By Edd K. Usman
Local tech startups will mix it up with three other global hopefuls in a battle for supremacy at the 4th Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) international startup competition on August 25-26.
Event organizer TechTalks.ph and its partners have chosen the Bellevue Resort in Panglao Island in Bohol as the battle arena to determine the winner among them.
Tina Amper, founder of TechTalks.ph, said 14 startups from Cambodia, The Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, Ukraine, and the United States applied for GOAB, but only seven were chosen as the finalists.
She said a single winner will receive $1,000 cash prize and mentoring.
“The event will bring publicity on the startup, hopefully attract more users, investors, or mentors to said enterprise,” said Amper, adding the most promising startup or innovation-driven enterprise will be mentored and given limited consultation services from GOAB organizers.
The competing startups are:
? AnnualBooks (Philippines), a platform that allows schools to create onlineyearbooks, school newspapers, collaboration tools for teachers/parents/students, e-learning system, alumni center, grades monitoring system, and much more;
? engageSpark (Philippines), a digital solution that lets non-techies at non-profits (and businesses) build interactive automated phone calls and 2-way SMS programs to engage the poor in developing countries;
? Grow360 (Singapore), a platform that provides feedback, self-development tools and access to coaches for professionals;
? iUNGOCorp (Netherlands), a platform for managing energy demand, so that home-owners, building administrators and utility service providers can manage energy consumption in a more intelligent way;
? Liser Robotics (Philippines), a robotic educational system for teaching computer coding to kids;
? LookingFour (Philippines), a platform where buyers post products they need and match suppliers notified; and
? TrustMyStaff (Cambodia), a digital service that is aimed at employers who wish to fill a job vacancy quickly, efficiently and with an honest candidate. It helps find a candidate who is a good psychological fit for the vacancy.
GOAB is an international technology and startup competition that debuted in 2013 on the world-famous Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.
This year?s judges are Diane Eustaquio, executive director, IdeaSpace Foundation.; Monchito Ibrahim, innovation consultant at Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); Arup Maity, president of Blast Asia and Xamun; Khailee Ng, managing partner, 500 Startups; Francis Oliva, head of Community Partnerships, PLDT Smart SME Nation; Tong Hsien Hui, investment director, Infocomm Investment Pte. Ltd. (IIPL); and Marc Nager, chief community officer of TechStars.
GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph, co-organized by DICT, and co-presented by PLDT SME Nation, IdeaSpace, SmartDevNet, PLDT Innolab, and Smart.
It is held in partnership with Bohol Provincial Government, Tagbilaran City, HappyGaraje, Sym.ph, and PR Works.
