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GOAB Hosts Exclusive Investor’s Roundtable Dinner as Prelude to Main Event
As a prelude to the highly-anticipated 6th annual Geeks On A Beach (GOAB) conference, an exclusive Investor’s Roundtable Dinner is set to take place on November 22, 2023, at the Bellevue Resort Hotel in Panglao, Bohol. This intimate gathering provides a unique platform for private discussions about investment topics relevant to the region and beyond. The dinner, themed “By Investors, For Investors,” aims to foster a constructive dialogue among participants on a variety of subjects, including investment opportunities, valuations in the ASEAN ecosystem, and the creation of a robust investor community. With the presence of prominent figures from the investment sector, such as venture capitalists (VCs) and angel investors, the night ensures insightful exchange and networking. VCs are professional investors who inject substantial funds into high-growth tech startups for equity and a role in governance. Angel investors, on the other hand, are affluent individuals who provide earlier, often smaller-scale investments in exchange for equity or convertible debt, offering financial backing when the venture is at a more nascent and riskier stage. The event boasts an impressive roster of attendees, including esteemed speakers, entrepreneurs, and investors from across the globe, such as Chris McCann, Race Capital (USA); Franco Varona, Foxmont Capital Partners (PH); Paulo Campos, Kaya Founders (PH); Katrina Rausa Chan, QBO/IdeaSpace Philippines (PH); Jeremy Au, Monk’s Hill Ventures (SG); Pun Jaruthassanakul, Seedstars (TH); Jojo Flores Plug and Play Tech Center (US, PH); Adriel Yong, Ascend Angels (SG); Mohan Belani, e27 (SG); Orvel Ventures (SG); Jay Fajardo, Launchgarage (PH); Mark Sng, Gentree (SG, PH); Sohun Bae, AVV Ascend Vietnam Ventures (VN); Joon Cho, Abound Capital (SG); Martin Cu, 500 Global... read more
Geeks On A Beach: PH startups eyeing $1-billion in funding deals this 2023
Startups in the Philippines have quietly won $1-billion in total funding deals for two straight years in a row in 2021 to 2022, and there are indications they could continue the winning trend. New funding deals may yet to be clinched at the Geeks On A Beach (GOAB) international conference on November 22 to 24 at Panglao Island in Bohol, which gathers startup founders, entrepreneurs, software engineers, technologists, venture capitalists, corporates, government, and other stakeholders. “In 2010, Filipino startups raised $40-million in funding. This has gone up 27 times to $1.03-billion in 2021 and $1.1-billion in 2022. This is a vote of confidence for Filipino startups that ought to be celebrated and continued,” said GOAB founding organizer Tina Amper of GeeksPH, referring to a highlight of the Philippine Venture Capital Report 2023. Amper said that Filipinos’ share in funding available or won across the region has grown for the past three years, as she expressed elation over the rosy report by Foxmont Capital Partners. “Comparing the aggregate deals closed by country, the Philippines has increased its stake relative to neighboring Southeast Asian countries over the last three years. The Philippines more than doubled from two percent in 2020 to five percent 2021, and further grew to nine percent in 2022. This once again shows that Philippine deal growth is reaching admirable levels compared to its neighbors,” said the Foxmont study. “Deals” are venture capital transactions where startup companies raise capital from external sources, which include financing received from venture capital funds, angel investors, angel groups, accelerators, incubators, corporate venture firms, corporate startup investors, joint ventures, private equity funds, mergers... read more
MENTOR ME ON WHEELS CONQUERS BOHOL
More than 500 mentees and 42 mentors have come together in the province’ biggest gathering of aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in the Mentor ME on Wheels (MMOW) held at the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City on October 25, 2019. The whole-day activity, which is spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship – Go Negosyo was made possible in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had mentors coming in from Manila, Cebu and Bohol, who provided 30-minute one-on-one mentorship sessions with MMOW participants who are either aspiring, potential and existing entrepreneurs and students. Topics included Entrepreneurial Mind Setting and Values Formation, Marketing and Financial Literacy/Financing. In her opening message, RD Aster Caberte encouraged the participants to make use of the opportunity to talk to experienced mentors and get professional advice on how to effectively manage their businesses. Bohol Governor Arthur Yap and City Mayor John Geesnell Yap graced the event together with PCEs Virgilio “Noy” Espeleta and Henry Tenedero, who represented PCE-Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion....
