Grow your business
For business owners who want reliable full time staff in the Philippines, or AI systems that do real work.
Start free
Hire with Purple Cow
Purple Cow also built and runs Tahanan, a Philippine property platform. Every call is with me.
Move to the Philippines
For anyone planning a move, or already here and making the next big decision.
Start free
Plan the move
Other courses: Earn in Dollars for Filipino professionals ($147) and Crossbuilt for relationships across cultures ($347).
Meet people here
For anyone who lives in the Philippines, is visiting, or wants to see more of the world with a group.
Bridgehouse dinner
Join online
Watch and read
Videos and a weekly email about how life and business in the Philippines really work.
Start here
Follow along
Talk with me
Every call is 1 to 1 with me, by video. Choose the call that fits your question.
About hiring staff
About moving or living here
Running an event? See where I speak next or invite me to speak. Anything else: hello@johnsmulo.com. I read every email myself.
Know more about me
The story, the record, and what the press has covered.
About me
I build things here, then I teach what I learned.
I am American. I lived in Australia, then started Purple Cow Agency in California in 2008. Today it is an outsourcing company with offices in the Philippines. I was also one of the founders of MedGather, a healthcare outsourcing company.
Teaching has always been part of the work. In the United States I was a guest lecturer in marketing and business at universities, taught business planning courses, and was a consultant for the Solano, Contra Costa, and Sierra Small Business Development Centers in California, a program of the US Small Business Administration that helps owners start and grow small businesses.
I moved to the Philippines in January 2020, a few weeks before the whole country went into lockdown. I stayed. Now I share what I learn on California Expat, host Bridgehouse dinners, run Love To Travel group tours, and teach business owners how to use AI. Everything I publish has to pass this test: would a Filipino be proud to share it?
The short version
- Until 2006Lived in Australia.
- 2008Started Purple Cow Agency in California.
- In the United StatesGuest lecturer at universities, business planning teacher, consultant for 3 Small Business Development Centers in California.
- MedGatherOne of the founders of a healthcare outsourcing company.
- January 2020Moved to the Philippines. Lived in Cebu first.
- February 2020Speaker at Startup Grind Cebu.
- March 2026First TV interview in the Philippines, on PTV 4.
- May 2026Received the Pusong Pinoy Award.
- TodayBased in BGC, Manila.
Awards and press
Pusong Pinoy Award 2026
"Pusong Pinoy" means "Filipino heart". From the Benita and Catalino Yap Foundation, received at Club Filipino, San Juan City.
Watch my video about itKwentong Bayani, DZXL News 558
Radio interview with Jenny Pahilanga and Jojo Graham.
Watch the interviewRise and Shine Pilipinas, PTV 4
TV interview with Dianne Medina. My first TV interview in the Philippines.
Diskurso PH
A profile of my work as a creator in the Philippines, by Cesar Patrick F. Bonales.
Read the articleSpeaking and teaching
Where you can hear me next
I speak to business owners about AI for business, outsourcing to the Philippines, and building a company and a life here.
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November 5, 20267:00-9:00 PM Manila time
How to Leverage Claude for Business Owners
TeachingOnline class with Emman Llego
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November 7, 2026
HealthCon Summit
Speaking
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November 14-15, 2026My session: November 14, 3:00-5:00 PM
AI Masterclass Davao
Speaking and co-producingPinnacle Hotel and Suites, Davao City
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December 16-17, 2026
AI Masterclass Cebu
Speaking and co-producingQuest Hotel Cebu, Cebu City
No public events are on the calendar right now. If you run an event, ask me below.
Where I have spoken and taught
- Startup Grind CebuInterview on stage and questions, February 19, 2020
- Universities in the United StatesGuest lecturer in marketing and business
- Small Business Development CentersConsultant for the Solano, Contra Costa, and Sierra centers in California
- Chambers of commerce in CaliforniaGuest speaker in Brentwood and Rio Vista, and for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- AI for business
- Outsourcing to the Philippines
- Building a company here
- Life as a foreigner here
What I run
The companies and the community
- Purple Cow AgencyOutsourcing company with offices in the Philippines. Full time staff and AI systems. Since 2008.
- California ExpatVideos, a weekly email, guides, courses, and a membership about life in the Philippines.
- BridgehouseA dinner every Wednesday in BGC and Cebu City for people building a life here.
- Love To TravelGroup tours from Manila abroad, with help on visas and documents.
For media and event organizers
Bio and photo, ready to use
Short bio
For a program, a post, or a caption.
John Smulo is an American entrepreneur based in Manila. He founded Purple Cow Agency in California in 2008. Today it is an outsourcing company with offices in the Philippines. He also runs California Expat, a media and education brand about life in the Philippines, and he received the 2026 Pusong Pinoy Award from the Benita and Catalino Yap Foundation.
Introduction for the host
For the person who calls me to the stage. About 30 seconds.
Our next speaker is John Smulo. John founded Purple Cow Agency in California in 2008, and today it is an outsourcing company with offices in the Philippines. He taught business planning in the United States and has lived in the Philippines since 2020. He runs California Expat, and every Wednesday he hosts Bridgehouse, a dinner for people building a life here. In 2026 he received the Pusong Pinoy Award. Please welcome John Smulo.
Long bio
For a website, a press release, or an article.
John Smulo is an American entrepreneur who has lived in the Philippines since January 2020. He founded Purple Cow Agency in California in 2008. Today it is an outsourcing company with offices in the Philippines, providing full time staff and AI systems to business owners. He was also one of the founders of MedGather, a healthcare outsourcing company. In the United States he was a guest lecturer in marketing and business at universities, taught business planning courses, and was a consultant for the Solano, Contra Costa, and Sierra Small Business Development Centers in California.
John runs California Expat, a media and education brand about moving to and living in the Philippines, with a YouTube channel, a weekly email called The California Expat Letter, guides, and courses. He hosts Bridgehouse, weekly dinners in BGC and Cebu City for expats and Filipinos building a life in the Philippines, and he teaches business owners how to use AI.
In 2026, John received the Pusong Pinoy Award from the Benita and Catalino Yap Foundation. He lives in Bonifacio Global City, Manila.
