by admin | Jul 30, 2016 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
IT’S full steam ahead for the 2016 “Geeks on a Beach” (GOAB) technology and startup conference at the Bellevue Hotel in Panglao Island in Bohol on Aug. 25-26.
But as GOAB is fast approaching and getting more of the public’s attention, some people had become curious and wondered what are geeks, and what does the word “geek” mean.
Movies characterize them like nerds: skinny or chubby but oddly dressed, smart but socially inept or introvert, with sleek or unkempt hair, dental braces, oversized spectacles, and with the ever-present backpack worn on two shoulders.
However, contrary to the stereotype popularized by Hollywood, geeks look and act ordinarily just like the rest of the human race in mainstream society, and also have a normal social life.
People like Microsoft developer Bill Gates, Apple CEO Steve Jobs, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg are geeks and may have one or a combination of the above-mentioned attributes, but they appear outwardly ordinary and don’t have eccentric behaviors.
The only behavioral trait that sets them out of the ordinary is their remarkable obsession with computer technology. Thus, a “geek” — a slang term originally used to describe an unfashionable or socially inept person – is a digital-technology expert or enthusiast.
Geeks spend 88% of their time in their air-conditioned cubicles, hunched over their laptops or PCs working on their projects, whether it’s a computer software, an application, a startup, or a website.
They seldom venture outdoors and sometimes never when they’re in the middle of working on a computer project or a product.
“These guys won’t stop at nothing until they get things done,” said Dave Overton, the chief geek of GOAB and CEO of Sym.ph. “I know, because I’ve been there, and it’s not healthy. It’s like you have been sucked up to another planet where you don’t feel tired or hungry.”
This never-surrender attitude is admirable, but this would lead to brain drain and physical exhaustion as well, CTO of Sym.ph and GOAB emcee for the past 3 years Albert Padin chimed in.
“You’re gonna be spending far too many hours with what you’re working on because you believe that it’s gonna work, until you realized that you haven’t slept and eaten for quite a long while,” said Padin, a 28-year-old Google Developer Expert who also co-founded Sym.ph and has worked on consumer, enterprise, and government software products.
Due to this bad side effect, geeks would somehow stumble in their work and could not finish whatever they’re working on.
To help her fellow geeks in this situation, according to Overton and Padin, alpha geek Tina Amper in 2011 established TechTalks.ph — a benevolent community for technology and startup buffs – and later assisted in bringing Startup Weekend to the Philippines.
After hosting the first Startup Weekend in Cebu sometime in 2012, Amper felt she needed to do more for her fellow geeks, whose number has grown at a rapid rate. And the rest was history.
“Geeks on a Beach” has become an international confab and has greatly contributed to the empowerment of Philippine startups since its first staging in September 2013 in Boracay.
It was also instrumental to the success of some startups like Cogito.ph, Salarium, and Zipmatch.com.
The 4th GOAB, a unique confab featuring the cutting-edge of the tech world in a laid-back atmosphere, is the first startup event to be held right after former President Benigno Aquino III signed the bill creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in May.
With this year’s theme “Empowering startups, leading change,” GOAB will once more highlight communities of startups or innovation-driven enterprises based on software or apps, which have seen remarkable growth in the Philippines in the last few years.
GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph, co-organized by Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and co-presented by PLDT SME Nation, Ideaspace and SmartDevNet.
