There’s a question that quietly follows everyone who works in a venture studio:

It usually comes up in between sprints 一 after the fourth failed experiment, the fifteenth version of a deck, or the moment a team realizes their hypothesis just isn’t holding up. It’s when a team pivots for the third time, or someone realizes that the thing they’re building will need to be torn down and rebuilt from scratch. Again. 

It’s not bitterness. It's a curiosity. It’s the quiet wrestling between hard work and worthwhile work. And at 1882 Energy Ventures, that tension isn’t something we avoid. It’s something we build in.

And so we fight another day. At 1882 Energy Ventures, we build through uncertainty because the work feels worth it. We stay because what we’re building has the potential to change the way energy works in the Philippines — solutions that affect everyday Filipinos, climate resilience, and the future of mobility, homes, and energy. And we stay because somewhere along the way, this work starts to feel personal.

We’re not here to chase unicorns. We’re here to solve real problems in the Philippine energy sector 一 problems that take creativity, guts, and stamina to work through. So, we work differently. We learn in public. We try, break, rebuild. We collaborate like our ventures depend on it — because they do. This is a kind of mission that can’t be delegated. It has to be built.

And underneath all that: we try to do work that feels purposeful.

What Venture Building “Why are we doing this again?” Feels Like

Venture building is not a linear path. It’s messy, real, often uncomfortable — but incredibly rewarding for the right kind of people.

As Iya, one our Venture Principals, put it:

“Every idea is a hypothesis. Every insight is earned. You learn to challenge your assumptions, listen closely, and focus on solving the right problems — the ones that truly matter.”

And that’s the thing. At 1882, you don’t just join a team. You join the process — the wild, iterative, deeply human process of figuring things out. From prototyping with real users to pitching rough ideas to validating  to validating pain points in the field, you’re immersed in work that feels alive. You’re riding the bike, knocking on doors, talking to customers, tweaking the model, and doing it all over again.

What You Learn Along the Way

Venture building rewires you, over and over. The speed and ambiguity of the work demand range: empathy, conviction, and a bias toward action. You learn to articulate your thinking, you learn to lead without permission. You don’t just sharpen skills here – you grow in directions you didn’t expect. You care deeply – not just about the outcome, but about how the work gets done.

Michi, an Associate Venture Builder, shares:

“1882 has pushed me to be more curious, more ambitious, and more relentless in solving problems. I’ve learned there’s never just one answer — only different ways to learn, adapt, and build better.”

That growth doesn’t come from formal training. It comes from real responsibility, direct feedback, and being trusted to lead from day one. 

And whether you’re building ops systems designing new user flows, or mapping out financial models, the sense of ownership is real. Because the stakes are real. 

That mindset doesn’t just shape how you work. It also shapes how you show up in life.

What’s It Like to Work Here

We sit somewhere between a startup and a corporate, which means we get to borrow the best of both. The experimentation, creativity, and pace of startups. The structure, resources, and mission clarity. 

What it looks like on the ground: 

• Small, cross-functional teams where every person’s work means something
• Shared winners, shared stress, and honest feedback
• Full context and ownership – you won’t be told what to do, but you’ll be supported as you figure it out
• Purpose-driven projects where the ‘why’ is just as important as the ‘how’

As Pat, our Graphic Designer, says:

“I love that my work supports something bigger — helping power a better world with decentralized energy. In Solviva and 1882, empathy is essential. Whether I’m designing for users or clients, I’ve learned to put myself in their shoes and really understand what they need.”

The Purpose Is Real – and It’s Shared

Everyone says they’re building with purpose. But at 1882, we’ve made it our core reason for existing.

We were founded to help solve two of the most pressing problems facing the Philippines today:

1. Climate change and its impact on the energy sector
2. The need for long-term socio-economic development

That’s why our teams build ventures that expand access to solar energy, improve electric mobility, rethink financing, and decarbonize daily life. It’s also why we challenge each other to think critically about who we’re building for and why it matters.

As Sean, Corporate Services Associate, reflects:

“What excites me most is the mission. We’re not just building businesses; we’re helping shape a more inclusive energy future. In this kind of fast-paced and purpose-driven environment, you realize your work matters, even the smallest things.”

That’s not just feel-good language. It’s what keeps us steady when things are hard. It’s what connects designers, founders, ops people, and strategists into one aligned team.

The Work Can Surprise You

There’s a moment in every venture where the pieces finally click. The insight lands. The user smiles. The test passes. And for a second, you remember: this is why I came here.

As Jahaan, Senior Venture Architect, shares:

“I’ve built across solar, EV, and finance, but some of my favorite work happens between ventures. You realize your work is expansive. You get to experiment and grow in ways you didn’t expect.”

Those moments matter. Not because they’re big, but because they’re earned. And over time, they start to shape how you see your own career. You stop waiting for purpose to arrive. You build it into the work.

So… Should You Join?

Not everyone’s looking for this kind of challenge, and that’s okay. But if you're someone who’s excited by real problems, who wants to build something meaningful, and who’s ready to grow in unexpected ways, then this might be the kind of place where you’ll thrive.

The people here are thoughtful, the work is intense (in a good way), and the impact is real. You won’t just find projects — you’ll find purpose, ownership, and the chance to do your best work yet.

We’re always looking for bold, curious builders. If that’s you, come build with us.