Qwikwire’s 2014 pitch deck focuses on a high-friction problem: the inability of overseas Filipino workers to pay mortgages directly to property developers. By positioning itself as a bridge between international processing (ACH and Credit Cards) and local distribution (1,700 bank branches), Qwikwire aims to replace risky third-party money transfers. The deck introduces a unique 'Share & Save' tool that pivots the company from a pure payment processor into a lead generation engine for developers, claiming a potential $750M market in commissions. While the deck provides a clear $400,000 use-of-…
Key takeaways
- The core problem is that 60% of Philippine real estate is owned by overseas workers who cannot pay mortgages directly from abroad (Slide 2).
- Qwikwire acts as a middleman, connecting global ACH and credit card processing to 1,700 local bank branches and 12,000 payout centers (Slide 3).
- The company is launching 'Share & Save,' a tool designed to generate sales leads for property developers during the payment process (Slide 4).
- A sample transaction shows a 6% commission on an $80,000 sale, resulting in $4,000 for Qwikwire after sharing with the buyer and poster (Slide 6).
- The total addressable market for Philippine real estate sales commissions is estimated at $750M based on $12.5B in annual sales (Slide 7).
- The team includes a founder who previously started MoneyTran and a technical lead with experience at the Central Bank of the Philippines (Slide 8).
- The startup is raising $400,000, with the largest allocation ($170,000) dedicated to general administrative and operations, including founder allowances (Slide 9).
- A specific payout cash reserve of $50,000 is requested to manage the float between pending transactions and actual payouts (Slide 9).
Executive Summary: The Cross-Border Real Estate Niche
Qwikwire’s pitch deck, dating from 2014, presents a highly specialized fintech solution for the Philippine market. Rather than attempting to be a general-purpose remittance tool, the company focuses on the high-value, high-friction sector of real estate payments. By addressing the needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Qwikwire identifies a specific pain point where traditional banking and remittance services like Western Union fall short due to a lack of direct integration with property developers.
Slide 1: Title and Vision
The deck opens with a simple graphic of a cityscape encircling the globe. The tagline, "The Payment Solution for Planet Earth," is notably broader than the actual content of the deck, which focuses almost exclusively on the Philippines. This slide establishes the brand identity but offers little in the way of immediate value proposition.
Slide 2: The Problem - Cross-Border Billing
This is the strongest slide in the deck. It provides a specific, quantifiable problem: "60% of all real estate properties in the Philippines are owned by overseas workers." The slide uses a diagram to show the current 'Third Party Method,' where a payer sends money to a 'Trusted Person' via Western Union, who then pays the developer. The deck explicitly states this causes "numerous problems between families" and highlights the lack of a direct payment route.
Slide 3: Solutions – Strategic Partnerships
Qwikwire positions itself as the bridge between international processing and local distribution. On the processing side, they list Credit Cards and ACH Transfers , supported by logos for Wells Fargo and BankCard USA . On the distribution side, they claim access to 1,700 bank branches and 12,000 payout centers through partnerships with Metrobank and BDO . This slide aims to build institutional credibility by association.
Slide 4: Launching – Share & Save Tool
The deck introduces a secondary product called "Share & Save." It is described as a "sales lead generating tool embedded in the payments process flow." The rationale provided is that property developers struggle with lead generation as much as they do with payment collection. This suggests Qwikwire is attempting to move up the value chain from a utility (payments) to a growth partner (sales).
Slide 5: The Payment Page Interface
A product screenshot shows a live payment interface for "Active Group Incorporated." The UI displays a total amount due of P16,636.98 (Philippine Pesos) and a transaction fee of 3.9% + P12.98 . This slide serves as proof of product and provides a glimpse into their standard transaction-based pricing model before the commission model is introduced.
Slide 6: Commission Structure
This slide illustrates the economics of the 'Share & Save' tool. Using an $80,000 property sale as an example, Qwikwire claims a 6% commission ($4,800) . They propose a revenue-sharing model where $400 goes to the buyer, $400 goes to the 'poster' (the person who shared the lead), and Qwikwire retains $4,000 . This is a significant jump in per-transaction revenue compared to the 3.9% fee shown on the previous slide.
Slide 7: Revenue Model – Market Size
Qwikwire calculates its Total Addressable Market (TAM) by multiplying $12.5B in Real Estate Sales by a 6% Broker/Agent Commission , resulting in a $750M potential revenue figure. While this provides a sense of scale, it assumes Qwikwire can capture a significant portion of the entire country's real estate commissions, which is an aggressive projection for a payment startup.
