Four friends eating pizza in a dim lamplit living room

About

About us.

Tayo is AI-powered whole-person coaching accessible to young adults, especially first-gen and low-income. It translates into “us” in Tagalog — highlighting our belief that no one “figures out life” alone. You need others. Tayo helps by listening and asking one question at a time, and translating what you share into a portrait of your life, a personal strategic plan, and a curated set of next moves and recommendations.

Origin story

In his late twenties, John had done everything he was told to do: first in his family to finish college, good job, every mark hit. Something was still missing.

He hired a life coach. It worked. Within a year he moved alone to Southeast Asia to do work that mattered to him. But it only worked because by then he could afford it.

In 2026, he started building Tayo on personal time to make coaching affordable and accessible to others in their early adulthood. He wanted to help them cut through the noise and live a life that truly resonated with them.

A warm, lamp-lit living room with an orange sofa

Mission

Make whole-person life coaching accessible to every young adult, especially those who are first-generation and low-income.

Values

01Collective

We build with young people at the center and advisors by our side.

02Equity

Our goal is to make coaching accessible for first-generation and low-income young adults.

03Trust

Users share their most honest stories; protecting and securing these are our top priority.

04Courage

We embrace hard input, questions, and decisions because that's what makes us better.

05Excellence

Coaching people on their lives requires our best effort and highest quality.

06Focus

We pay attention to the most important decisions that impact young adults.

Team

Portrait of John Carandang
John Carandang
Founder

Strategy, product, partnerships, and marketing.

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Portrait of Ian Wang
Ian Wang
Strategy & Operations

Operations, partnerships, and other support.

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Advisors

Portrait of Alix Schoelcher Idrache
Alix Schoelcher Idrache
ICF-credentialed coach

Advises on Tayo based on coaching practices.

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Portrait of Misa Fujimura-Fanselow
Misa Fujimura-Fanselow
ICF coach advisor

Provides expertise on coaching standards and industry.

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Portrait of Toni Cuevas
Toni Cuevas
Education advisor

Anchors product in user needs, especially first-gen and low-income.

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