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THE most promising startups and tech innovators will converge in the world’s best island of Boracay for the very first “Geeks on a Beach” event on September 26-27, 2013.

This two-day conference — organized by TechTalks.ph who brought Startup Weekend to Cebu and Davao — will be a techfest, featuring the world’s most-promising tech leaders who will talk about instructive and useful topics on gaming, mobile apps, and graphic design.

It will also be a great opportunity for startup founders to pitch innovative ideas and create a network of partners, enroute to building new products and launching businesses that would attract investors to the Philippines.

The gathering will be held against the soothingly beautiful backdrop that Boracay offers — picturesque sunrise and sunset, soft white sand, and clear blue ocean, among many other natural wonders distinguishing Boracay as “the world’s best island” by Travel+Leisure.

The ‘Geeks on a Beach’ confab is very timely for startup enthusiasts as the Philippines has just been given another credit ratings upgrade, following its first investment grade from Fitch Ratings and favorable growth prognoses from various institutions.

An investment grade serves as a signal to investors that a country is suitable for business and that its government and private enterprises have the good ability to pay their obligations.

International credit-rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) said in a statement on May 2 that it had raised the country’s credit rating to the minimum investment grade of BBB- from BB and assigned a “stable” outlook on the country’s new rating.

The Philippines’ improved credit rating is an affirmation that the local economy is sound and at par with higher-rated countries.

Speakers for “Geeks on the Beach” will be Bowei Gai, founder and chief ambassador of World Startup Report; Jojo Flores, co-founder and vice president of Plug & Play; Ron Hose, founding partner of Innovation Endeavors and co-founder of Tokbox; Maria Ressa, CEO and executive editor of Rappler; and many more successful startup leaders.

Gai was recently in the Philippines for the 8th stop of his World Startup Report tour that started on New Year’s Eve this year. Gai’s project is aimed at connecting with local entrepreneurs around the world and pooling together best business practices and knowledge.

“The Philippines has a huge pool of talent,” Gai said. “I just can’t wait to see where and how this country ends up in the next five to 10 years.”

Gai’s bullish projection is also shared by Mr. Hose, who recently moved to the Philippines from Silicon Valley to focus on emerging tech startup opportunities in Southeast Asia.

“The Philippines has been overlooked for a very long time,” Hose said. “The economy is great, the culture is great, the weather is great, and there is a lot of ‘white space’ especially in technologies”

“White space means areas open for opportunities where no one is competing,” Hose explained.

The “Geeks on a Beach” event also features fun-filled geek games, film showing, and exhibitions for participants to enjoy.

Technological background or mastery is not a requirement for admission. One can simply attend “Geeks on a Beach” armed with interest and wicked ideas.

To register, interested parties may visit the official event website athttp://www.geeksonabeach.com/. The first 20 early registrants will get the chance to have a group lunch with the speakers. For more information and details, log on to the official “Geeks on a Beach” Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/GeeksOnABeach and follow developments on twitter @GeeksOnABeach.

“Geeks on a Beach” is organized by TechTalks.ph and sponsored by Ideaspace and Smart through Smart Developer Network, Freelancer.com, Microsoft Philippines, Lenovo Mobile Philippines, Metrodeal.com and Megaworld. This event is also supported by Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP)

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