Kultivate Labs is a Non-profit Economic Development and Arts Organization. They create thriving commercial ecosystems by accelerating businesses that preserve culture and community. They provide space and opportunities for the arts to flourish so that commercial activities are activated and reflect the community at large.
Kultivate Labs activates spaces where relationships are central and where Filipinx culture is relevant, inspired, and ever-evolving as they discover their unique role in the diaspora. They create thriving commercial ecosystems by accelerating businesses that preserve culture and community, and where development and improvements are possible without displacement. They advance art programming rooted in our shared history that reflects the community at large.
Make it Mariko (pronounced MAH-ree-ko) is a San Francisco experiential events agency led by women of color that creates magical, meaningful moments for the community. They are proud to be the Co-Founders & Event Producers of @undiscoveredsf with Kultivate Labs.
Make it Mariko are experience curators, community activators, corporate planners, nonprofit advocates, and event enthusiasts. They are committed to curating creative, inclusive, and diverse spaces in the events industry, to challenge the status quo, and pave the way for a new generation of event experience curators.
The team is so excited for our 7th SEASON of Undiscovered SF! It’s been a whirlwind of an event to produce for 7 years straight, and we’re so thankful for all the community we have built in @SOMAPilipinas and the entire Fil Am Bay Area community.
Creative Transit Agency was founded in 2016 with the goal and vision of representing talent, understanding clients' needs, all while contributing to the rich creative arts culture of the Bay Area. The CTA team consists of Talent & Project Managers, Event Producers and Performing Artists; designing experiences is embedded in our lifestyle. From Strategic Consultation, Event Production & Media Documentation; CTA orchestrates moments that inspire movement.
Executive Director
Desi is a serial entrepreneur. As the managing director of Plinth Agency, he has successfully grown businesses through strategic branding, design, and crowdfunding. He brings 15+ years of experience creating, funding, and branding unique business concepts which span the food, music, technology spaces.
His past achievements include the Summit SF, one of the nation’s first café and co-working spaces and the Poleng Lounge, a Filipino restaurant and nightclub which was named one of SF’s Top 10 New Restaurants in 2006.
As a dedicated community advocate, Desi is currently chair leading the economic development of SOMA Pilipinas, a newly designated cultural district in San Francisco. He believes community consciousness and culture are the keys to developing today’s thriving commercial ecosystems.
Event Producer
Gina Mariko Rosales is an events enthusiast, #Pinayista, efficiency nerd, dancer, and nonprofit advocate. Prior to founding Make it Mariko, Gina spent 10 years doing corporate & nonprofit event planning, administration, and operations. She was the first Administrative Business Partner for the Google Self-Driving Car Team, and the first Head of Marketing Events at X, the moonshot factory (formerly Google X) where she planned large scale tech event activations, press, and public policy events. Gina was former Executive Director of the award-winning, nonprofit performing arts organization, Funkanometry SF and did youth outreach work with SF & Oakland schools. She is the Co-Founder of the UNDISCOVERED SF Creative Night Market in SOMA Pilipinas, as well as the Founder of Pinayista – a nonprofit community of Filipino women dedicated to building sisterhood in the hustle. Gina’s personal mission is to create magical, meaningful moments that help remind us of the beauty and interconnectedness of life.
Stage Producer
RJ is a veteran event producer, entrepreneur, Dj, and dancer who has created both intimate and epic experiences that move people.
RJ is the founder of the Creative Transit Agency that utilizes a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and execution to create memorable moments.
Food Vendor Manager
Tiara is an Oakland-based event producer and dancer dedicated to creating beautiful, inclusive, and intentional spaces for the QTBIPOC community. Before transitioning to event production, Tiara spent five years working in HIV prevention and health equity for vulnerable communities in the Bay Area. Now she uses her experience in activism and community organizing to support LGBTQIA+ and minority-owned small businesses in producing their own events.
In addition to event production, Tiara is a dance teacher committed to using dance as a medium for healing. She teaches an intuitive movement class that guides dancers to reconnect with their bodies, drawing on her background in street dance styles, contact improv, and somatic movement.
With experience contracting for Oaklash and the Oakland Central Artery District, Tiara brings a wealth of knowledge in local and community-focused festivals and events to Undiscovered Season 8.
