SYNOPSIS
The Philippines is a growing market with strong potential for startups. The country has a young and tech-savvy population, and the government is supportive of entrepreneurship. In recent years, there has been a surge in venture capital investment in the Philippines, and there are now a number of successful startups that have emerged from the country.
Cebu’s burgeoning startup ecosystem is ranked 2nd in the country and 11th in Southeast Asia, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2023. Based on this report, startups in Cebu City excel in the areas of Social & Leisure, Ecommerce & Retail, and Software and Data (these three industries represent about 63% of the startups represented on the Startup Ecosystem Map of Cebu City). Some of the most promising startups originating from Cebu City in 2023 include Tier One, ManagedPMO, MyNimo, and PayRuler.
Today’s entrepreneurs are faced with a number of challenges, starting with what to do when they have an idea for a business. In pursuing these ideas, some would take a more traditional approach, while others find leveraging their network or reaching out to experts to be a more effective process. As they progress from ideation to execution, most entrepreneurs will encounter roadblocks, try workarounds, make compromises, etc. only to end up realizing the landing point is totally different from the original concept. At this point, most founders tend to shelve the idea or just abandon it completely.
DATE & TIME
November 15, 2023. Starts at 6:00 pm.
VENUE
JEG Tower, One Acacia
Archbishop Reyes Ave, corner Acacia St, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
SPONSORS
FEATURED SPEAKERS
MARKEN ABOITIZ
Founder, Bauhinia Brewery
Marken is the founder of Bauhinia Brewery, a Cebu-City based microbrewery adhering to a strict ‘grain to glass’ philosophy. Marken previously worked with Dutch design, engineering, and management consulting company Arcadis. He was also involved with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, helping provide fresh water desalination to small island communities after Typhoon Rai in 2021.
RHETT JONES
Co-founder, RISE Group
Rhett is the co-founder of RISE, providing high-quality internet services to enterprises, government offices, and more. Aside from his role with RISE, Rhett has nearly 20 years experience holding various leadership roles in a number of internet and telecom services providers such as internet exchange GetaFIX, Cebu City-based software development house Synacy, and more.
BUNNY PAGES
Chairman & CEO, The Pages Food Group
Bunny Pages is Chairman and CEO of Pages Holdings, Inc. and is one of Cebu’s most successful entrepreneurs. He was selected by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry at its 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2018, The Ateneo Family Business Development Center and Union Bank of the Philippines awarded his business as one of the top ten family businesses in the country.
STEVEN BENITEZ
Founder, Bo’s Coffee
Steve is the Founder of Bo’s Coffee, the Philippines’ first and largest homegrown coffee chain which was established in 1996 in Cebu City. Steve is also the former president of the Entrepreneur’s Organization Philippines and Regional Chair of Asia Pacific Region. He has taken courses at London Business School, Wharton School of Business, Entrepreneurs Masters Program at MIT and Bell Leadership Academy at UNC. He currently sits as a member of the Global Leadership Development Portfolio of EO and a board advisor of Bigg’s diner, the leading casual food chain in Bicol.
PROGRAM FLOW
| 6:00 PM | Doors Open/ Registration |
| 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Welcome Remarks Keynote Speech Primer on the Topic |
| 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Panel Discussion/ Open Forum |
| 8:30 PM | Networking |
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