Slide 8: The Team and Investors
The team slide highlights relevant domain expertise. Ray Refundo (Team Lead) is credited with starting MoneyTran, a remittance service for Filipinos. Bing Tan (Tech Dev) brings 12 years of experience, including work for the Central Bank of the Philippines . The deck also lists Jon Edward Santillan as an investor/advisor and mentions participation in the JFDI Accelerator , which adds a layer of venture validation.
Slide 9: The $400,000 Ask
The final slide provides a detailed breakdown of how the $400,000 investment will be spent. Notable allocations include:
$83,000 for hiring one back-end and one front-end developer. · $35,000 for Sales & Marketing, specifically mentioning the use of interns. · $170,000 for General Administrative & Operations, which includes "Founders’ living expanse [sic] allowance." · $50,000 for a "Payout Cash Reserve" to bridge the gap between transactions and payouts. · $20,000 for regulatory compliance and AML/KYC fees.
What Works in This Deck
The identification of the 'Trusted Person' problem on Slide 2 is excellent. It identifies a human and emotional pain point (family disputes over money) that is often overlooked in dry fintech decks. By focusing on a specific corridor (Overseas Filipino Workers) and a specific asset class (Real Estate), the company avoids the 'boil the ocean' trap that many early-stage payment startups fall into. The inclusion of a specific use-of-funds table on Slide 9 is also a positive, as it shows the founders have thought through the operational costs of running a regulated financial business, including the need for a cash reserve.
What Is Missing
The most glaring omission is traction data . While Slide 5 shows a payment page, there is no mention of how many developers have signed up, the volume of payments processed to date, or the number of active users. Furthermore, the deck lacks a competitive analysis . In 2014, the remittance and cross-border payment space was already crowded; failing to explain why a developer would choose Qwikwire over a bank's direct portal or a larger competitor is a missed opportunity. Finally, the jump from a 3.9% transaction fee to a 6% sales commission is a massive shift in business model that isn't fully explained in terms of execution—selling software is very different from acting as a real estate brokerage.
Founder Takeaways
Niche down to stand out. Qwikwire’s focus on real estate mortgages for a specific migrant population makes the problem feel urgent and solvable. Founders should look for these 'high-friction' niches rather than pitching a general 'better, faster, cheaper' payment tool. Be transparent about the 'Ask.' The level of detail on Slide 9 regarding founder allowances and cash reserves is refreshing and builds trust with investors. Watch your math. The TAM slide (Slide 7) assumes the company can capture the entire commission pool of a nation's real estate market. While big numbers look good, investors usually prefer a 'bottom-up' calculation that shows how the company will realistically reach its first $1M or $10M in revenue based on current partnerships.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary problem Qwikwire is solving?
- According to slide 2, the primary problem is cross-border billing for real estate. Currently, 60% of Philippine properties are owned by overseas workers who have no way to pay mortgages directly. They are forced to use money-transfer services to send funds to a 'trusted' person, which often leads to family disputes and payment delays.
- How does Qwikwire generate revenue beyond transaction fees?
- Slide 6 and 7 detail a commission-based model. Through their 'Share & Save' tool, Qwikwire facilitates property sales. On an $80,000 property sale, they claim a 6% commission ($4,800), keeping $4,000 for themselves while distributing $400 each to the 'poster' and the 'buyer' as incentives.
- Who are the key members of the Qwikwire team?
- The team consists of Ray Refundo (Team Lead), who previously founded the remittance service MoneyTran; Bing Tan (Tech Dev), who has 12 years of fintech experience including work with the Central Bank of the Philippines; and Scott Yu (Finance), a former Senior Auditor at Deloitte (Slide 8).
- How does the company plan to use the $400,000 investment?
- Slide 9 breaks down the $400,000 ask: $83,000 for product development (hiring two engineers), $35,000 for sales and marketing (mostly interns), $170,000 for general operations and founder allowances, $50,000 for a payout cash reserve, and $20,000 for legal and compliance fees.
- What strategic partnerships does Qwikwire highlight?
- Slide 3 lists several major banking partners to demonstrate their distribution and processing reach. These include Wells Fargo and BankCard USA for processing, and Metrobank and BDO for local distribution in the Philippines, providing access to thousands of branches and payout centers.
