IchiRyu Ramen House founders Nico and Karl De Guzman at PSME Business Expo in Manila, Philippines on May 22, 2026. SUPPLIED

From humble beginnings in Dubai to becoming one of the UAE’s growing Filipino-led business success stories, the founders of IchiRyu Ramen House shared their entrepreneurial journey at the Philippine Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Business Expo 2026 (PSME), while hinting at major expansion plans in Dubai and Japan. Speaking during the  expo on May 22, Nico De Guzman, chairman and chief design officer, and Karl De Guzman, president and chief operating officer, joined a panel discussion titled “The Overseas Filipino Advantage: What Working Overseas Teaches about Entrepreneurship.” The annual expo, attended by around 12,000 entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners, is considered one of the Philippines’ largest gatherings focused on helping small and medium enterprises scale and innovate. During the discussion, Nico candidly reflected on the challenges of building a startup Japanese restaurant brand in Dubai. “We did a lot of mistakes at first. We have a little background in a restaurant because we used to work in fastfood chains and Chef Touru has experience running a restaurant. The good thing is we are willing to learn. We are open to adapt. Not all the things you will try will work. Find that sweet spot that works,” he said. Karl highlighted one of their biggest operational lessons: taking care of staff. “The challenging part is handling the manpower. When they go to a different country, they have no family members. It’s you, as their family. So we treat them as a family member. We make sure that no matter what happens, there is someone here who’s helping them,” he said. Karl also spoke about what inspired him to leave corporate life and start a business. “The last job I had was senior account director for an agency, but then I was thinking, my kids are growing, is that really something I wanted to do my entire life? I don’t see my family that much because my job is into events and it takes so much time. Why not be the boss of my own company?” he said. Together with their older brother, executive chef Chef Touru De Guzman, the siblings now operate five UAE-based businesses: IchiRyu, Tako Ichiban House, House of Hannya, Okiru, and Kizuna General Trading. IchiRyu currently operates two Dubai branches, including its flagship location in Jumeirah 1, which marked its third anniversary on May 18, and its Dubai Marina outlet, which will celebrate its first anniversary in October. The company is preparing to open two more restaurants this year. Its third Dubai branch will launch in Jumeirah Village Circle in September, with interiors inspired by Japan’s Showa era, reflecting resilience, reinvention and cultural transformation. Meanwhile, IchiRyu’s first international branch will open on June 27 in Japan's Chichibu, along the historic Bamba Street, a retro cobblestone district just minutes from Chichibu Shrine and Seibu-Chichibu Station. Asked what advice they would give aspiring entrepreneurs amid uncertainty in the Middle East and their rapid expansion, Karl said age should never be a barrier. “I was 46 years old when we started our business but it’s never too late. If we did it, you can, too. Believe us, there’s nothing special about us. We are ordinary people as well. One day, who knows, you’ll be here as a panelist and we’ll be the one listening to your stories,” he said. Nico urged entrepreneurs to focus on what they can control. “Stop thinking about things you cannot control; especially with what’s happening to us in the Middle East now. These are some unique times and we cannot do anything about it. What we can do is how we react to it. We just make sure that our staff are safe and our livelihood is secure. Together, we can survive this,” he said. CAM/ICA/Expat Media
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