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Updated job openings!
Please do find our updated list of job openings in our startup network!
You can click on the link at the menu above or just click here.
You can contact either me (at peter@juangreatleap.com) or Angeli (angeli@stormrewards.ph) for queries or to send your resume.
It was around 11:30 am.
I just closed the main pitching activity at the recently-held JGL Open Coffee activity and told everyone to gather at the hallway of 47 East to take a quick group pic.
And so we did.
After that, I told everyone it was free time.
You can probably imagine what happens next.
Wondrous chaos.
People began to just talk with one another. Small groups of 2, 3, and four people began to form.
Energy filled the room.
And then, incoming senior student Danny Moynihan unassumingly enters the room.
He quickly introduced himself to me, and then apologized for being late (he was from the south and got lost).
He then asked:
“Is the pitching done?”
“Yes, it was a few minutes ago.”
“Can I try to pitch?”
“Uhm…alright, let me try gathering them”
I then tried shouting: GUYS! CAN WE JUST GATHER QUICKLY FOR A QUICK PITCH?
…
I shouted again.
It was no use though.
People were very much INTO their conversations.
So I told Danny: “Sorry bro, it’s going to be tough to gather them like this.”
“Can I try, though?” Danny asked.
“Be my guest.”
After around 10 minutes, Danny miraculously got some of the people sitting down in an adjacent room, with half the people still having small conversations in the hallway.
Then, he got up on an elevated part of the room.
Then he proceeded to do what had to be THE LAST THING I’D EVER THOUGHT I’D SEE IN AN OPEN COFFEE EVENT.
You just have to see it for yourself: (go full volume)
Of course, by the time he finished, EVERYONE’S EARS were glued now glued to his every word. He then calmly gave his pitch. (and got more than a few people interested)
Now THAT, I thought, was pretty entrepreneurial!
(Lesson here: NEVER miss a JGL OPEN COFFEE session 🙂
In this early 2005 interview with Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder described Facebook as:
“I mean, I just really want to see everyone focus on college and make a really cool college directory product…there doesn’t necessarily have to be more…”
Zuck was intent on just focusing in colleges. He was ecstatic with his 3 million users.
Then, somewhere along the way, he realized he was sitting on a goldmine. Now? He’s just passed his first BILLION users.
Sometimes, all we need is a fresh look at our business to experience an epiphany.
Pao and I experienced the same thing in STORM around 2 years ago. (at a lesser extent than Zuck, obviously) We were making most of our money off of the monthly retainer we were charging our clients for using our flexible benefits system. It was evergreen. It was paying the bills. We were okay.
Then we that saw our online Flexible Benefits system was enabling a particularly large amount of transactions per annum.
Epiphany.
It was time to change our business model. We wanted to do it fast, so we went for broke and raised investor money (for the first time) to allow us to go after our strategy. Hard.
What is the big-league alter ego of you current startup? Is there a Superman your Clark Kent can become?
The greatest enemy of a business owner is complacency. Even at the peak of your company’s powers, you should always ask yourself – how can I do things better? These new tools coming out – how can I use them to power my business? How can this idea be BIGGER?
You need to think about it carefully and plan.
Thinking of doing a bakeshop? Perhaps you can be the first social-media powered bakeshop – where you can tweet people that they HAVE to come over – because a fresh batch of pandesal is about to be taken out of the oven. (can someone please do this – freshly baked pandesal is just heaven)
Are you a database programmer who wants to put up a business? Instead of doing database consulting, perhaps you should look at big data opportunities in different industries and try to look for a real-world problem where data can be a solution. (there a lot – recruitment, cellular data, enrollment data, government, etc…)
Think bigGER!
It’s OPEN COFFEE TIME again this March 23, 930 am at the 47 East Facility at Loyola Heights.
We’re inviting all startup-minded folk – veterans, startup newbies, and especially those who wish to take the leap – to drop by this awesome venue to both learn and network!
For those new to this monthly gathering, the format of OPEN COFFEE is pretty unique – everyone will have a strict 2 minutes to make a pitch. A pitch could be ANYTHING – a business idea, a call for advice, a call to partner, a recruitment pitch, etc…
(Well, anything EXCEPT doing a hard sell of an existing product or service)
And as those who’ve been to past sessions can attest – these sessions are AWESOME.
Do reserve your slot by clicking on the Eventbrite button below:
As per tradition, we shall be holding the event in a startup-related venue.