GOAB is held in partnership with HappyGaraje, Sym.ph, and PR Works. This year’s Silver Sponsors are Zalora, Mynimo, Teradoor, and PouchNation while Bronze Sponsors are A Space, Yoyo Holdings, Payoneer, Eurekloud, USAID-STRIDE, US Embassy, Launchgarage, and StarTechUp Inc. GOAB organizational partners are Philippines Software Industry Association, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines., UP CebuInit.org, CedFIT.org, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines, Developers Connect, STAC Silicon Valley and GoNegosyo. Media partners are Auza.Net, Tech in Asia, Geeks in Cambodia, Hubnob.tv, InnoPub Media, Mytechisland.com, Zerothreetwo.com, Jumpstart Magazine, Mobile Ecosystem Forum, Asian Journal Publications, Balikbayan Magazine, Innovation is Everywhere, e27, Newsdesk Asia, WazzupPilipinas, Escooped.com, Istorya.net, Expat Philippines, PayPerClick.ph and TopTen.ph. GOAB founding sponsors are Smart, Smart Bro, Smart Devnet, Ideaspace, Mynimo.com, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, STAC Silicon Valley, Islands, Istorya.net, GT Cosmetics, Chef on Demand and Ng Khai Development Corporation.
GOAB is currently offering 15% discount on its tickets and 40% discount for group of 5 of more. Startups are also encouraged to apply to the 2nd GOAB International Startup Pitching Competition for opportunity to be matched with mentors and investors.
For more information, to sponsor or purchase tickets, visit, www.GeeksOnABeach.com; or contact Hello@GeeksOnABeach.com. Facebook: Geeks On A Beach and Twitter @GeeksOnABeach.
by admin | Jul 23, 2016 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
GDG Philippines – Cebu will bring the I/O experience to different cities and help the professional and student developers deep dive in the new technologies.
The Google I/O Extended Roadshow is a series of workshops and talks centered around the technologies announced during the Google I/O 2016.
The roster of speakers include Googlers, Googler Developer Experts and more. Registration through http://bit.ly/io2016bohol is required to participate.
The event will be held at the Nursing Skills Hall, Holy Name University!
*This event has limited slots! Participants will be confirmed through email! 🙂
by admin | Jul 20, 2016 | Headlines, Tech Talk
TechTalks.ph is partnering with the iconic US-based tech accelerator Techstars, renowned for mentoring hundreds of successful startups or innovation-driven enterprises based on apps or software, for the Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) international tech and startup event in Panglao, Bohol this August 2016.
“We will be partnering with the world’s largest startup organization in keeping with our tradition of bringing in key players in the global stage to a highly valuable yet fun-filled tech conference,” said TechTalks.ph founder Tina Amper.
Techstars co-founder and managing partner David Brown and Techstar’s Startup Weekend co-founder Marc Nager will be speaking in the fourth edition of GOAB.
The event is organized by TechTalks.ph and co-organized by the new Department of Information and Communications Technology (formerly the DOST-ICTO) and co-presented by the PLDT SME Nation, PLDT Innolab, Ideaspace, and SmartDevNet.
“The partnership with Techstars is a significant milestone in TechTalks.ph’s objective of helping build the Philippine startup ecosystem,” Amper said. She said this will expose the local audience to world-class expertise in startups, investments, and entrepreneurial community building.
Techstars is a great addition to the list of investors and partners that are supporting and have supported GOAB in the past including 500Startups, Monk’s Hill Ventures, Greylock Ventures, Plug and Play Tech Center, Ideaspace.ph, Kickstart.ph, MaGIC Malaysia, etc.
Techstars was founded by big names in the startup world David Cohen, Brad Feld, David Brown, and Jared Polis, Techstars holds 13-week programs for startups in Boulder, New York City, Boston, Seattle, San Antonio, Austin, Chicago and London.
As of mid-2015, Techstars has accepted 526 companies into its program with mentors that include Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley, Tumblr CEO David Karp, HubSpot co-founder and CTO Dharmesh Shah, and Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures.
“In its fourth year, GOAB will continue to provide learning experiences and business opportunities for both big and small tech ventures. Our partnership with Techstars is a continuation of our local community’s conversation with the global startup arena that we’ve begun 3 years ago,” added David Overton, CEO of Sym.ph and Chief Geek of GOAB. He said this will help GOAB, which debuted in world famous Boracay Island in 2013, in bringing positive results for participants as in startups getting funding, corporations finding tech talents, investors finding co-investors, or techies learning new skills in business or tech.
