Geeks on a Beach in Cebu on its 7th year

CEBU CITY— Geeks On A Beach (GOAB), a premier international tech startup conference in the Philippines where innovation and inspiration converge in one event, is back in Cebu on its 7^th year, at the JPark Island Resort & Waterpark in Mactan Island, Cebu on November 13-15, 2024.

“Cebu is known for its economic growth and world-class beaches and is hence the perfect place to hold GOAB, an event that has taken the position as a critical pillar of the tech startup ecosystem in the Philippines and beyond,” Dave Overton, GOAB co-founding organizer, and Symph founder and CEO said.

GOAB is essentially a non-profit organization committed to growing the tech and startup landscape by bringing together a diverse set of stakeholders, from founders and government agencies to creatives and venture capitalists, Overton bared.

Since its launch in 2012, GOAB has become a critical pillar in the Philippine startup ecosystem that aims to boost tech startup and investment opportunities in the country and the Southeast Asian region.  The conference’s second installment was held in 2014 after its inaugural launch in Boracay Island, was also held in Cebu.

GeeksPH organizes GOAB in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to highlight the development and potential of the country’s startup ecosystem.

The much-anticipated international conference promises an unparalleled convergence of startup ecosystem stakeholders while offering a unique blend of serious conversation and relaxed networking.  With over 500 entrepreneurs, investors, and global leaders expected to attend,

“GOAB delivers tangible benefits to attendees in terms of catalyzing inspiration and a venue for networking and collaboration that can lead to success in the long term. We foster a supportive community for startups and entrepreneurs,” Tina Amper, GOAB founding organizer stated.

Amper shared that in GOAB 2023 in Panglao brought new openings to some of the big names of the startup community in the Philippines.  GOAB was also instrumental to the long-term success stories of tech upstarts who found their footing in the startup world by participating in past GOAB conferences.

Amper bared that this year’s GOAB focuses on the latest trends and challenges in the tech industry and the positive impact of the government’s Innovative Startup Act (ISA).  It also highlights DICT’s years-long work in unlocking market potential for local tech startups and positioning the Philippines as the next frontier for innovation in Southeast Asia.

 GOAB 2024 lineup of events

GOAB event starts on November 13 with in-depth masterclasses from international industry experts. These two-hour workshops explore essential topics related to tech, startups, and design.

The main conference on November 14-15, feature a dynamic agenda, including keynote presentations and breakout sessions covering various sectors, such as Fintech, EduTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, and ClimateTech. 

There will also be investor and founder roundtable discussions, exhibits, business matching, networking opportunities, open-area sessions, and happy hour mixers.

Leading the rich lineup of speakers are some of the most influential voices in the tech and startup space, including Jojo Flores, Co-founder of Plug & Play; Mel Nava, Co-founder & CEO, 1Export; Crystal Lee Gonzalez, CEO & Co-founder, Noneaway; Christina Laskowksi, Strategic Advisor, STAC-Silicon Valley; Mohan Belani, CEO & Co-founder, e27.

“We also have Jen Bilango, Country Manager, Coins.ph; Peter Kovacz, Co-founder, Global Startup Awards; Gui Faria, Co-founder, Penbrothers; Josef Werker, Co-founder, Humble Sustainability and Partner, Buko Ventures; Franco Varona, Founder, Foxmont Capital Partners,” Amper said.

Also included in the list are Ksther Lim, CEO, The People Decoder; Jay Fajardo, Executive Director, Ideaspace Ventures and QBO Innovation; Diane Eustaquio, Director, PINVEST; Mia Bulatao, COO, Great Deals E-Commerce Corp.; Erika Aquino, Global Investor & Strategic Advisor; and Jeremy Au, COO, Lucent & Host, Brave Southeast Asia Tech Podcast.

“We encourage participation from all sectors in GOAB. Let’s support each other in navigating startup entrepreneurship’s challenging yet rewarding journey. By building connections and fostering a community of driven individuals, we help uplift the entire ecosystem and grow the economy collectively,” Amper said.

To join Geeks On A Beach, purchase tickets at https://geeksonabeach.com or email hello@geeksonabeach.com. Discounted tickets are available for a limited period.

You can also connect with GOAB by visiting its social media accounts: Facebook: @GeeksOnABeach X: @GeeksOnABeach; and LinkedIn: Geeks On A Beach. (Photos: GOAB Facebook)