TechTalks.ph Partners with US-based Tech Accelerator Techstars for Geeks on a Beach

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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 Tech​Talks.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.

Cusi: Resolve Electrification Issues

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“We have to work together to make household electrification happen in Mindanao,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi urged officials of the National Electrification Administration and the National Power Corporation (Napocor) in a meeting on Monday, 18 July 2016.

Cusi asked both agencies to “go down to the cooperatives” to resolve the issues raised by electric cooperatives namely PHILRECA, QUEZELCO and AMRECO, among others.

Among the issues raised by the electric cooperatives were ensuring the right of way for electric projects, tax reforms, non-privatization of Agus and Pulangui complexes in Mindanao, the interconnection of SPUG areas to the main grid and the putting up of a one-stop shop and fast lane for the processing of permits and licenses for energy projects.

In photo with Cusi are DOE spokespersons Pete Ilagan (second from left) and DOE Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella. Joining them are officials of the abovementioned electric cooperatives who sought the dialogue.

NEC Philippines Celebrates 20 Years of Success and Innovation

Wazzup Pilipinas!

NEC Philippines today announced its 20th anniversary milestone since its establishment in 1996. Over the past two decades, NEC Philippines has built a strong reputation in the industry and achieved steady growth by providing its technologies, solutions, services and expertise to the public and private sectors.

To kick off the celebration, an event themed “NECPH@20: Providing Breakthrough Technologies for a Breakout Economy” was held at the Makati Diamond Residences, 2F Legazpi Ballroom, Makati City, on 20 July 2016.

The conference was opened by distinguished speakers, including His Excellency Mr. Kazuhide Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of the Philippines, Mr. Tetsuro Akagi, Chief Executive Officer of NEC Asia Pacific and Senior Vice President of NEC Corporation, and Mr. Jubert Alberto, Head of Operations, IDC Philippines.

The technology-empowered exhibition showcased how NEC is creating new value for society with solutions covering a wide spectrum of industries, demonstrating NEC’s commitment to orchestrate a brighter world through technology that improves the safety, security, equality and efficiency of society. Highlights include NEC’s world No. 1* facial and fingerprint recognition technologies, as well as its transportation, unified communication, healthcare, and broadcast solutions.

“NEC Philippines has come a long way since 1996. The success of the company cannot be achieved without our valued customers and business partners. We will continue to deliver innovative technologies that will benefit businesses, communities and society to allow people to live more abundant lives. We look forward to another 20 years of achievement,” said Agnes A. Gervacio, President, NEC Philippines.

At the event, participants learned about NEC’s thought leadership in topics such as big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), safer cities and social infrastructure solutions and innovative offerings in enterprise solutions.