“GOAB is an event that always strives to provide measurable results in business matching, mentoring, funding, and acceleration of startups by the community for the community. Having Techstars at GOAB will be a big boost to the local startup ecosystem,” said Amper.
Techstars will also be holding its internal Techstars Asia-Pacific (APAC) Summit 3 days before GOAB at the same venue in Bohol. This private event will be attended by over 100 startup community leaders and organizers from all over the region.
A senior government and private industry workshop with Techstars is also in the works for the purpose of sharing the best practices of other countries in developing their own startup ecosystems. Techstars has helped the government of Malaysia, among other countries, in crafting its own startup development plan.
“Techstars is close to our hearts. Techstars is the owner of Startup Weekend, and as such, we in TechTalks.ph worked with them since 2012 when we hosted our first Startup Weekend in Cebu. TechTalks.ph and its volunteers have organized over 18 Startup Weekends in the Philippines,” said Amper.
TechTalks.ph is working with the Science and Technology Advisory Council of Silicon Valley (STAC-SV) to secure local support for the Techstars APAC summit.
Organized by TechTalks.ph and the Department of Information and Communications Technology, GOAB will be held on August 25-26 at the Bellevue Hotel in Panglao, Bohol. Silver Sponsors are Zalora, Mynimo, Teradoor, and PouchNation while Bronze Sponsors are A Space, Yoyo Holdings, Payoneer, Eurekloud, USAID-STRIDE, US Embassy, Launchgarage, and StarTechUp Inc. GOAB organizational partners are Philippines Software Industry Association, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines., UP CebuInit.org, CedFIT.org, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines, Developers Connect, STAC Silicon Valley and GoNegosyo. Media partners are Auza.Net, Tech in Asia, Geeks in Cambodia, Hubnob.tv, InnoPub Media, Mytechisland.com, Zerothreetwo.com, Jumpstart Magazine, Mobile Ecosystem Forum, Asian Journal Publications, Balikbayan Magazine, Innovation is Everywhere, e27, Newsdesk Asia, and Wazzup Pilipinas.
GOAB is currently offering 15% discount on its tickets and 40% discount for group of 5 of more. Startups are also encouraged to apply to the 2nd GOAB International Startup Pitching Competition for opportunity to be matched with mentors and investors.
For more information, to sponsor or purchase tickets, visit, www.GeeksOnABeach.com; or contact Hello@GeeksOnABeach.com. Facebook: Geeks On A Beach and Twitter @GeeksOnABeach.
by admin | Jul 17, 2016 | Headlines, Tech Talk
Speaking in the Cebu press launch of the upcoming Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) international tech conference, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV announced that he is refiling a bill exempting startups from taxes on their first two years of operation.
Senator Bam Aquino has consistently shown support to startups or innovation-driven enterprises based on apps, saying proper support for the homegrown startup community may yet produce the next Facebook or Twitter.
“The bill encourages the growth of more Filipino startups by giving them enough time to stand on their own. This reaffirms the government’s recognition of the importance of startups and commitment to innovation,” said Senator Bam Aquino.
Filed by Senator Bam Aquino last May 7, 2014 as Senate Bill 2217, the Startup Business Bill which was not made into law in the previous congress will be refiled by the senator after the opening of the 17th Congress later this month.
He will also be giving a keynote speech during the fourth GOAB, a one of a kind conference that combines the latest tech development with a fun environment which will be held in Bellevue Hotel in Panglao, Bohol this August 25-26, 2016.
TechTalks.ph founder and GOAB lead organizer Tina Amper said getting the Startup Business Bill declared into law will be a superb follow up to the passing of the law creating the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) last May.
“The startup community is happy to have found a champion in the Philippine senate in the person of Senator Bam Aquino. We express our support to his endeavors that build towards the provision of adequate state support for startups,” said Amper.
Since startups are designed to grow very fast, she explains the senator’s proposed measure cutting back taxes would remove one more barrier to faster growth of local startups. While there is a lot more work to do, this may also bring in more venture capitalists and foreign direct investments in the industry.
