'Geeks on a Beach' gets DOST backing

CEBU, Philippines - In its bid to converge Filipino technology and startup enthusiasts in an international conference, Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) found support from a government organization that helps projects in life sciences and technological advances.

Organizers told reporters yesterday that they are currently under negotiation with the Department of Science and Technology, through its Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), in order to drum up support to their event in the form of financial funding.

"We express gratitude to them (DOST) for always having the initiative to back up ideas that help foster entrepreneurship in the field of science and technology. We don't have the figures at the moment, but we're optimistic to get a considerable amount of financial aid from them," confirmed Tina Amper, the founder and president of GOAB organizer TechTalks.ph.

The agency described the support as timely and relevant as it now moves forward in its thrust to help fortify the entrepreneurial spirit in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry.

In a press statement, Undersecretary Louis Napoleon Casambre, executive director of DOST-ICTO, said providing support to technological and entrepreneurial activities like the Startup Weekend and Geeks on a Beach is an effective way to further promote the ICT industry where Filipinos excel at.

Casambre said as an agency, DOST-ICTO does not wear out in organizing and supporting events where young, entrepreneurial-minded Filipinos will learn the rudiments of starting and managing a business through online media and the emergence of highly-sophisticated mobile devices.

Other companies corroborating with TechTalks.ph in this project, meanwhile, believe that the vibrant environment experienced by the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the country must be complemented with solid tech and startup ventures.

This they told on the back of a report that cited a hefty P22 billion in revenues last year for the BPO sector in Central Visayas, yet the bigger chunk of this amount was said to go to the pockets of companies that are not based here in the Philippines.

Symph founder David Overton particularly mentioned that the spotlight for startups is now slowly shifting to the Southeast Asian region, and the Philippines could take advantage of this given its enormous pool of local talents.

The Philippines needs to be at the forefront of tech and startup scene, making the BPO industry as its foundation, said Overton.

GOAB will be a two-day tech and startup conference slated on September 26-27 in Boracay. Organizers are expecting the attendance of about 300 of the country's startup communities, design, telecom and gaming innovators.

The chief wireless adviser and founder of Smart Communications Doy Vea will be the keynote speaker in the opening of GOAB Conference.

Topics lined up for discussion are The World Startup Ecosystem: Distinguishing the Asian Experience, The Evolution of Philippine Startup Ecosystem, Fostering and Funding Asian Startups, Startup Best Practices and Philippine Startup Success Stories, to name a few. (FREEMAN)