Flipnotes app win first ever Bohol Startup Weekend

An innovative noting application that helps users share fun memories and experiences won the first place in the first ever Bohol Startup Weekend held in the University of Bohol in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The Flipnotes app, which bested eight other apps last weekend, allows users to create notes that have pictures in front with the text behind it and which can be flipped using a flip function.

The Bohol Startup Weekend last May 23 to 25 is a local leg of the Startup Weekend, a global movement of active technopreneurs learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures.

"It's basically a 54-hour gathering of tech developers, designers, marketers, and startup enthusiasts for the purpose of sharing innovative ideas, crafting new products, and launching startups," said event organizer Benjamin Skelton.

The Bohol Startup Weekend was organized by TechTalks.ph, Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communication Technology Office, Bohol Information and Communication Technology Council, and the Bohol Provincial Government.

Beginning with open mic pitches on Friday, attendees bring their best ideas and inspire others to join their team. Over Saturday and Sunday teams focus on customer development, validating their ideas, and building a minimal viable product before demonstrating their prototypes on Sunday night.

The Flipnotes team was awarded a 3 month virtual incubation by CebuinIT, Geeks on a Beach ticket from TechTalks.ph, Freelancer membership, access to Auza.net OSX development facilities, an iPod from Airbnb, free massage, and Ideaspace mugs and shirts.

The second place went to RentMINE, an app which provides a venue for users who want to rent out their personal items for extra cash. RED App or the Ready for Emergency and Disaster mobile application won third place.

"The success of Bohol Startup Weekend is a great leap forward for the thriving of tech startups and the growth of the ICT industry in the regions," said DOST-ICTO Deputy Executive Director Mon Ibrahim.

TechTalks.ph founder Tina Amper moreover said that the Bohol Startup Weekend helped broadened the horizon for technopreneurship in the country and push local innovative talents to the forefront.

The other Bohol Startup Weekend teams include Talk 2 Doc, an online appointment booking system for doctors; RState, an online marketplace for real estate properties; UNLOCKED Design Services;

#Rent, a private mailbox catering to young working professionals; iBuild, a search app for architectural and structural professionals; and Anda Concepts, a tourism portal dedicated to the Anda area.

The teams were judged by DOST-ICTO Deputy Executive Director Mon Ibrahim, Insights Consulting Owner David Aaron, Ideaspace Associate Director Dustin Masancay, Orange & Bronze Software Labs CEO Calen Legaspi, and Rhett Jones of Synacy.

The Gold sponsors are Ideaspace, Smart, University of Bohol, and Cebu Business Incubator for IT. The Silver sponsors are Dalareich, Islands group, Airbnb, Printbit, Freelancer, and PRworks Inc.while the Bronze sponsors are Live Lingua and Onmutu.

The media sponsors include Inewmedia.org, Auza.net, Rappler, Third Team Media, Vigattin Radio, Zero Three Two, Innopub, Istorya.net, Balikbayan Magazine, and Asian Journal Publications.

The next Startup weekend workshop will be held on June 6-8, 2014 at the University of Cebu Banilad campus.  To register or sponsor, go to www.cebu.startupweekend.org.