With the aim to further support local developers and startup enthusiasts in the country, Microsoft Philippines , together with other major companies, is sponsoring and co-organizing the first Startup Weekend Manila event that will happen from October 21 to 23 at the Meridian International (MINT) College in Taguig, Manila .
Web engineering firm Proudcloud will be launching the 54-hour event that will provide a venue where IT professionals, coders, designers and product managers gather to share ideas, form teams, build products and create startups. The organizers expect an estimated over 120 participants to join and share their ideas and experiences.
Photo above shows the Startup Weekend Manila organizing team composed of (1st row from left) Michelle Santos of Globe Labs; Jonathan Lansangan, COO of Dynamic Objx; Jay Fajardo, CEO of Proudcloud; Erin Frey, Community Manager of JFDI; Minette Navarrete, Head of Globe New Business Group; and Michael Del Rosario, COO of Mint College. Joining them are (2nd row, from left) Steve Macion, Head of Strategy and Operations for Globe New Business Group; Alvin Gendrano, Director for Developer Relations of Microsoft Philippines; Christian Besler, Advisor for Globe New Business Group; Wong Meng Weng, Social Engineer of JFDI; and Dan Siazon, Head of Business Development for Globe New Business Group.
“By being one of the partners to launch Startup Weekend in the country, Globe Telecom, together with Proudcloud and Dynamic Objx, participates in the global innovation exercise and exposes Filipino talent, ingenuity and creativity to the rest of the world,” said Minette Navarrete, Head of Globe New Business Group. “Startup Weekend Manila is part of the new pioneering spirit of this age, where people help each other to turn great ideas into real viable businesses. A vibrant local technopreneurial ecosystem has a real capacity to improve lives, and Globe is happy to help make that happen.”
Startup Weekend Manila aims to teach and promote entrepreneurship at local communities. The weekend-long, hands-on experiences are fit for the participants to learn about tech entrepreneurship, teamwork and startup culture.
Some of the event organizers are MINT College , Bookmans Entertainment Exchange and Dynamic Objx. Meanwhile, developer communities DevCon PH, represented by Jo Eduardo, and the International Game Developers Association, represented by Alvin Chan, will also be supporting the event. Participants composed of developers and entrepreneurs can collaborate to discover new skills and trends that will help them turn their ideas into real businesses.
During the event, participants will be given the opportunity to pitch startup concepts and form teams around the most popular ideas. After a brainstorming session, teams will begin building product prototypes and present their final output by demonstrating it in front of everyone.
For the top three teams, Microsoft will be giving away three years’ worth of Windows Azure and SQL Azure subscriptions via pre-approved BizSpark applications worth $10,500 each, Microsoft Software and Developer Tools through Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate worth $11,899 each and Windows Azure training worth $300 each. Microsoft BizSpark (http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark/) is a global program that helps software startups succeed by giving them access to Microsoft software development tools, connecting them with key industry players, including investors, and providing marketing visibility to help entrepreneurs starting a business.
“We’re here to help support the nascent startup community rise to the surface and inspire them to fuel the Philippine’s innovation engine with their maverick ways. I truly believe that we’ve got it in us to stop making excuses, dial down the chatter, and just build great things,” said Jay Fajardo, CEO of Proudcloud.
The Startup Weekend Community is the largest network of existing and aspiring entrepreneurs in the world. Other Startup Weekends will also be taking place in various countries such as Australia , India , Indonesia , Singapore and Thailand .
“We are inviting local startups to join the event as it is the best place where businesses can build their networks, get access to valuable startup resources and even find flexible solutions that will help them grow and compete in their respective fields and industries,” concluded Gendrano.
For those interested to join or to get more information about the event, visit www.manila.startupweekend.org.
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