“It’s a great help for startups if they no longer pay taxes for its first two years. This landmark legislation that will not only create a favorable business atmosphere for the spawning of new startups but also inspire more growth in the country,”
added David Overton, CEO of Sym.ph and Chief Geek of GOAB.
Both Amper and Overton expressed optimism that building the local startup ecosystem can seize the new opportunities opened up by the hi-tech revolution and ultimately bring in more jobs and stimulate the entire economy in general.
Global internet users have surpassed the 3 billion mark or 42 percent of the world’s population while the Asia-Pacific region remains the largest smartphone market with 52 percent of all the world’s users, according to the Internet Trends 2016 Code Conference.
GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph, co-organized by Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and co-presented by PLDT SME Nation, Ideaspace and SmartDevNet.
GOAB is held in partnership with HappyGaraje, Sym.ph, and PR Works. This year’s Silver Sponsors are Zalora, Mynimo, Teradoor, and PouchNation while Bronze Sponsors are A Space, Yoyo Holdings, Payoneer, Eurekloud, USAID-STRIDE, US Embassy, Launchgarage, and StarTechUp Inc. GOAB organizational partners are Philippines Software Industry Association, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines., UP CebuInit.org, CedFIT.org, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines, Developers Connect, STAC Silicon Valley and GoNegosyo. Media partners are Auza.Net, Tech in Asia, Geeks in Cambodia, Hubnob.tv, InnoPub Media, Mytechisland.com, Zerothreetwo.com, Jumpstart Magazine, Mobile Ecosystem Forum, Asian Journal Publications, Balikbayan Magazine, Innovation is Everywhere, e27, Newsdesk Asia, and WazzupPilipinas.
For more information, to sponsor or purchase tickets for GOAB, visit, www.GeeksOnABeach.com; or contact Hello@GeeksOnABeach.com. Facebook: Geeks On A Beach and Twitter @GeeksOnABeach.
Sen. Aquino (2nd from right) with Geeks on a beach organizers.
by admin | Jun 27, 2016 | Headlines, Major Events, National News, Tech Talk
The “Geeks on a Beach” (GOAB) international tech and startup conference, which has greatly contributed in empowering Philippine startups, will return for the fourth year in the scenic island of Panglao in Bohol this August 25-26, 2016.
This was announced by TechTalks.ph and the new Department of Information and Communications Technology (formerly DOST-ICTO) which co-organizes the event since 2013 as well as the MVP companies — PLDT SME Nation, Ideaspace, SmartDevNet, PLDT Innolab, Smart Communications — which are co-presenting the event this year.
The 4th GOAB, a unique confab featuring the cutting-edge of the tech world in a laid-back atmosphere, is the first startup event to be held right after President Benigno S. Aquino III signed the bill creating the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) last month.
“Even better days are coming. The Philippine startup community is one of the sectors that have lobbied for the creation of the DICT. We hope DICT will continue to work together with various public-private stakeholders to empower startup communities to drive faster economic growth,” said Mon Ibrahim,Deputy Executive Director.
With the theme “Empowering startups, leading change”, GOAB4 will once more highlight communities of startups or innovation-driven enterprises based on software or apps, which have seen remarkable growth in the Philippines in the last few years.
“We are looking at startups taking the lead in strategically leveraging opportunities offered by a bigger regional market of ten countries with some 617 million people and a combined GDP of US $2.1 trillion opened up by the Asean integration,” added Ibrahim.
He said GOAB can be a platform in putting Philippine startups at the forefront of change by opening doors to investors and capital from within the ASEAN region along with North American, European, Japanese and other big investors.
The first three GOAB confabs have yielded positive results, including the formulation of the Philippine startup roadmap which is now being pursued by the government and the community paving the way for local startups to achieve success.
Earlier this year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also launched SlingshotPH, a development program that helps startups accelerate their business.
