Agile Data Solutions COO Carl Chung Shares How the Company Landed Its First Customers and Built Hustle PH at Start Up Meetups 2025

At the inaugural Start Up Meetups, Agile reveals how Filipino hustle culture, fast data, and bold early strategies propelled its growth into a leading market research technology company.

November 2025, Manila, Philippines — At the first-ever Start Up Meetups 2025, hosted by Start Up Podcast PH with the theme “All About Firsts,” Agile Data Solutions Inc. took center stage as Chief Operating Officer Carl Chung shared the company’s early beginnings, sales breakthroughs, and the rise of its flagship mobile insights platform, Hustle PH. The meetup, held at YSpaces BGC, gathered founders, innovators, and startup enthusiasts to exchange lessons on one of the most pivotal moments in any entrepreneurial journey: getting your first customer.

Chung, joined by Head of Technology Luis Ligunas, offered a candid look into the company’s four-year trajectory, from its scrappy startup days to becoming one of the country’s fastest-scaling research technology firms.

Hustle PH: Market Research Built for the Filipino Hustler

During the session, Chung spotlighted Hustle PH, the company’s mobile-powered consumer insights platform where Filipinos complete surveys, missions, and product tests in exchange for real cash paid directly to GCash.

A major differentiator is Hustle PH’s deep integration into local digital ecosystems. The app is accessible directly inside the GCash app under Earn Money → Quick Rewards, where it is the first and only Quick Rewards partner. This partnership helped Hustle PH grow to more than 1.2 million users, making it one of the largest real-time research panels in the Philippines.

“Filipinos have a strong hustle culture—always finding ways to support their families. Hustle PH taps into that, allowing people to earn from their opinions while giving brands what they need most: real human insights, fast,” Chung said.

Chung explained that Hustle PH reduces research timelines from months to days or even 24 hours, giving companies immediate access to authentic, on-the-ground data. Beyond surveys, the platform now supports focus groups, interviews, product tests, mystery shopping, and even in-app advertising for brands.

How Agile Landed Its First Clients

In keeping with the event’s theme, Chung recounted how Agile secured its earliest paying clients—using resourcefulness and persistence rather than traditional playbooks. As employee number one, he personally conducted outreach through LinkedIn Premium, connecting directly with presidents and directors at a time when cold outreach was at its peak due to the pandemic.

“Every startup remembers their first customer. For us, it was proof that fast, human-centric research was needed in the market,” Chung shared.

He revealed a key strategy from Agile’s early days: “Don’t just chase the number one player. Talk to the number two—they’re more motivated to innovate.”

Chung emphasized that success in B2B sales isn’t just about tools or credentials, but about communication and connection. “Never underestimate social skills. Every decision-maker is human, and every personality needs a different approach,” he said.

Data Accuracy, Privacy, and the Real Value of Insights

Addressing concerns about data quality, Chung outlined Agile’s multi-layer verification system, which includes user-submitted photo proof (such as selfies with products or in-store evidence) supported by both AI review and manual checks. This process ensures each response reflects real-world behavior.

On privacy, Chung emphasized the company’s compliance with data protection laws.

“We never share personal identifiers like phone numbers or emails. Client data is fully anonymized—linked only to profile numbers and basic demographics.”

He added that while Agile ensures data accuracy, companies must integrate insights with internal strategies to maximize impact.

Expanding Beyond the Philippines

Chung also revealed Agile’s next chapter: international expansion. After refining its systems locally, Agile is now exploring rollouts in Thailand, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian markets.

“We’ve built something that works at scale in the Philippines. Now it’s time to take it to the region,” he said.

Advice to Founders: Hustle, Research, and Be Brave

Closing his talk, Chung shared key lessons for the founders in attendance: “Always do your own market research. If you don’t know your market, then what’s the use of doing what you’re doing right now?”

He encouraged entrepreneurs to leverage all personal networks—neighbors, gym friends, gaming groups, and more—to generate early leads.

Above all, he underscored courage. “Bravery isn’t the absence of fear. It’s acting in spite of it. Jump the hurdle. Be brave.”

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About Agile Data Solutions Inc.

Your agile partner in data-driven growth.

Agile Data Solutions Inc. is a market research technology company pioneering fast, scalable, and human-driven insights for brands across the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Through Hustle PH, the country’s first Quick Rewards app on GCash, Agile delivers real-time consumer data through surveys, missions, product tests, and qualitative studies powered by over 1.2 million users nationwide.