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[irildalumangcad19]

Activity 6-Blog 3

In the GEE 16 lecture series, three speakers discussed intellectual property, the startup ecosystem, and the startup journey.

The first speaker discuss the Intellectual property rights (IPR) safeguard creators' original work like inventions or art. Technology transfer shares knowledge or tech between parties, aiming to boost innovation and economic growth. It involves patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. Benefits include economic development, fostering innovation, and promoting collaboration. Challenges include negotiating agreements and protecting sensitive information.

The second speaker discuss the Startup ecosystems are networks supporting new ventures, varying in structure and resources. Key factors include access to capital, networks, and knowledge, crucial for scaling operations and success. Incubators, accelerators, and public sector support play vital roles, offering resources, mentorship, and infrastructure. Balancing risk and innovation is essential. Understanding these factors is crucial for fostering innovation and economic growth.

The third speaker discussed the startup journey of Virtualahan, detailing its inception, challenges faced, and development. Virtualahan is an organization that focuses on providing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities through online work and training programs. They began their journey by identifying the need to bridge the gap between job seekers with disabilities and suitable employment. Challenges they encountered likely included societal stigmas, accessibility barriers, and the need to build a supportive and inclusive workspace.Their development involved creating innovative solutions to address these challenges. This might have included implementing specialized training programs, establishing remote work environments conducive to diverse needs, and advocating for inclusive employment practices. Over time, Virtualahan likely grew by expanding their network, forging partnerships, and continuously evolving their programs to better serve their mission.The speaker's example of Virtualahan's journey highlighted the resilience, innovation, and commitment necessary to overcome challenges in creating impactful and inclusive startup ventures.

[irildalumangcad19]

QUICK SIP WATER 💦

This is our journey while creating our product. But before that, let me introduce to you our first product. We conducted interviews with some tricycle and motorcycle drivers (known as “rela” and “habal-habal” drivers), asking them about their challenges and problems. They mentioned that a common problem they face is not having enough change when students pay their fares. This inspired us to develop a solution called “EasyPay,” which is a mobile application that allows customers to make payments easily when drivers don’t have change. Unfortunately, We have not succeeded because our intervention is not visible. As a result, we pivoted and created “Quick Sip Water,” which became our final product.

Now, let me introduce our final product, Quick Sip water. While developing this product, we conducted interviews with students. Some of the issues they faced included problems with the printing machine, the distance to the market, and concerns about water safety. We decided to address the water safety issue after hearing about past incidents in our department. To solve this problem, we invented the WaterVendo. We designed the vending machine interface to be user-friendly, ensuring that students could easily purchase water by simply inserting their coin into the machine. The cup would then drop automatically, and water would flow. We also formed a partnership with a classmate who has a business in water supply, and she will become our product’s supplier.

We decided to place our WaterVendo in each department. Before doing so, we asked some students for their reactions to our product. We observed that our interviewees liked the idea of having a WaterVendo for safe drinking water on the university premises, and some of them even requested the inclusion of hot and cold water options in the machine. They mentioned that it’s beneficial for students to stay hydrated as it not only enhances their physical health but also contributes to their overall well-being. Proper hydration is known to improve focus and cognitive abilities, which can lead to better academic performance. Additionally, staying well-hydrated is essential for maintaining energy levels and can positively impact students’ daily activities.

As future physical education educators, we see the significance of these elements in our students’ lives. Our WaterVendo not only addresses the issue of water safety but also promotes the well-being and academic success of our fellow students, ensuring that they have easy access to refreshing and clean water throughout the day.

[irildalumangcad19]

QUICK SIP WATER 💦

Our instructor, with an entrepreneurial mind, gave us a task to solve a problem about the situation of our society in terms of education, transportation, agriculture, and climate change. By the members of six (6), we will conduct interviews in the following categories I mentioned above and then give a solution or intervention about their problems. As we turned around at the university, we planned to interview about transportation and education.

At first, we interviewed the rela drivers, who belong to transportation. The problems of the rela drivers are the price of gasoline, the safety of the students, the number of passengers, and no proper payment. So our group agreed to choose “no proper payment”. Our intervention is that we will make an offline application called Easy Pay. But unfortunately, we have not succeeded because our intervention is not visible. So, our group proceeded to the education, in which we interviewed some of the students, and mostly their problems were printing, food, poor signal, and water safety at the university.

After the interview, we carefully analyze the answers of the interviewees, and then our group decides that we focus on the problem of the students about the water safety of the university. Some students here at the university are not capable of drinking water from the faucet, and I also have a friend who is sick because he drinks the water from the faucet. That’s why our intervention is to put water vendos in the university, which means the water we used is distilled and safe.To distinguish our water vendo machines from others, we decided to use eco-friendly cups instead of cellophane. This not only aligned with our sustainability goals but also minimized plastic waste on campus.

We designed the vendo machine interface to be user-friendly, ensuring that students could easily purchase water by simply dropping their coin into the machine hole.

As we implemented the project, we also launched an awareness campaign to educate students about the importance of safe drinking water and the convenience of our water vendos. We distributed pamphlets, organized awareness sessions, and engaged with the student body through social media platforms. Students not only appreciated the availability of safe drinking water but also recognized the environmental benefits of our approach. As word of mouth spread, the demand for our water vendos increased, leading to a sustainable source of income for our group.

In the end, our project not only addressed a critical issue of water safety but also demonstrated the power of entrepreneurship and innovation in solving societal problems. I learned valuable lessons about project management, teamwork, and the positive impact that proactive initiatives can have on a community. This experience has inspired me to continue seeking innovative solutions to the challenges facing our society.