MANILA, Philippines — Philippine-based Global Gateway Venture Capital (G2VC) is raising a $50 million to $100 million fund for investment in local technology firms that are just starting up or on expansion mode.

In an interview with reporters, G2VC managing director Martin Lichauco said that while the firm normally puts up smaller funds finance only by Filipino investors, they will open the new fund to regional investors because of the bigger size.

G2VC counts Silicon Valley investment whiz Winston Damarillo as its founding partner and is forcused on identifying and investing in next generation Philippine technology start-ups in order to provide them opportunities for global success.

Lichauco said they have already fully invested their latest $10 million fund and is actually on harvest mode-to cash in on their successful investment in firms that have grown to be strong contenders in the global technology arena.

Among their most successful investments is Morphlabs which is a Cebu-based firm that pioneered cloud-computing in the Philippines and has now expanded to the North American and Japan markets where it is now regarded as one of the top players in the field of cloud computing.

Morphlabs has intended to list at the Philippine Stock Exchange in 2008 but had backed out because the market fell and valuations are poor.

Lichauco said they are instead looking for a big investor to buy them out or list in the NASDAQ since the firm has grown even bigger and would get better valuation overseas.

He said G2VC guarantees returns of at least 50 percent to investors in just three years and has a track record of being able to find companies that have grown to be so successful as to provide good returns upon exit.

Lichauco said the firm has made its mark as it invests in firms that are in their infancy. These firms have lower risk profiles since investments amount to only $200,000 instead of the $2 million threshold set by global venture capital firms.

Meanwhile, Siemer & Associates LLC, the merchant bank serving the digital media, software and technology industry, has expanded to Asia with the formation of an office in Hong Kong, headed by Managing Director Martin Lichauco.

The new office will bring Siemer & Associates one step closer to fulfilling its vision of becoming a global boutique technology bank, able to better serve mid-market companies internationally.

Lichauco brings to S&A his expertise in assisting global-facing start-ups and his ability to recognize disruptive technologies emerging from Asia.