DICT says PH startups ecosystem is vibrantly growing
PANGLAO, Bohol — Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) secretary Ivan John Uy opened the two-day Geeks On A Beach (GOAB)2023 international conference, Thursday, November 23-24 confidently stating that the vibrant startup ecosystem in the Philippines has been promisingly growing, with more than 1,100 startups, 60 incubators and accelerators, 50 venture capitalists, and more than 200 co-working spaces nationwide that enable collaboration. “It is truly an honor to stand before you as we kick off the sixth edition of Geeks on a Beach. As we gather here, it is heartening to see that through our joint efforts, we have transformed the Philippines into a pivotal regional hub for startups and digital innovation. This is a statement of fact. Our vibrant startup ecosystem has been promisingly growing,” Secretary Yu said. Yu added that the essence of Geeks on a Beach lies in the convergence of diverse minds and he is optimistic that this year’s event sees a limitless potential and a perfect backdrop for groundbreaking ideas to take flight. Geeks On A Beach 2023 in Panglao is attended by nearly 1000 guests, technopreneurs, investors, startup hustlers, venture capitalists, angel investors, and others after a hiatus of five years. Secretary Uy further said, the DICT commits to accelerate digital transformation and nurture the growth of the country’s startup community by launching programs aligned with the Innovative Startup Act of 2019. “This law provides the blueprint for the advancement of the Philippine Startup Ecosystem and supports our startups by providing funding and mentorship mechanisms and streamlined processes,” Uy noted. The conduct of the GOAB in time for this year’s Philippine Startup...Local News/ Bohol Balita
Rep. Aris, Gov. Art, team talk tourism for 2nd District
HNP SUPPORT Rep. Aris, Gov. Art, team talk tourism for 2nd District By: JUNE S. BLANCO DEVELOP more tourism destinations in the 2nd District to make a new loop that will expose the potentials of the other side of Bohol. This was the consensus of Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol’s 2nd District, newly minted Gov. Arthur Yap and the latter’s economic advisers in a meeting July 2 at the Shang Palace in Northtown, Taloto District, Tagbilaran City. Aumentado said the work on the extension of the Ubay Aiport is ongoing such that it will soon become as long as the Tagbilaran Airport. When that happens, it can already accommodate planes like those that used to land at the Tagbilaran Airport. With this infrastructure shaping up, next to the fine white sand beaches of Anda town that is a mere 45 minutes from the Ubay Airport, the solon, the governor and the economic advisers agreed that the tourism come-ons of a new loop, say of Ubay, Danao and Buenavista, must be developed in order to entice local and foreign tourists. Danao already has its adventure park featuring the zip line, canyon jump, cliff rappelling and other activities for the not so faint-hearted. These may ned enhancement, even as Ubay has water sports in the dam reservoir to offer. Buenavista has its canoe paddling and oyster feast to boast off. These can be improved, connected and arranged for a day tour. But the tourists’ stay can be extended if these towns can provide areas, food, more activities and facilities for camping or, if they want, glamorous camping or “glamping”. At...Aris to expand tourism prospects in 2nd District
By JUNE S. BLANCO REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado will meet with national tourism officials in Manila this week to map out plans, explore prospects, and develop new attractions for the 2nd district. Aumentado says he wants synergetic tourism development so that each town can “sell” the destinations of the other towns – instead of competing with each other for tourists to visit their more or less the same, or similar – attractions. He also said he will pitch sales for the development of a promontory in Cambugsay that is overlooking the dam, and the paddling on the river for talaba (oysters) downstream in Cambuhat, Buenavista. He will also arrange with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for water-borne adventure tourism in the dam. Just like in Cambuhat, the food will be cooked and prepared by a people’s organization to augment their respective family incomes. When realized, the people will then experience dragon boat rides, and feast on fresh, savory and organically grown vegetables and fish dishes harvested from farms. The only “developed” tourism attraction in the district so far, he said, is the Danao Adventure Park and Playground. He lamented that nothing else of tourism value has been developed along the way as interesting stops. He wants development to be spread wider, especially with the improvement of the Ubay Airport. To boot, Ubay is nearer to the fine white sand beaches in Anda and whatever it is that the towns along the way can...Aris pushes bidding of gensets for D2 islets
