One push.
All it takes for you to finally go for your dreams in creating your own business is one push. It may come from experience, someone you’ve met, or practically anywhere since inspiration can be found in even the most random places. If you’re not sure where to find that push, though, ‘Geeks on a Beach’ might just be the venue to begin your search.
Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) is an international conference that aims to educate and support participants in the startup and technology community. The idea was inspired from Geeks on a Plane and was actualized locally by Tina Amper, founder of TechTalks.ph and director of GOAB, to promote business and culture in the Philippines. Now on its fifth year, GOAB has proven to be bigger and better than ever.
Tina Amper, director of GOAB and founder of TechTalks.ph
Tina has always had a knack for startups, technology, and design. Through this event, she hoped to gather like-minded people to teach them and give them support in making the world a better place to live in through their passion project and creativity.
I want to build my own startup company in the future and GOAB really helped me a lot in figuring out the steps I need to take in order to reach my goals. So, if you’re like me and want to start your own business, you should definitely join GOAB next year! Allow me to give you 5 solid reasons why:
5 Reasons Why ‘Geeks on a Beach’ is the Perfect Avenue to Start Your Own Business
5. You’ll gain knowledge from the seminars.
In GOAB, there are 70+ distinguished speakers from all over the globe. These guests give seminars, panel discussions, open forums, breakout sessions, and even a chance for one-on-one consultations. They are all business experts with their own successful startup companies and many stories to tell for attendees to learn from.
Panelists for GOAB 2017
Some of the big names that made a mark at GOAB 2017 include Paul Pajo (co-founder of SMARTDevNet), Yobie Benjamin (CEO of ClickSWITCH.com), Jojo Flores (co-founder of Plug and Play Tech Center), Engr. Ramon Escueta (director-in-charge for Energy, Power, and Water for PCCI), Dindo Marzan (managing director of Voyager Innovations Inc.), Joey Limjap (vice president and head of PLDT Enterprise Core Business Research and Development), Aldo Carrascoso (founder of GPX), and Diane Estaquio (executive director of Ideaspace Foundation Inc.).
4. You’ll meet different people.
Meeting different people is key at GOAB, which is why the organizers specifically allotted time for a networking session. The conference proper may be a bit stiff and formal, ergo not allowing people to fully express themselves. However, through the networking time, people can go about meeting people casually, enabling them to talk to people at ease and share what they believe in. With that, business partners may arise or a sponsor for your idea may be found – who knows? Anything could happen if you just approach people with confidence (especially since many CEOs and directors will be present).
Besides, as the saying goes, “no man is an island”. You can’t do a startup alone; you need people by your side to support it and help you get through it, which you are sure to find at GOAB.
3. You’ll get to travel.
As the name suggests, Geeks on a Beach is always held at a beach. Tina explains that this reflects their love for nature and aims to break down the formalities commonly found in city conferences. Here, businessmen will not be seen in intimidating business suits; they will be in their shorts, sandals, and the like, givng off a chill vibe where people who are serious about their career can confer in an open and casual manner.
GOAB also supports local tourism. So, by partnering up with different provinces, they get to have a venue and promote local culture, especially to the foreign businessmen attending GOAB. The Philippines is truly beautiful and, through this event, more and more people will get to see that.
That being said, you’ll get to educate yourself and have an amazing travel experience at the same time. They’ve been to Bohol, Boracay, Palawan– where would it be next year, I wonder? Be on the look out for more announcements!
(READ: What to Do in Puerto Princesa)
2. You’ll get to showcase your own startup business.
GOAB isn’t just an international conference. For three years in a row now, they have also held a startup competition.
The GOAB pitchfest is open to all early stage startups who will pitch their ideas to potential investors during the event proper. Winners will be given $1,000 (that’s Php51,000!) micro fund and a GOAB designer trophy. What’s also nice about this contest is that they have key speakers ready to teach them what they know about startups, which they can hopefully use during their presentation and actual business operations.
If you’re creative and don’t have any resources to actualize it, GOAB is perfect for you to showcase that innovative idea of yours.
(RELATED: Startup Summit 2017)
1. You will appreciate being a geek.
Forget about the stereotypes we have of geeks. In GOAB, geeks are the new sleek.
In this beach event, the geeks will amaze you with their stories and will make you want to be one. Geeks are forever curious and will do anything to keep on learning and leaning, which is what we all need right now. If we just use our passion to know more and more about our interest so we could create something that would benefit mankind, that’s really something. The world is continuously evolving and we need to keep up!
(Want to read more tips on building your own startup business? Read this!)
Geeks on a Beach is an inspiring and informative experience. Those are some of the things you can expect in the event, but if you try it out for yourself, you might find a unique inspiration that can finally push you to start you own business. Stay curious, geeks!
Geeks on a Beach 2017
Website: https://www.geeksonabeach.com/
Appstore/ Google Play: GOAB 2017
Be an attendee/ Be a sponsor; contact:
Doris Isubal-Mongaya
PRWorks
09177919545
doris.mongaya@prworksph.com
