DON'T MISS A THING
GOAB 2025: Building a Resilient Future with Technology
Plan your GOAB experience with our complete conference schedule.
VIEW FULL AGENDA
Agenda is subject to change without prior notice.
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Check-in and Badge Pickup (In front of Triton 3 Ballroom)
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Office Hours - Group D
Hosts:
Mary Rose Ofianga
Program Manager
Wadhwani Entrepreneurship SEA
Wadhwani Foundation
Charmel Samson
GOAB Speaker Coordinator
Set-up:
4 roundtables
1 Speaker per table (Total of 4 Speakers)
Each speaker will meet 3 to 4 attendees in a 10-minute one-on-one session
Total session length is 45 minutes (including transition time)
What to Expect:
Meet with a speaker or mentor for a 10-minute one-on-one session. Get quick expert advice and build a connection that could lead to more in-depth conversations after the session.
How to Participate:
Instructions for Office Hours sign-ups were emailed to GOAB ticket holders.
9:45 AM - 9:50 AM
Transition Time
9:50 AM - 10:10 AM
Day 2 Opening / Recap of Day 1
Hosts:
Dave Overton
CEO
Symph.co & GeeksPH
Albert Padin
Chief Innovation and Product Officer
mWell
10:10 AM - 10:20 AM
Welcome Remarks
Invited:
Pamela Baricuatro
Governor
Province of Cebu
10:20 AM - 10:30 AM
A Constellation of Growth: Mapping SEA’s Bright Spots
Mike Matè
General Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Region 7 Startup Initiatives
Moderator:
Monchito Ibrahim
Executive Member
National Innovation Council
Philippines
With:
Dr. Tristan L. Abando
Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Regional Director
Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VII
Central Visayas, Philippines
Frederick "Rik" D.C. Amores
Regional Director
Department of Information and Communications Technology Region VII
Central Visayas, Philippines
Esperanza “Hope” T. L. Melgar
Director OIC
Department of Trade and Industry Region VII
Central Visayas, Philippines
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Networking Break
11:15 AM - 11:25 AM
Building with a Deal in Mind: Preparing Your Startup for Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Trissy Rogacion
PwC M&A Partner
Isla Lipana & Co. / PwC Philippines
11:25 AM - 11:35 AM
Mel Nava
Co-Founder & CEO
1Export
Philippines
11:35 AM - 11:45 AM
People & AI: Bridging Silicon Valley Innovation to the Philippines
Christopher Peralta
Founder & CEO
Silicon Valley HQ (SVHQ)
US/Australia/Global
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Fireside Chat
From Operators to Investors: How AI and Global Shifts Are Rewriting the Founder Playbook
Mohan Belani
CEO & Co-Founder
e27
Singapore
Audra Pakalnyte
Partner
First Move
Malaysia
The investment landscape has evolved significantly since the advent of AI. The expectation for Founders and their growth paths have also evolved and AI has changed the rulebook for company building and culture development.
As a former operator turned VC, Audra will share her views on how this evolution happened and what Founders can do to be ready for it. She will also discuss how the approaches of Southeast Asian Founders compare to Founders in the US and China.
12:15 PM - 12:50 PM
Investor Panel
Moderator:
Mel Nava
Co-Founder & CEO
1Export
Philippines
Speakers:
Paulo Campos
Founding Managing General Partner
Kaya Founders
Philippines
Jecky Pelaez
Partner
Kickstart Ventures
Philippines
Jeremy Young
Associate
Gentree Fund
Philippines
Migu Macale
Senior Investment Manager
Ideaspace Ventures
Philippines
12:50 PM - 1:50 PM
Lunch
1:50 PM - 2:00 PM
Move to Breakout Rooms
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Will Crypto Make You Rich in 2025?
Luis Buenaventura
Head of Cryptocurrencies
GCash
Philippines
- Head of cryptocurrencies at GCash, the leading financial superapp in the Philippines.
- Crypto author, artist, and entrepreneur.
- Former Philippine country manager of Yield Guild Games, and a co-founder at BloomX, a licensed cryptocurrency exchange. He's one of the world's first NFT artists (CurioCards, 2017), and is the first Filipino NFT artist to have work sold at Christie's and Sotheby's.
2:20 PM - 2:30 PM
Startup Demos with Expert Panel Q&A
Host:
Ashley Uy
Senior Product Owner, Synacy
Community Builder, SproutUpBohol + GOAB
Go beyond the pitch and get an exclusive look inside the engine room of post-revenue startups.
Founders will conduct demonstrations of their products, revealing the design, logic, and code that powers their innovations.
Following each demo, a panel of industry experts—investors, mentors, and fellow founders—will engage in a candid and lively discussion, providing feedback and sparking debate.
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Startup Demo 1
Noel Del Castillo
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
Startup Demo 2
Zenia Mai Espeleta-Go
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Startup Demo 3
Mikko Dimapasoc
3:15 PM - 3:35 PM
Q&A with Reactors to Demos 1 & 2
(For Confirmation):
Kevin Brockland
Founder & Managing Partner
Indelible Ventures
Malaysia
Jose Dalino
CTO
Paymongo
Singapore/Philippines
Audra Pakalnyte
Partner
First Move
Malaysia
Mena Ramos, MD
Co-Founder, Co-CEO
Global Ultrasound Institute
3:50 PM - 4:25 PM
10 myths from 10 years as an Entrepreneur - Let’s get personal!
Josef Werker
Co-Founder & CEO
Humble Sustainability
Philippines
4:25 PM - 4:45 PM
Awarding of Finalists & Winners
API Build Lab
By 917Ventures & Concati
The API Build Lab Awarding celebrates the journey of the Top 5 finalists and recognizes the best API innovations. The program features a short message from 917Ventures, a highlight video recap, and the much-awaited announcement of the winners. All finalists will be recognized on stage with certificates of participation, followed by the awarding of the 2nd runner-up, 1st runner-up, and the grand winner. The program concludes with closing remarks and a group photo with finalists, winners, and organizers.
Special Remarks:
Natasha Dawn Bautista
Startup Programs & Ecosystem Head
917Ventures
Philippines
Finalists:
Elmer Joaquin, Team Kivoe
Kevin Vega, Team Lendr
Jan Pabellon, Team Smile Checks
Christiansen Hermosilla, Team CHEK Technologies
Franczeska Lou Badong, Team Via Panisperna
Hosts:
Haifa Carina
Alliances and Partnerships Manager
Ascendion
Philippines
Dave Overton
CEO
Symph.co & GeeksPH
Albert Padin
Chief Innovation and Product Officer
mWell
4:55 PM - 5:00 PM
Closing Talk - Government Speaker
5:00 PM - 5:10 PM
Awarding of Prizes. Event ends!
OCTOBER 3 - BREAKOUT ROOMS
See you at the beach!
Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) is an annual international conference for everyone passionate about tech, startups, design, and making the world brighter. This year, we're building on that mission with the theme: "Building a Resilient Future with Technology."
Our 8th edition, taking place on October 1-3, 2025, at JPark Island Resort in Mactan, Cebu, will be a powerful conversation on how our community can refocus, rebuild, and renew in the face of today's global challenges.
The conference will tackle the disruptions from geopolitical shifts and the rapid rise of AI, helping attendees explore practical ways to use technology for growth and stability. We are showcasing content that will inspire attendees to refocus, rebuild, and renew as they build a more resilient future.
