As the creative economy flourishes in the Philippines, Payoneer helps firms like Leveret Group power the global opportunity.
The Philippines’ creative economy is one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors, contributing 7.3 percent to GDP and creating 7.51 million jobs in 2024, according to the Philippine Information Agency.
As global demand for Filipino creators and digital service providers grows1, the ability to get paid quickly and securely has become essential. Payoneer supports this expansion by providing tools that simplify international payments and help creative businesses access opportunities worldwide.
Among the firms rising with this momentum is Leveret Group, a Filipino-founded studio that creates custom games and interactive digital experiences for brands and organizations. The group uses gamification, which applies game elements to non-game settings, so learning, training, or customer interaction becomes more engaging and easier to understand.
“People like to play, and there’s no rule that says work has to be boring,” said Ria Lu, President and CEO of Leveret Group. “We design systems that motivate people through play, so routine tasks or training become more enjoyable.”
Founded in 2021, Leveret began as a small remote team in the Philippines and now works with clients in the United States, Australia, and Singapore. The company is focusing on the Asia-Pacific region, which is currently the largest and fastest-growing market for gaming and gamification.
“The growth is driven by Southeast Asia as a major force, Japan, Korea and China as creative powerhouses, and Australia and New Zealand as very active markets,” Lu said.
Managing payments and contracts across different countries is a key part of that expansion. Monique Avila, Senior Director of Customer Success for APAC at Payoneer, said that seamless payments help Filipino entrepreneurs strengthen their global presence.
“Creators thrive when they can focus on their craft instead of the logistics of getting paid,” said Avila. “With Payoneer, teams like Leveret can manage global transactions with ease and continue expanding their work across borders.”
Since its founding, Leveret has relied on Payoneer to send and receive payments globally with ease. With multi-currency accounts, the team has eliminated the complexities of international transfers, enabling them to manage transactions quickly and efficiently.
Leveret’s projects go beyond entertainment. The team develops games for change, most commonly known as serious games, which are interactive experiences that address education, health, and social issues.
For one NGO, Leveret created a live-action interactive film where the story changes based on user choices to help strengthen learners’ critical thinking.
Looking ahead, Leveret plans to balance its business between client projects and original game development in the coming years. “We want to release our own titles,” Lu said. “When it’s your own product, it continues to create value over time. That’s how we sustain creativity in the long term.”
For Ria, going global is both a challenge and a necessity. “If you really want to make it as a creative entrepreneur, you have to expand,” she said. “Technology and financial platforms like Payoneer makes it possible.”
As the Philippines builds its reputation as a creative hub, companies like Leveret show how Filipino talent can compete, create, and lead across borders—powered by tools like Payoneer that simplify international payments and let them focus on what they do best.
