“Hack2Hatch: from Hacker to Founder” debuts in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines (September 1, 2012) – Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev) and Developers Connect (DevCon) Philippines cordially invite local technopreneur groups in Cebu to submit applications for Hack2Hatch: from Hacker to Founder {h2H}. At h2H, local tech developers  will receive one-on-one mentorship from the best global Filipino entrepreneurs, learn how to present to top venture capitalists, and win seed money to fund and grow their business.

At the helm of h2H is Winston Damarillo who co-founded Cebu-based software company, Exist Global, Inc. in 2001, and founded three other companies before becoming a venture capitalist and entrepreneurship advocate.  “In my experience of forming Philippine-based software companies and taking our products to Intel, IBM and Dell, I can attest that Philippine education and innovation makes the Philippine software industry equipped and ready to be the best in the ASEAN and the Global markets.”

“I’m very optimistic about the Filipino and the Filipino capability. We just need to synergize and become one,” he added.

Part of that synergizing effort is Hack2Hatch, which will be held at Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City. Around 10 startup groups with a maximum of 5 members each will receive concrete steps and real tips from Filipino technopreneurs  who have had success in Silicon Valley. Venture capitalists will also teach participants pitching and presenting tips to take their existing start-ups from the local scene  to global sphere.

“Based on the experience we gathered from the Entrepreneurship Camp we held in Cebu last May, the time has come for all to discover, highlight and harness the talent of the Filipino,” said PhilDev Chairman of the Board and Tallwood Managing Partner, Dado Banatao, a serial entrepreneur turned venture capitalist who is known as a Silicon Valley Visionary.

Damarillo said that the Board of PhilDev are “working on an Infrastructure for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a Framework, so that Filipinos Can Be Great.”

Aside from Damarillo and Banatao, Sheila Lirio Marcelo Founder of Care.com, Art Tan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Integrated Microelectronics, Inc., a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation, and Eric Manlunas, Founder & Managing Director of Frontera Group will also be supervising and advising participating groups along with some special guests: investors and experts from Silicon Valley.

Hack2Hatch is part of the “Silicon Valley Comes to the Philippines,” (SVC2PH)  a special 4-day mentorship and speaker series which aims to take Filipino innovation and entrepreneurship towards collective empowerment and economic development.  The weekend entrepreneurship camp is a kickstarter to PhilDev’s 2012 Economic Forum, “PhilDev Economic Forum: Harnessing Filipino Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” to be held on Monday, October 8th, at Manila Peninsula in Makati.

A free application form for Hack2Hatch in Cebu is available for groups on PhilDev’s website www.phildev.org or on hack2hatch.com. Individuals may also attend as observers.  Hack2Hatch is a free event and is co-sponsored by Exist Global, Inc., and MorphLabs.

For more information on Hack2Hatch, please call Ida Ortiz at 0920-848-1553, email mailbox@devcon.ph, visit hack2hatch.com, or follow us on Twitter @hack2hatch.

For more information on SVC2PH, please call Jo Anne Coruna at 0923-343-6183, email jo@phildev.org, or visit www.phildev.org/svc2ph. You may also like www.facebook.com/philippinedevelopment or follow us on Twitter @phildevfdtn.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Carissa Villacorta (Manila)
0917-595-5480
carissa.villacorta@gmail.com

Doris Mongaya (Cebu)
0916-736-9463
prworks2003@gmail.com