. Our Employee #2 Alvin spent weeks handing out flyers in the parking lots of Alabang Town Center and Festival Mall. We invited anyone and everyone to our events. Every improvement, every renovation, every expansion was funded through hard work, careful planning, and a belief that we were building something meaningful.
Then came the pandemic.
Like many businesses, we faced uncertainty unlike anything we had experienced before. But through disciplined decision-making, relentless bootstrapping, and the support of an incredibly loyal community, we weathered the storm. Our members, partners, and friends reminded us why Launchpad existed in the first place – not just as a workspace, but as a community.
Today, as we celebrate our 10th year, I (along with my partners) look back with immense gratitude.
What started as a single location has grown into four locations in Alabang, serving countless entrepreneurs, freelancers, creators, startups, and businesses. We’ve had the privilege of watching companies launch, careers grow, partnerships form, and dreams become reality within our walls.
And while much of our story is visible in the spaces we’ve built, the true heart of Launchpad has always been our people. To our incredible team of men and women who show up every day with dedication, kindness, and care: THANK YOU. You are the first smiles our members see in the morning, the helping hands behind every event, and the reason so many people feel welcomed, supported, and at home here. Quite simply, you are the wind beneath our wings.
Our mission has remained unchanged from day one: to create a place where everyone’s dreams can take flight.
The story of Launchpad has never been about buildings. It has always been about people — the risk-takers, the dreamers, the builders, the believers, and the community that chose to grow alongside us. So, to everyone who has been part of our journey over the past decade…thank you too. Your trust, support, and belief in what we’re building made all of this possible.
As we look toward the future, we’re excited to continue growing, innovating, and spreading our wings even further. The next chapter is just beginning.
Here’s to the next ten years of bold ideas, meaningful work, and dreams taking flight.
Ad Astra Per Aspera.
Through hardships, to the stars.
— Mel Lozano
Co-Founder, Launchpad Coworking