This time, it will be in a newly constructed co-working space near the Katipunan University belt – 47 East. (I was there a couple of days ago – it looks fantastic! Pictures below.)
See you there!
I’ve written about this matter extensively in this blog – I can’t over-emphasize how important finding the right partner is. In fact, I think I can say that for my case, this factor has been THE biggest factor determining a startup’s success or failure.
I recently wrote an article for homegrown.ph summarizing what I think are the most important items to consider. Do check it out here.
In a lot of ways, it was like launching a startup.
The concept (sorta-kinda-like group speed dating) had never been done before and it was either going to be AMAZING or a complete, fiery DISASTER. No in-between.
We thought it was a great way of creating better impact with a larger crowd than the usual conference/panel format. It was like holding a candle to a moth. We had to do it.
It now fell on the capable shoulders of Matt Lapid to execute.
At around 230, we started with a prayer, a sorta keynote (I felt totally unworthy doing a keynote, so I instead just went with some reminders), and then I painstakingly went through with the instructions – which were crucial.
First bell – transition, 5 minutes.
Second bell – settle down, 1 minute
Third bell – start, 20 minutes
Five rounds of this.
The first bell sounded and people began going around with their maps (which people were also using as checklists).
Second bell sounded. People were settled in their chosen areas.
Third bell sounded. No need – people were starting!
And there it was – energy!
I walked around the designated areas. People were nodding heads. Entrepreneurs were passionate.
Soon, the second and the third rounds were commencing. I started to allow myself to smile while walking around – we had managed to pull of a unique, amazing event!
It was evident how much people were LEARNING from the format and these marvelous entrepreneurs.
By the fifth round, the entrepreneurs were visibly tired, but incredibly, still just as passionate. It was amazing to see them give so much. EVERY entrepreneur wanted to make each of their answers (even if some of the questions repeated) as unique and as special for the person in front of her asking.
Drei Alquiros Fun and learning a lot here in @juangreatleap ‘s #Startupsunplugged
paula nierras Reaffirming, inspiring, and goosebumps-inducing afternoon c/o@JuanGreatLeap. Thanks and congratulations! #startupsunplugged
Zar Castro Had a blast. Learned a lot. Thanks @JuanGreatLeap!
Jairuz A Thanks to @JuanGreatLeap @PeterCauton for organizing a very successful #startupsunplugged event today… See you on the next event!
Renelyn Tan Amazing event by @juangreatleap this afternoon. Thanks for all the inspiring entrepreneurs who shared their experience.
Yas Coles Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon: meet startup superstars to get going. Looking forward to more @JuanGreatLeap
Kazumi Shiroma “Be shameless with failure, be critical when you want to help.” -Reese Fernandez-Ruiz | Well spent Saturday afternoon with@JuanGreatLeap 🙂
Maria Rona Beltran @JuanGreatLeap learned a lot of building an #entrepreneur attitude and startup stuff last saturday!
For those who attended, let me repeat the most important thing: I hope you not only learned from the experience, but I sincerely pray that you USE whatever motivation and/or information you were able to garner.
Our major sponsors:
Ayala Foundation: Thank you so much to Michi and her team for the beautiful venue, all the logistical help, and introducing us to some of the entreps!
Kickstart: To Minette and her team – for all the help and support! If you have a startup and you need funding, you have GOT to talk to Minette and her team.
Co.lab: Especially Chesa for helping us design the whole event, and for lending us Danella, who agreed to celebrate part of her birthday weekend as one of our awesome 20 entreps!
Velprint: For all your printing needs, be sure to check out the awesome, high quality work which Velprint can provide.
Thank you so much to our minor sponsors as well:
Gonuts Donuts for the awesome pastries!
Starbucks for the perfect cup of coffee (and water) you served (and boy, did it go splendidly with the doughnuts!)
Rocket Concepts for producing ALL the marketing/event collateral we used.
Human Nature for the awesome giveaways!
Stream Engine Studios for the great video introduction of our 20 entreps!
More pics! (for even more pics, check out the facebook page)
I’ve been getting a quite a few emails asking startup questions.
Here’s one of them I was just about to answer, then my brilliant wife suggested, “Why don’t you answer it through a post so more people can benefit?”
I love my wife.
Reader Ken asks:
One can write whole books just talking about this topic. But if I were to offer a distilled, admittedly shoot-from-the-hip answers, they would be:
a) Find a good great partner. Don’t go for more than 3 people in your founding team. 2 is zen: maker/seller.
b) Business model > product.
