Afterthoughts from My Slingshot MNL Experience

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The startup community is saying that even if it's impossible, it should happen. Give them a chance to build their dream, and with the current efforts being done now, it would hopefully give them a better glimpse of the future. A future when they would soon join the ranks of legendary companies who were once startups just a few years ago, but now are big names earning big bucks out from their world-changing ideas.

Now that excellence in the academic field is no longer the main factor to consider when forecasting the future, many are realizing it is the right time to grab the opportunity. The present is filled with bright minds and passionate hearts who may one day become among the millionaires brought about by their creative ideas, especially those who develop revolutionary apps that dramatically changes our lifestyle into a more convenient and fast-paced activity.

Investors should now look into those startups engaging more with mobile and online solutions that rethink real world problems and develops applications with business-aligned opportunities. But they should also start the sparks in different places to eventually create multiple fires everywhere. I hope to hear many success stories soon especially after the Slingshot MNL event, the official startup event of APEC Philippines 2015, held last July 6 and 7, 2015 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila.

Startups could also start small by beginning to solve the problems within their neighborhood. Raise your first round smartly. Don't necessarily look for investors, but look for customers so eventually it would be the investors who would find you. Though we all know that startups are emotional rollercoasters, the founders should continue to be patient and hope that soon that majority of the private sector will kick in and fund their ideas. Hopefully the government has their own way to support our startup community.

Lazada Advocates Effortless Online Shopping to Consumers Across Southeast Asia

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Lazada, Southeast Asia’s leading online shopping and selling destination, kicks off its Effortless Shopping campaign(http://www.lazada.com.ph/effortless-shopping/) in the Philippines from 21-26 July highlighting the benefits of effortless online shopping to Filipino consumers.

“We are committed to providing an effortless online shopping experience to approximately 550 million consumers in the Southeast Asian region. While our customer satisfaction survey reveals that respondents are satisfied with their online shopping experience, there is an untapped opportunity to reach out to non-online shoppers by highlighting the benefits of online shopping and thus changing their perceptions,” said Inanc Balci, CEO of Lazada Philippines.

As an e-Commerce leader in the Philippines, Lazada provides consumers with an effortless shopping experience with its user-friendly sites and mobile apps accessible at their fingertips anytime, any day. It offers a wide selection of international, local and exclusive products; and multiple secure payment options including cash-on-delivery.

Consumers can shop with peace of mind on Lazada as all items purchased are covered by Lazada's Buyer Protection Program. This provides a guarantee that products are genuine, new and not defective; and for customers to return the items within seven days for a full refund, otherwise. Consumers can also shop with assurance knowing that they can reach out to Lazada’s customer service seven days a week by phone and email. 

Discovery Commissions Sabah Quake Special

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP) announces the commission of SABAH QUAKE, a one-hour special that returns to ground zero to examine the events and aftermath of the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that shook Sabah, Malaysia. With unparalleled access to Mount Kinabalu since the tragedy, the programme also evaluates the likelihood of future earthquakes in the region. 

Charmaine Kwan, Vice President of Programming – DNAP, said, “Discovery continues to deliver topical content about events that have gripped the region. SABAH QUAKE attempts to piece together the latest findings on the tragedy and aims to provide insight into the science of the disaster. At the core of the special, are touching human stories of bravery and human resilience - a fitting tribute to those whose lives were lost, and the ones they have left behind.”

At 7:15 a.m. on 5 June, 2015, the Earth’s tectonic plates violently shifted, causing a huge earthquake that rocked Mount Kinabalu – Malaysia’s tallest peak and a tourist destination famed for its hiking trails and stunning view. The quake stranded hundreds of climbers, and left 18 people – including hikers and mountain guides – dead. While the human tragedy made the headlines, there is also a chilling air of uncertainty unfolding in the international seismic community. Urgent questions are now being asked concerning how an earthquake of this magnitude could have happened in a largely “earthquake free” part of the world. And with once dormant fault lines under Malaysia now displaying signs of renewed activity, what are the possible implications for the surrounding regions?