Talks over Waffles Session Two: The Startup Struggle No Pitch Shows

Another Table. Same Community. Deeper Conversations.

A week after the first Pandesal Talks reminded us that startups begin with conversations, the community gathered again at Dodo Coworking Space for Pandesal Talks Session 2, held last January 18. Same faces. Same warmth. Same honest energy.
But this time, the conversation went deeper and more personal.

If the first huddle focused on ideas, technology, and possibilities, the second leaned into a reality many founders quietly struggle with: managing a business means managing people, including yourself.

Once again, there was no stage. No microphones. No pressure to impress. Just founders, creatives, tech builders, and students sitting around a table, coffee in hand, talking about the parts of startup life that don’t usually make it into pitch decks or success posts.

Because building a startup is not just about what you build, but how you build it and who you build it with.

From Big Ideas to Real Transitions

As the conversation unfolded, the discussion naturally shifted toward a group often standing at the edge of the startup world: students and early builders.

A recurring insight surfaced. Many students are interested in startups, technology, and business, but haven’t fully set their minds yet on what path they want to take or what role they want to play. And that uncertainty is not a weakness, it’s a starting point.

The huddle explored questions like:

• How do you guide people who are still figuring themselves out?
• What does leadership look like when your team is learning as they go?
• How early should people skills be developed, not just technical skills?

This led to a deeper realization: people management is not a “later-stage” startup problem. It’s a foundational one.

Managing People Is the Real Startup Challenge

Session 2 highlighted that startups don’t struggle only because of funding, products, or markets. They struggle when:

• Boundaries aren’t clear
• Expectations aren’t communicated
• Conflict is avoided instead of addressed
• Teams grow without shared values

Managing people becomes especially crucial when teams are small, relationships are close, and everyone wears multiple hats. Founders are not just building systems, they are shaping environments where people learn, fail, and grow together.

The group also discussed what skills can and should be offered to teams and students early on, such as:

• Communication and feedback
• Accountability and ownership
• Adaptability in fast-changing environments
• Emotional intelligence and self-awareness

These are the skills that often determine whether a startup survives its early stages.

Familiar Voices, Plus New Perspectives

Returning voices from the first Pandesal Talks helped ground the discussion with lived experience, including Jhon Paul Quiñal, Hanthony Tagam, Arcee Cervantes, and Dave Franco, each reinforcing how leadership, systems, culture, and creativity intersect in real-world startups.

This session also welcomed new voices from the startup ecosystem.

Glenn Zaballero, Founder of Zenvyre Innovation Studio from Cagayan de Oro, shared how perseverance in continuously learning new skills, experimenting, and showing up consistently led him to build his own startup today, adding a broader regional perspective and reminding everyone that growth in the startup world often begins long before the company itself.

Daj Bongo from TechUp Caraga, though currently out of town, still shared valuable insights on the direction these huddles could take. He highlighted how consistent, community-led conversations can support founders and early builders, emphasizing the importance of structure, planning, and forward-looking guidance in shaping meaningful startup experiences.

Looking Ahead: Taking the Conversation Beyond the Table

Pandesal Talks Session 2 didn’t aim to solve everything. Instead, it clarified what needs more space, more voices, and more discussion especially around leadership, people management, and preparing the next generation of builders.

That’s why the next conversation won’t just stay in the room.

Catch us live on Facebook as we continue the conversation and delve into the wonders (and realities) of starting a business in today’s world. From leadership challenges to team dynamics and growth pains, Pandesal Talks brings these discussions beyond the table and into the community, in real time, with real stories.

📅 January 25, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM
📍 Live on the Dodo Academy Facebook Page

Same community. Same honesty.
Now live, louder, and more connected.

Here’s to more tables, more conversations, and more startups built not just with great ideas, but with care, clarity, and people-first leadership.