Obviously, the product is crucial. But how will you generate a scalable business from your product? You need to look at your business model. How do you build your business model? Check out Steve Blank’s FREE startup lecture at www.udacity.com
c) You have to embrace failure. It’s a prerequisite to success. You have to develop thick skin.
d) Learning > Money now
e) Find good great employees
f) Go fulltime. This is one of the huge learning points I’ve absorbed over the last 2 years. If at least one of the FOUNDERS (not employees) isn’t fulltime, then it would take an honest-to-goodness miracle for your startup to succeed. The most important element your startup needs isn’t money. It’s time.
I can’t claim to be any expert here. You can go ask my good buddy Ben Francia. Ben? Any 3-4 key principles to remember?
Very easy if you have collateral. Extremely difficult if you are a startup with no collateral.
Funding from angels/VC’s/incubators? There are a number of these now. Getting a bit easier if you have the right product and the right team. The price to pay? Equity.
If I were you, try your best to bootstrap everything first. Seek money from family/friends. Find a way to do the business by yourself and generate traction/revenue.
Traction makes EVERYTHING easier and give you a lot of flexibility.
The truthful answer: none. Its corny, but I think everything happened to me at exactly the right time.
One thing that I think maybe could’ve helped? Starting earlier. Starting earlier would have meant I would have learned FASTER, plus I wouldn’t have had risked as much as I did.
Hope this helps Ken!
Three quick things:
1) The event is fully booked again, but we’re releasing about 20 tickets because of people who called to say they can’t make it (thank you so much for the thoughtfulness guys!)
2) VENUE: there was some confusion because at some point, the Eventbrite Googlemap was pointing to some place else.
The event will be at the Ayala-TBI office, at the UP-AYALA Technohub along Commonwealth in Diliman, QC. The venue is right beside Figaro where all the restaurants are. You can look at the map here.
3) Try to be there at 130pm. We are expecting a sizeable crowd, so please try to be at the venue at 130 so we can start asap.
I’m pumped and excited for tomorrow!
I’m starstruck.
Looking at our line-up for Saturday, I am humbled, excited, giddy, honored, and super-thankful all at the same time.
I cannot over-emphasize the fact: Saturday will be a TREMENDOUS LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
You just have to take advantage of this rare opportunity to gain access to some of the most innovative and compelling startup founders in the country today.
There will be a brief keynote, and then the main “group speed dating” activity will transpire.
The rules are simple:
Two very obvious suggestions then:
Now, here’s my very biased, star-struck, and informal guide to WHY YOU HAVE TO TALK TO EACH ENTREPRENEUR.
Ready? Let’s do it. In no particular order:
1. KAREN YAO is dear friend I had known since my HR days. Karen has had what I would call a very organic journey into entrepreneurship. She’s simply one of the best HR practitioners I know. And of course, when you’re as good in your field as she is in hers, a very obvious choice is to go consulting. She established a great solo consulting career before realizing it’s a great advantage if you build a company around your consulting practice. She founded Congruent Partnerships in 2010, a company which provides the world-class HR outsourcing services to SME’s. Karen’s taught me some real valuable lessons: that doing great work results in the freedom to CHOOSE who to work with, and that BIG isn’t necessarily always GREAT.
Those of who who are interested in B2B’s, bootstrapping, transitioning from consulting into running a firm, functional consulting, and anything HR – TALK to Karen!
2. There’s a reason why TEMBONG YAMBAO‘s face was plastered in a big EDSA ad promoting an entrepreneurial event some years back. This guy is an awesome entrepreneur. He’s founded a couple of huge distribution firms already, including Apollo, which I think is the largest independent pharma distribution company in the country. Tembong is one of the most animated and charismatic “let’s do it” guys you’ll ever meet, which sometimes belies his keen entrepreneurial mind.
If you are interested in serial entrepreneurship, retail, “brick and mortar” business, and learning about the art of networking (oh wow, I think Tembong is the best networker I know), then you should talk to this guy.
3. Babypips is a forex trading website with a GLOBAL audience. ODELL RAMIREZ is one of the guys behind that. Have you heard of the awesome Looloo review app which was recently launched? This guy is also behind that. I had a chance to talk to Odell in a startup event some months ago and he is just an awesome conversation!
Interested in building a startup around an online community? Doing a great mobile app? Serial entrepreneurship? Doing an online training platform? Odell’s the guy to approach!