By: JUNE S. BLANCO NOW that the elections are over, Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol’s 2nd District vows to roll up his sleeves and resume work interrupted by the election ban. Aumentado said prior to the campaign period, the bid documents for generators for power plants in seven islets in his district were already out, but the bidding itself was overtaken by the ban. The solon’s energization program will provide power even to the farthest islets, either by submarine cable as what he did in Mahanay Island, or overhead cables, or if too far from the mainland, by stand-alone generator sets. To note, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) had provided Aumentado with a copy of the documents that specified the number and capacities of the power generator sets, the islands or islets where these are to be installed, and the mode of transport of the same from Manila to the destinations. He said his hands will be full these next few days in following up with NGCP to already push through with the bidding. He emphasized that energization is the key to an island’s development. It will allow students to study at night, their fishermen parents to repair their nets and do other work at night, and run freezers and refrigerators to hold their surplus catch instead of having to sell them cheap. Up for bidding is the supply, delivery, installation, test, and commissioning of various diesel gensets and associated electrical equipment and balance of plant for the electrification of seven new areas in Bohol under the off-grid electrification project. The technical specifications include the...PHL to have ‘eye in sky’ soon
By JUNE S. BLANCO THE bill seeking to create the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) now awaits the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte. Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol’s 2nd District, chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology, and author of the bill, said the bill is one step towards realization after the Senate passed its own version. Aumentado said it is high time that the country fully harnesses available resources and advances made in science to provide precision the guide for man that technology can offer. The solon refers a satellite that the country may launch to provide hairline accuracy for peace and order enforcement, national security, climate change monitoring and hazard management, weather forecasting and communications. The Philippines, even if located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, remains to be an agricultural country. This means, Aumentado said, the data that such satellite can beam will go a long way towards preparedness for any eventuality in cases of calamities. At the same time, he said, it can assist in surveillance and even actual operations during events of crime or threats to security. The Science Education Institute und the Department of Science and Technology is handling the Philippines Space Science Education Program. When the proposed Philippine Spaces Act will be signed by President Duterte, this program will be given focus by the...Bohol bikers celebrate cycling bond in Unity Ride May 25-26
It is the merry month of May again. And while the fiestas all over Bohol allow the people to shovel into themselves huge cholesterol overloads, local bikers look up to the annual two-day ride that brings them to pedal around the island’s belting road, bond, have good clean fun and detox. The annual Unity Ride, also known as Bohol 360 this May 25-26 this year is sponsored by TriBohol, the local elite triathlon group, who since the start, wanted to nurture amateur bikers and pedal with them through the 264 kilometer course. The Unity Ride is a long ride and surviving it is enough of a feat. As to surviving the pain, a perfect fit with the bike helps a lot. So what is perfect fit? It is your fit and the bike’s adjustments to attain your stance as against the bike geometry. Considering your height, that means your stand-over-clearance (standing between the frame leaves your groin at least an inch from the frame) and your reach (which is often measured by the tip of your elbows touching the front of the saddle, knuckles reaching the tip of the steering tube). By attaining a good if not a perfect bike fit, it allows one the most comfortable painless ride especially over long distances. Also, put in the right seat-post height, saddle position, stem length, stem length and right handle bars for long rides. Having done that, now, gear up. The month of May happens to be one of the hottest months. A good rash guard or those fitting arm sleeves would be helpful. Or maybe a generous slap of...National News
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