Emil Eriksen on Why the Next Health Revolution Will Come From Southeast Asia

While many founders focused on visibility, networking, and building a personal brand, Emil Eriksen spent years behind a screen, quietly building businesses from his laptop. Long before remote work became mainstream, the Danish entrepreneur was already deep into product development, systems thinking, and testing ideas from wherever he happened to be — usually home.

“I’ve always been more interested in building quietly than talking loudly,” he says. “For years, my life was just code, calls, and coffee — and I loved it.”

Now based in Philippines, Eriksen is the founder of Keev, a venture group he co-founded with his partner, actress Kylie Verzosa. Keev operates a portfolio of digital brands spanning wellness, beauty, and e-commerce. His latest project, andyou.ph, is a telehealth platform focused on one clear mission: deliver proper healthcare to Filipinos, where outdated systems and accessibility gaps have persisted for decades.

The Problem No One Wants to Talk About

Eriksen doesn’t sugarcoat why he chose to start in the Philippines.

“The level of healthcare here is far below what I was used to growing up in Europe or the Middle East. For many people, basic care is either unavailable, unaffordable, or outdated.”

But unlike many international startups who try to “scale into Asia,” Eriksen believes you have to do the opposite: start from within.

“Most companies don’t understand the culture here — and they don’t realize how different the systems are. There’s so much red tape and hard-to-navigate processes. It takes years to learn how to operate here properly.”

That’s why &you was built from the ground up specifically for this market. No Western shortcuts. No one-size-fits-all playbook.

A Personal Mission

Healthcare isn’t just a market opportunity for Eriksen — it’s personal. He grew up in a family where more than half are doctors or professors in the medical field. Though he didn’t go down that path himself, he says it shaped how he sees the world.

“I find healthcare incredibly interesting. I’ve always seen it as one of the most meaningful areas you can work in. And I knew that if I ever got involved, I’d want to build something real — something that lasts.”

&you offers Filipinos access to licensed doctors, discreet consultations, and modern treatment — all through a streamlined, digital experience. The goal is to raise the standard of care, not just digitize what’s already broken.

“We’re not here to build hype. We’re here to build systems that actually help people — and Southeast Asia is where that change is most needed.”