4. Filipino startup legend JOEY GURANGO needs no introduction. He is not only one of the most decorated startup tech entrepreneurs in the country, but as you will surely find out, also one of the most gracious. Joey has been an early supporter of Juan Great Leap, and we always look forward to hearing his sage wisdom during events. He is a very active supporter of tech startups
Doing a tech startup? Interested in LEAN METHODOLOGY? Want to know how you can market your tech products abroad? Just want to hear plain kick-ass startup wisdom? You can’t go wrong with allotting one of your 6 slots to Joey.
5. I wrote about NOREEN BAUTISTA a few months back. Fresh off college, she founded EcoIngenuity, wit its flagship brand, Jacinto and Lirio, which creates fashions items from the (pest) water hyacinth. It’s a brilliant idea, which is brilliantly executed by Noreen and her team. Noreen has created a solid distribution for her products, uses great branding strategies, makes a profit, and most importantly helps uplift impoverished communities. Noreen, I find, is also a great young networker and pours herself into her advocacies.
If you are interested in social entrepreneurship, retail, fashion, doing a startup right after college, bootstrapping, networking, and about (very) young people doing startups, talk to Noreen!
6. I don’t know MARK RUIZ personally, but he’s one of the people I’m really very excited to meet and learn from on Saturday. Mark took the leap from corporate to become one of the most renowned and awarded social entrepreneurs in the country. His firm, Microventures, launched the popular microfinance program Hapinoy back in 2007, helping thousands.
If you are interested in social entreprises, microfinance, business incubation, enacting massive social change, taking the leap from corporate, and even tech stuff, Mark’s your guy.
7. Of course, Mark gets to marry ANOTHER multi-awarded social entrepreneur in REESE FERNANDEZ-RUIZ. Reese is the President and co-founder of Rags2Riches, a social enterprise that has drawn worldwide attention for its eco-ethical approach to style. Reese was one of five inaugural Rolex Young Laureates by the Rolex Foundation in Switzerland for recognition of her work.
If you are interested in social enterprises, retail, style, making waves across different countries, sustainable fashion, and helping communities, be sure to approach Reese!
8. I’d say DAVID CRUZ is one of the most underrated tech entrepreneurs in the country. Heard about the PLDT telpad? One of his firms, Neugent Technologies, made it. The same firm which has has been developing surveillance systems and exporting to more than 40 countries worldwide. A former corporate salesperson turned serial entrepreneur, David has founded other firms engaged in hardware and gaming. Can’t wait to hear this guy’s insights – he founded his first firm when he experienced an epiphany in a visit to Korea – where he saw college kids form tech startup ventures.
If you are interested in serial entrepreneurship, tech (particularly hardware), jumping from corporate, scaling firms, working for big clients, and building global distribution channels, then David’s your guy.
9. DANELLA YAPTINCHAY is an ex-globetrotter who has found a living in developing startups which cater to startups! Her firms include startup hangout Co-lab, startup service provider Full Suite, and the recently launched startup publication, Homegrown. You will surely enjoy talking to Danella with her global mindset, in-depth knowledge of the Filipino startup scene, and on-point insights. It’s also her birthday on the 2nd, so be sure to greet her!
If you are interested in: b2b’s, service firms, firms which cater to the SME/startup industry, want to know more about the Philippine startup founder and how they think, co-labbing, and globetrotting, be sure to visit Danella’s nook!
10. I met ESTELLE OSORIO in one of the earlier Startup Saturdays I’ve done. I found someone so open, insightful, and compelling! Another corporate leaper, Estelle went fulltime into her startup, BizWhiz Business Training and Consultancy, back in 2010. Estelle runs and organizes both public and corporate training courses and now has numerous renowned clients who are happy to call her a business partner. Estelle herself is an awesome public speaker and trainer!
If you are interested in: building a b2b business, building a training business, building communities, bootstrapping, training, (very) young people running startups, and public speaking, go talk to ESTELLE!
11. You have probably seen GIAN SCOTTIE JAVELONA in TV or in an article (I did an article on him months ago – which easily became one of the most popular posts ever) somewhere. Why, you ask? Well, he’s a startup founder (Orange Apps). Oh, and he’s also going to be a senior in College NEXT YEAR. Wow. Great Scott indeed! Go visit his area!
If you are interested in mobile apps, developing a tech startup, and (very, very) young startup founders, this is your guy!