Creative Director
Andre has a passion for curiosity, discovery, and fun. He excels in solving problems through thoughtful design and creative strategy. Andre brings 15+ years of professional design experience creating work for clients like Target, Old Navy and the McCANN Worldgroup.
Andre brings that rare blend of artistry and business savvy. He is believes every creative decision, every design is built to move a brand forward.
When he's not working, he enjoys eating and making good food with friends, creating digital tools for artists and designers. He’s also known for having legendary living room dance parties with his wife and son.
Event Production Manager & OPS Lead
Sydney Paderna is an accomplished Event Manager with over 7 years of experience in orchestrating exceptional events. Born and raised in Oakland, She has a deep connection to the local scene and a proven track record of success. Specializing in high-profile projects, Sydney has played a key role in planning Golden State Warriors games, Concerts, Nike events, corporate events and vibrant food festivals. Now, Sydney is excited to join the Make It Mariko team as an Event Manager, eager to contribute and create amazing events for the community. Her favorite part about planning events is seeing the guests enjoy themselves, and with a sharp eye for detail and a talent for seamless coordination, she is dedicated to turning every event into a memorable experience.
Balay Kreative Manager
Nicole is the Program Manager at Balay Kreative. She is a San Francisco native with a long family history of activism and community work in the Filipino American arts and culture scene. Nicole's own work has spanned over twenty years in the events, creative and theater realm from solo performance, new media production, filmmaking, screenplay writing and event production. She believes that elevating the culture and helping heal generational trauma through art is part of her legacy.
Event Coordinator & Volunteer Lead
Known as the "Meeting Maestro" and "Operations Guru," she drives operational excellence at Make it Mariko as the Administrative Business Partner. Her work involves managing processes and ensuring seamless operations. By night, she enjoys her passions—playing music, dancing, and curating her personal space.
Her journey with UNDISCOVERED SF began as a volunteer in 2021, transitioned to Venue Manager in 2022, and she joined the Make it Mariko team in 2023. She is excited about this year's festival and looks forward to bringing the community together to celebrate Filipino-American culture.
With 7 years of experience in entrepreneurship, she has also worked across corporate, education, and the arts. She opened On One Studios, a dance studio that embodies the values of Passion, Community, and Growth, and successfully funded a crowdfunding project. Deeply connected to her Filipino-American roots, she is dedicated to supporting local businesses and fostering a sense of community, guided by the philosophy "Let go of ego."
Marketing Manager
Kaithleen is passionate about community building and being a cheerleader for small, local businesses. Through her agency Binibini Kreative, Kaithleen works with minority-owned, women-led businesses to nail their brand story-telling. Kaithleen is very thankful for the chance to work with Kultivate Labs and come back to the Bay Area to help grow the SOMA Pilipinas community she grew up in.
Resident Photographer
Anthony “Mogli” Maureal was born on the island of Cebu, in the Philippines. When he was 10 years old, his family immigrated to San Jose, California, where he discovered his passion for extreme sports and a wide array of music. He began drumming at the age of 13 and developed his chops playing in the drumline for his high school’s award-winning marching band. Mogli majored in Sound Arts at Ex’pression College for Digital Arts. Since graduating, he has been working all over the Bay Area and now internationally as a visual artist, sound artist, composer, and musician. In addition, Mogli has been featured in numerous outlets such as, Quartz, California and is a founding member of the Oakland based band MAD NOISE, as well as the music producer and photographer for the award winning theater, music and film squad RADIX Troupe.You can check out his work at www.themogli.com
Talent Booking + Stage Manager
Based in Oakland, Lionel Queen is a dynamic force within the Bay Area's vibrant music scene. Lionel brings an eclectic blend of R&B, House, Pop, Amapiano & Disco to dance floors in clubs, bars, and private events throughout the region. His seamless fusion of new hits, old favorites, and rare grooves unite people from all walks of life in a shared celebration of rhythm and harmony
Program Advisor / Marketing Coordinator
Jy Jimmie is a Bay Area-based multidisciplinary artist. With 7+ years in the digital marketing space and helping entrepreneurs develop their brand strategies and launch campaigns. Bridging the psychology of marketing and visual communication through art and design, Jimmie's passion is seeing campaigns come to life with strategic intuition. Jimmie is part of the inaugural cohort of the Brownthought Academy, a marketing internship where he learned all aspects of marketing from email campaigns, social media, website maintenance, paid social media, and the fundamentals of socially conscious economic development.