Converge facilitates the Geeks on a Beach conference for the PH startup community.

DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy delivered the keynote address, informing the audience of the state of the startup industry in the Philippines

Leading fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. supported local businesses by offering free internet access to the Geeks on A Beach (GOAB) conference. GOAB brings together venture capital investors, technology, design, and innovation professionals, and up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

After a five-year break, GOAB, which is co-organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the social business #GeeksPH, comes back this year. Panglao, Bohol's seaside town hosted a gathering of over 300 technopreneurs, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, and angel sponsors at the Bellevue Resort.

Dennis Anthony Uy, co-founder and CEO of Converge, stated that the company has always encouraged small businesses and been motivated to act as a catalyst for entrepreneurs looking to grow their enterprises.

“Just like many of the GOAB attendees, I was once a startup entrepreneur. My wife Grace and I started Converge with the vision of giving Filipinos access to world-class connectivity — the same kind that you get in progressive countries. From a startup in Pampanga, we challenged the giants and expanded our network nationwide to reach Visayas and Mindanao,” Mr. Uy said.

“May Geeks on a Beach continues to encourage and support Philippine startups so that more and more Filipinos will benefit from the digital solutions brought about by the creativity and innovation of our young businesses,” he added.

Converge's AVP and Head of Innovation and Product Management, Leonardo Baniqued, stated that Converge is willing to collaborate with entrepreneurs. 

“We have the broadest fiber network in the country and this means that our network is already available. We can now provide budding businesses with productivity solutions that will help them scale up,” he said.

Converge Corporate Communications and Public Relations Social Media Manager and Community Relations Manager, Ederic Eder and Jennifer Ambanta-Realubit respectively, attend the GOAB from November 23 - 24 in Panglao, Bohol. 

With the launch of Converge Workplace, a portfolio of cloud-based business productivity tools tailored specifically for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), earlier this year, Converge is expanding beyond connection goods.

Ivan John Uy, the DICT Secretary, expressed his satisfaction with the Philippines' transformation into a major regional hub for startups and digital innovation during the conference.

“Our vibrant startup ecosystem has been promisingly growing with more than 1,100 startups, 60 incubators and accelerators, 50 venture capitalists, and more than 200 co-working spaces nationwide that enable collaboration,” Sec. Uy noted.

The expansion of the Philippine startup ecosystem, the difficulties of launching a business, venture capital, trends, laws and regulations, and expanding talent management are a few of the subjects covered at the GOAB conference. Web3, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence were among the other recurrent issues.

Startups under the DICT's startup program, whose ideas ranged from a security warning system to an agri-tech platform, had the opportunity to present their ideas to investors and other guests during a lightning pitch session. 

Representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology, the local government of Bohol, and officials from the DICT were also present at GOAB. 

This year's Philippine Startup Week was highlighted by the GOAB conference, which was a collection of activities coordinated by the nation's startup community and overseen by the government.