12. Where do I start with NIX NOLLEDO? Nix is one of the most awesome entrepreneurs I’ve ever met (and I’ve met quite a lot). Period. Nix is a serial startup entrepreneur/ investor, having built and invested in numerous highly successful startups like Havoc Digital (responsible for the likes of Pinoy Exchange, myayala.com), Rappler, and mobile startups like Fluxion and Xurpas – both of which operate on a global scale. Nix is refreshingly down-to-earth and low-key WHILE clearly being a big-idea guy who can see possibilities years down the line. Oh, and Nix is another spectacular networker with an eye for entrepreneurial talent.
If you are interested in: e-commerce, super-serial entrepreneurship, startup funding, tech entrepreneurship, mobile, building global firms, and long-term strategy, then talk to Nix!
13. The multi-awarded MAOI ARROYO is a Filipino trailblazer. Her firm, Hybridigm, is the first biotech consulting firm in the country. Hybridigm has become a game-changing startup incubator, having facilitated over $3.5M in biotech investments, trained over 15,000 aspiring entrepreneurs, and now, raising seed capital for 4 startups and series A funding for 3 companies. I had the privilege of meeting Maoi a few weeks back, and wow, she makes quite the impression with her wit, intelligence, trailblazer outlook, and humor.
If you are interested in: biotech, doing a startup based on the life sciences, startup incubation, startup funding, and R&D, you should go talk to Maoi!
14. We have Human Nature products in our home. My wife raves about them. Human Nature co-founder ANNA MELOTO-WILK takes a lot of pride in her company’s pro-poor, pro-environment approach, as well as the fact that she has led her company’s growth to around 200 employee in just under 4 years. Anna is another multi-awarded, globally recognized entrepreneur we should all be proud of. She recently got selected as one of DEVEX 40 Under 40 Award for international development leaders.
If you are interested in: retail, brick-and-mortar startups, social entrepreneurship, and scaling fast, talk to Anna!
15. You already met JUSTIN GARRIDO in Matt’s recent post about him. Justin combines his social entrepreneur side with his tech sensibilities in creating the crowdfunding website for local social-impact projects, socialproject.ph
If you are interested in: the crowdfunding concept, social enterprises, e-commerce, and social change, be sure to talk to Justin!
16. LUIS BUENAVENTURA is a cool dude. He has a wide range of interests, is very outspoken, and knows how to tell a story (a talent). He’s also one of those rare programmer/designer hybrids which comes in quite handy in doing startups. Oh, and Luis is also brilliant entrepreneur. He managed to sell his startup Syndeo way back in 2008. He’s now running Infinite.ly, a startup which helps non-tech people build awesome websites, and also is a very passionate advocate of tech startups, helping run the tech bootcamp, Hack2Hatch.
If you are interested in: tech startups, design, serial entrepreneurship, the Philippine tech startup scene, bootstrapping, young people doing startups, young people SELLING startups, then Luis is your guy.
17. MIKE GO is the founder of Trese, a silkscreen printing and sewing enterprise based in GK Blue Eagle Village in Payatas 13. Since its registration in 2011, Trese has produced over 100,000+ items while engaging out-of-school-youth, nanays, and other community members in Payatas 13. He also currently serves as the Social Enterprise Development Head of Human Nature.
If you are interested in: social enterprise, community development, social entreprise incubation, and agriculture-based startups, Mike’s your guy!
18. Raffy Taruc, Kiyo Miura, Miguel Buling & Brett Lim – I first met these guys (well, two of them), early last year. There were still trying to figure out their execution strategy. They did bring beer to the meeting for us to sample. Now, I don’t really fashion myself as some “beer connoisseur,” but they brought some GREAT TASTING beer. I’m happy to say their great beer can now be found in different establishments around town!
If you are interested in: retail, building your own consumable-product from scratch (R&D), food-and beverage startups, bootstrapping, building a distribution channel, and of course, BEER, well, you have to talk to these four. (I’m sure you’ll it will be a fun conversation – guess who the stand-up comic is among the 4)
WHEW! That’s 3-4 hours of writing! But it was worth it! Do check these guys out on Saturday! They’re going to be there for YOU.
I had a grand time chatting up a storm with Franky and Jay at theBobberycast last night!
With a Battlestar Galactica backdrop, we talked about Juan Great Leap, the role of the academe in the startup ecosystem, how to get more students interested in startups, the startup Bottleneck, the sudden boom of the Philippine startup scene, how funding can help the 30-something would-be-entrepreneur, my Chikka experience, and so much other stuff.
You can view the video here.
JUAN GREAT LEAP 