Startup Asia Jakarta 2012: Startup Arena!!!! (Part 1)

Startup Asia Jakarta 2012!
My first ever tech event, it's a very BIG one I must say
How did I come to this? I was the audio visual guy located at the back of the room.
So if you heard (or did not hear) music playing and saw something you didn't like, I'm the guy to blame
Oh yeah, if you asked for the wifi password to the guy at the back, then most probably it's me again

Enough about me, now let's talk about the coolest thing happened there: ARENA!!!
Cuz I was the tech guy, I had to watch people practicing the pitches, must say I was impressed
It is a competition where tech people pitch their ideas to the judges, get scores, and maybe win $10.000
WHOA! $10.000!?!?!? Yoi brader. The finals came from India, Nepal, Philliphines, Singapore, and Indo!!
Who were the judges? Some expert guys in some fields, like mobile phones, investments, and stuff

But this week, the bosses are not the judges... they are... THE PARTICIPANTS!

First up: HARPOEN!!
Digital tagging app for smartphones, it's like making graffiti in digital world
With the app, you can also see other people's tags in that specific location. Much like twitter, but location based.
Function: nostalgic stuff to remember things, or to get people reviews before entering a restaurant because they have put their tags there, awesome!!

I can see people using it they way they use twitter and stuff, and for nostalgic moments and shit
But what happens when in a location there's like 1 million tags? If Harpoen can handle such thing, then I'm rooting for their app!
Too bad don't have smartphones so can't use. It's already available at itunes btw, cekidot if you're interested
BossToday verdict: Coooool apppp!!!! If only I have smartphones t.t

Next stop: GREPSR!! from Nepal
Catchy name, good services... pricey though - $129 per project fee, so it's not for small medium enterprises on the budget
Though I'd say that it's gonna be worthwhile for your research stuff - it's like having a secretary to do your research, but this time it is for $129 only!

Will it work? Sure, they already have 300 customers already. Good number considering they are still very new in the market.
BossToday verdict: nice one, automating research stuff for big businesses, wish them the best

It's Indonesia's turn! GOBANNNNNNNN!!! (means 50.000 for Chinese people)
The problem they presented - Indonesian people do not have jobs! This is a good way to provide jobs for them
Hmmm... I'd say maybe it can work for middle class people who just want to have fun... for upper class? No way in hell they want to sell their service for only goban... unless goban is only for preview or sample or something

Would it solve low class unemployment problem? Most probably not. Low class don't have internet access to showcase their skills to the website, they only open facebook and twitter lol.
Another big problem is how Gobann monetize this... they connect sellers and buyers and then will take commission out of the job...
How in heck can they make sure that the sellers and buyers would secure a deal in Gobann website? When they can deal on facebook and be free from the commission fee?

BossToday verdict: potential... but still lots of loopholes to cover

Very interesting brand name! Payroll Hero from the Philliphines!!
Employers would LOVE them, employees would HATE them!
Who are the villains? The ghost worker, the buddy puncher and stuff.
It has something to do with employees not optimized enough in their job - they sometimes skip some hours or days from the company but still getting the same paychecks.
If I were an employee, I would hate this company. Skipping some productive hours are fun mind you.

But hey! their business makes a lot of sense. If I were an evil employer who would want to squish my employees as much as I can... sure I'll give payroll hero a try.
So is payroll hero really a hero? They look more like the villains for employees if you ask me.
BossToday verdict: they got 2nd place in the Arena, congrats! Cool brand, cool name, can't say if I would be happy though if my company uses it.


That's all for now, 4 startups with great ideas. More to follow...

Abrakadabra! Food to die for!

So I was watching TV, changing channels here and there when I stumbled upon a nice episode of Masterchef Australia... featuring BOSS OF THE WEEK as Celebrity Chef... Heston Blumenthal!! Heston Who? Heston Abrakadabra Blumenthal!

Abrakadabra! Today you are birds, tomorrow you are soup!

Abrakadabra is definitely the perfect word for him... some other people call him "The Mad Scientist", "The Magician", or "The Culinary Alchemist" I'd prefer to call him "Abrakadabra".

I am no annoying orange, but I speak Mandarin

Why Abrakadabra? You see, he does not become Abrakadabra just because he is a doctorate freakin graduate in culinary science. He becomes abrakadabra because he can transform the juicy fruits above into ...

You got me; I can't speak Mandarin... I'm not even orange you see

Boom! Fruits thy will become meat! Wait what? Yes! The fruits are not fruits... THEY ARE MEAT! Mindblowing! Even the shock was enough to get me up from my bed when watching the episode. Daaamn bro!

Is it tasty? Well I guess so... His restaurant in England, The Fat Duck is lauded as one of the best in the world. Top 5 in the last five years. It has three Michelin Stars (I don't know what it means, but it sounds cool).
And oh yeah, he got a doctorate degree in culinary too... not that it helps. Last but not least, the chef is THE Abra-freakin-kadabra!!

Listening to iPod has never been this hip

Want more? Then behold! Sound of the Sea! Wait what? Yes, the food's name is "Sound of the Sea". It's a bit long, so we'll call it seapod instead.
You buy this dish, and they'll let you borrow their sea-shell ipod to listen to while eating seapod. Why? So it would enhance the tasting pleasure they say... or just to give you an excuse not to listen to your noisy spouse or friends I guess... genius!

Yummy! or Yuck?

What? We're supposed to eat that!? Yuck! What is that?
I know right? Well it turns out it is so yummy, it is called "Legendary Dish" by a lot of food experts. The dish is made of seafood (duh!) and edible seaweed. It is to portray as if you are eating the beach itself.
Magic right? First was eating meat fruits, now it is eating beaches, what sorcery is this!?
(Yes, they say you can eat all that except the sand underneath it... and the glass... and the seapod on that matter.)

But my oh my! Really a blast for the senses!
They say that one customer even fell into tears while eating and listening to the music... either the experience was so mindblowing and beautiful for that woman... or she cried because the food was too expensive for its taste lol.

Sure, I've failed once or twice, don't care! Cuz I'm still 10.000x richer than you baby!!!

But despite all that, Abrakadabra is still human. It is awesome to still see him humbled when presenting his new dishes to revamp "Little Chef" Restaurant as a Celebrity Chef there.
What happened after that? Heard the project failed and Little Chef had to fire a lot of people. But still, we are all human in everything we do. That's why I love Abrakadabra; he is not yet a God hahaha.

How much is it to dine at his restaurant by the way? Only a meager €250 per head, or equivalent to a return Air Asia ticket from Indonesia to any asian countries you desire, or half an iPad, or 36 yummy Stuffed Crust PHD Pizzas.
Wooooh definitely food to die for! Especially if you can't afford it lol

Eat without paying? I'll make a duck soup out of you Mhuahahahahahahaha