Background
John Christopher T. Ilano is a tech startup co-founder and community builder based in Balanga City, Bataan. He currently leads Kloudtech, a climate-tech startup supported by the US-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership, where he oversees business development, communications, and public relations. With a diverse background in multimedia production, tech support, and design, John has transitioned into a full-time entrepreneur recognized for his leadership in Bataan’s growing startup ecosystem. He also serves as the City Leader of Founders Live Balanga, organizing startup pitch events and building a strong local innovation community.
In 2025, John was selected as a YSEALI Fellow under the YSEALI Academy at Fulbright University Vietnam, where he participated in the flagship seminar on AI Governance and AI Literacy: Balancing Responsibility and Innovation. This achievement highlights his growing interest in the intersection of emerging technologies, ethical innovation, and public policy in Southeast Asia.
Educational Background
John Christopher Ilano earned his Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, majoring in Network and Web Application, from Bataan Peninsula State University in May 2018. During his time at the university, he consistently demonstrated academic excellence, earning a place on the Dean’s List.
He was also elected as the Governor of the College of Information and Communications Technology for the academic year 2016–2017, showcasing his leadership and commitment to student governance. His dedication and performance earned him recognition as one of the top 30 scholars in Balanga City under the provincial scholarship program. He received commendation from the university for his significant contributions to its Decade Celebration and was part of the team that won first place in the province’s inaugural Startup Weekend Balanga, an event powered by Google Entrepreneurs and organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology. In 2025, John was selected as a YSEALI Fellow under the YSEALI Academy at Fulbright University Vietnam, where he participated in the flagship seminar on “AI Governance and AI Literacy: Balancing Responsibility and Innovation,” deepening his expertise in the intersection of technology, ethics, and public policy.
Work Experience
John Christopher Ilano is the Co-founder and Head of Business and Brand Development at Kloudtech Corp, a climate-tech startup based in Bataan and supported by the US-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership. Since October 2022, he has played a key role in shaping the company’s public relations strategy, building partnerships with local media and government agencies, and leading on-the-ground community engagement with stakeholder villages. He works closely with the CEO on daily operations and contributes actively to business development and pitching efforts. In March 2024, John took on the role of City Leader for Founders Live Balanga, where he organizes and hosts regular pitch competitions for early-stage startups. He leads a team responsible for curating founders, planning events, and fostering a vibrant local startup ecosystem.
Prior to his startup leadership, he worked as a Multimedia Producer at YugaTech (February to September 2022), one of the Philippines’ top tech publications. He created engaging video reviews, crafted tech-focused social media content, and published timely news on technology and automobiles.
From August 2020 to January 2022, John was a Multimedia Designer for Educ8 Experience, a remote startup based in Darwin, Australia. He led the design and branding of educational content, managed social media campaigns, provided technical support to users of their learning management system, and handled various administrative tasks.
His professional journey began as a Technical Support Representative at Sutherland (October 2018 to March 2020), where he supported U.S.-based customers with technical issues, tracked logistics with delivery companies, and processed replacements and refunds with empathy and efficiency.
John also brings experience from the startup accelerator space, having joined Catalysr’s Migrapreneur program in Australia in 2021 with his previous venture, Educ8 Experience. Additionally, he served as Vice President for Connect of Junior Chamber International – Bataan Chapter in 2021, where he led member engagement and recruitment, continuing his term as a committed member since 2018.