Tina Amper, founder of TechTalks.ph which has been instrumental in conceptualizing GOAB, noted that the conference has grown to attract a bigger and more diverse audience since GOAB’s debut in September 2013 in Boracay.
Amper said those who are into digital technology, web design, and innovation should not miss this opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the industry and meet the key players in the tech startup world.
“The Philippines’ remarkable work-play environment complemented by the famous Filipino hospitality and a unique cultural mix of East and West makes it the natural cultural doorway to the ASEAN for geeks and investors alike,” said Amper.
Organized by TechTalks.ph and the Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communications Technology Office (DOTC-ICTO) and co-presented by PLDT SME Nation, Ideaspace and SmartDevNet, GOAB4 will be held on August 25-26 at the Bellevue Hotel in Panglao, Bohol.
Some of the brightest minds in the industry from the USA and Singapore will be on hand in the 2016 GOAB. Invited to speak in the confab are Techstars co-founder and managing partner David Brown, Startup Weekend co-founder Marc Nager, Chris McCann of Greylock Partners,Crowdsourcing Week founder and CEO Epi Ludvik Nekaj, 500 Startups Managing Partner/Investor Khailee Ng, 500 Startups corporate innovation director Arnaud Bonzom, Zalora Philippines Managing Director Constantine Robertz, PLDT SME Nation head Mitch Locsin, Ideaspace.ph Managing Director Diane Eustaquio, TechTalks chief content officer Robert Cristobal, Citrix principal UX designer Philip McKay, and STAC Silicon Valley president Cristina Laskowski.
GOAB4 is held in partnership with HappyGaraje, Sym.ph, PR Works, Zalora, Mynimo, Teradoor, A Space, USAID-STRIDE, Yoyo Holdings, Eurokloud Corp., and Payoneer.GOAB4 organizational partners are Philippines Software Industry Association (PSIA), National ICT Confederation of the Phils., UP CebuInit.org, CedFIT.org, Game Developers Association of the Phils., Digital Commerce Association of the Phil., Developers Connect, STAC Silicon Valley and GoNegosyo. This year’s GOAB media partners are Auza.Net, Tech in Asia, Geeks in Cambodia, Mytechisland.com, Hubnob.tv, InnoPub Media.
For more information, to sponsor or purchase tickets, visit www.GeeksOnABeach.com; or contact Hello@GeeksOnABeach.com. Facebook: Geeks On A Beach and Twitter @GeeksOnABeach. Avail 20% discount and 40% discount for groups of 5 or more (use promo code “groupof5ormore”). Promo lasts until June 30, 2016
GOAB4 Manila Press Launch Panelists (L-R): Joey Limjap, VP and Head of PLDT ICT Research and Development; Paul Pajo, Developer Evangelist at SMART Communications; Francis Oliva, Community Partnerships Head, PLDT SME Nation; Tina Amper, Instigator, GOAB; Diane Eustaquio, Exec. Dir. IdeaSpace Foundation; Mon Ibrahim, Exec. Dir. DOST-ICT Office; Mark Deutsch, Co-Founder HappyGaraje and Creative Head of GOAB;
by admin | Jun 19, 2016 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
The organizers of the international conference Geeks on a Beach 4 (www.geeksonabeach.com) currently offers a 20% discount on the registration fee until June 30, 2016. This is an opportunity for participants from Bohol to attend such conference without having to travel outside the province. Early bird registrants had enjoyed bigger discounts earlier this year.
Tina Amper, founder of Techtalks.PH that organized the conference, has announced some of the speakers at the conference. Among the speakers are David Brown, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Techstars from Boulder, USA, Khailee Ng, the Managing Editor of 500 Startups, Malaysia, Diane Eustaquio, the Executive Director of IdeaSpace Foundation, Inc., Janette Toral, E-Commerce Advocate and founder of DigitalFilipino.com, Philippines and many more.
The organizing team of GOAB4 also presented the details of the conference to Gov Edgard M. Chatto as well as to other participants during the Bohol ICT sectoral discussion last June 15.
