Echelon 2024

I'm currently in the Philippines attending e27 (Optimatic), a vibrant gathering of startup leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors.

It's been an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from their experiences.

One of the most memorable moments was a panel discussion with the founder of edamama Philippines, a B2C business specializing in selling mother and baby products.

She shared a valuable insight: building your own website is crucial for establishing control over the customer experience and building a loyal customer base before expanding to larger marketplaces.

This challenged my initial assumption that relying on conglomerates would be sufficient for generating organic leads.

Another key takeaway from a branding roundtable was the importance of cultural sensitivity.

Despite the high level of English proficiency in the Philippines, consumers often resonate more with content in Tagalog.

Similarly, local celebrities tend to be more effective in advertising campaigns than foreign ones. This highlights the importance of understanding local culture and etiquette when doing business in a new market.

So far, I've encountered a diverse group of panelists from Kazakhstan, Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

It's been inspiring to hear their perspectives and learn about the startup ecosystem in different regions.

I'm particularly excited about the upcoming Startup Pitch competition, which features early-stage startups based or operating in the Philippines, ranging from bootstrapped to pre-Series A, where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas and connect with potential investors and partners.

Hopefully, it'll be as exciting as watching Dragon's Den or SharkTank