From Passion to Pet Tech: Erich Lim and the Team Behind Paws Match Are Building a More Connected Future for Filipino Pet Owners

What if finding help for your pet, connecting with fellow pet owners, and accessing essential pet services could all happen in one place?

That is the vision behind Paws Match, a Filipino pet-tech venture founded by Albert Arevalo and co-founded by Erich Lim, together with partner Ivan Paulo. The team is developing what they describe as an all-in-one, community-driven platform designed to bring pets, owners, services, and communities closer together.

Albert Arevalo, Founder of PawsMatch

Ivan Paulo, Business Partner of PawsMatch

Erich Lim, Co-founder of PawsMatch

For Lim, the project is more than a business venture. A model, entrepreneur, philanthropist, forensic science graduate, and future lawyer, she sees Paws Match as an opportunity to combine technology with a cause close to her heart: creating a safer and more connected environment for pets and the people who care for them.

Where Technology Meets Compassion

Pet ownership continues to become increasingly connected to technology, from digital health records and monitoring tools to platforms that help owners find services and build communities. In the Philippines, pet-tech is also emerging as an area of opportunity as pet owners look for more convenient ways to manage their pets’ needs.

Paws Match aims to build on that growing space by placing community at the center of its platform.

Rather than viewing pet care as a series of separate services, the team envisions a digital ecosystem where pet owners can find resources, connect with others, and access services through a more integrated experience.

For Lim, that approach reflects a simple idea: technology should not replace compassion—it should help make it easier to put compassion into action.

A Young Woman With a Bigger Vision

Lim’s involvement in Paws Match also reflects the increasingly diverse paths young entrepreneurs are taking into technology and business.

While she has worked across modeling, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and forensic science, she is also pursuing her future in law. Her work with Paws Match adds another dimension to that journey, allowing her to explore how technology can be used to address a social need.

For Lim, the goal is not simply to build a recognizable brand.

She hopes to create something with a lasting impact—one that demonstrates that innovation and compassion can exist side by side, and that young Filipinos can build technology-driven ventures with a purpose beyond profit.

Building With Community in Mind

At the heart of Paws Match is its community-driven approach.

The team believes that creating a better experience for pets also means strengthening the network surrounding them—from pet owners and animal lovers to businesses, organizations, and local governments.

This is where the platform’s proposed partnerships with LGUs come into play.

By working with local government units and other community partners, Paws Match hopes to eventually bring its services closer to pet owners across different communities and contribute to a more organized ecosystem for responsible pet ownership.

The approach also reflects a wider shift in pet technology, where platforms are increasingly combining digital tools with community-based services rather than focusing on a single aspect of pet care.

From Filipino Startup to Global Ambition

While Paws Match is being developed with the Philippine market in mind, the team’s ambitions extend beyond the country.

The founders envision eventually bringing the platform to a wider international audience, positioning a Filipino-built pet-tech concept for potential global reach.

For now, however, the focus remains on building the foundation: developing the platform, strengthening its community, and bringing together potential partners who share its vision.

The team is currently opening its doors to investors, collaborators, and LGU partners who can help support the next stage of Paws Match’s development.

Creating a Legacy Through Innovation

For Lim, the bigger picture goes beyond launching an app.

Paws Match represents her vision of building something that can leave a meaningful legacy—one where technology can serve a purpose, entrepreneurship can create social impact, and compassion can become part of innovation.

As the team works to develop its platform and expand its network, Paws Match is positioning itself around a simple but ambitious idea: making the relationship between pets, owners, and their communities more connected.

And for a young Filipino entrepreneur wearing many hats, that may be the most meaningful part of the journey—not simply building another technology platform, but creating something that can make a difference in the lives of the people and pets it hopes to serve.

To learn more about Paws Match and explore the platform, visit pawsbook.pet.