MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Serbiz, an AI-native gig marketplace built to help Filipinos start and scale their side hustles, has announced its upcoming fundraising initiative as it looks to accelerate growth. Backed in its pre-seed round by global venture builder Antler, the platform is leveraging AI-driven agents to lower barriers to entry for Gen Z and first-time earners.
What sets Serbiz apart is its proprietary AI duo: Earnie and Scout, designed to automate the most complex aspects of freelancing: discovery, matching, and monetization. Earnie serves as a personal hustle coach, analyzing a user’s tacit knowledge, experiences, and in-app behavior to generate tailored opportunities. Beyond conventional gigs, it surfaces niche, validated side hustles aligned with local demand, guiding users from their first attempt to sustained income growth. Scout, meanwhile, functions as a precision task router for listers. It translates vague or highly specific requests into actionable, bookable tasks by weighing urgency, budget, skill fit, and location, ensuring seamless connections with the right hustlers.
“Most gig platforms assume users already know what to offer, and consumers know exactly what to search for. That leaves out a huge share of Gen Z and first-time earners,” said Iyana Argañoza, Co-founder & CEO of Serbiz. “Serbiz changes that by using AI to interpret intent on both sides, making hustling easier, faster, and more accessible.”
Since launching in the Philippines in early 2025, Serbiz has amassed over 80,000 registered users, generating more than 27,000 organic marketplace posts, and ranking in the Top 3 of the App Store’s Business category within its first week. On average, users spend nine minutes per session, with 70% of new hustlers activating their first gig within a week of signing up.
The platform builds on the Philippines’ well-entrenched raket culture, where side hustles serve as crucial sources of income. Today, 65% of Serbiz users identify their first hustle as their main source of additional income. The most popular categories include TikTok edits, content creation assistance, and event support, with hustlers earning between ₱800 and ₱5,000 per week on average.
One of Serbiz’s earliest users, Marc, a 20-year-old college student in Quezon City, started offering photography gigs on Serbiz and now earns a minimum of around ₱5,000 per gig. He has since received multiple offers for permanent positions, but continues freelancing through Serbiz, valuing the flexibility and creative freedom it gives him. For Marc, Serbiz isn’t just a way to make money; it’s a platform that allows him to build a career on his own terms while still pursuing his studies.
“At Serbiz, we’re not just building another gig platform, we’re building confidence for a generation that wants more control over their future,” said Aliexandra Heart Po, Co-Founder & COO of Serbiz. “Our AI learns and evolves with Filipino culture, helping Gen Z turn everyday creativity into income. This is about proving that hustling isn’t just survival, it’s empowerment, and it’s scalable.”
The momentum aligns with broader industry trends: as of 2025, more than 1.5 million Filipinos are registered on international freelancing platforms, cementing the country as one of the fastest-growing gig markets globally.
Looking forward, Serbiz plans to expand into Southeast Asia by 2026, with future features including integrated payments, skill-building modules, and a learning layer that helps hustlers advance to higher-paying opportunities. The company is also exploring cross-border gig matching, enabling young workers in the Philippines and Vietnam to access regional opportunities.
