Pinoy app maker to represent country in Microsoft Singapore event

A Filipino startup team represented the country at the recent Microsoft BizSpark's DEMO Asia 2012 in Singapore.

 

The group HobbyMash bested 27 other startup teams to represent the Philippines at Demo Asia 2012 held last February 29 to March 1.

 

"HobbyMash is a web app that connects people with others according to similar interests and location. The application’s algorithm suggests new friends who share similar interests as well as new interests that are tailored to the user’s profile," Microsoft said.

 

Also, it said the app allows one to enrich the social experience by informing users about upcoming events and groups within the user’s spheres of interest.

 

HobbyMash CEO Liezl Buenaventura said the app traces its roots to her personal experience, where she and her fiancée found it difficult to find people who shared their interests.

 

"(W)e both discussed about how it would be handy to have an app that solved the problem of connecting and discovering people with similar interests and at the same time, learn new hobbies and activities from the people we meet. This pushed for the creation of HobbyMash," she said.

 

Joining Buenaventura in coming up with HobbyMash are Josh Liao, Rafael Oca and Mark Co.

 

Buenaventura said the application’s primary drive is to share one’s interests and allow one to meet and interact with people based on these interests.

 

Also, HobbyMash is fully integrated with Facebook, which makes it easy to use.

 

While the app uses Adobe Flash for the front end, it also has a C# ASP.NET server hosted on Microsoft’s Windows Azure for its back end.

 

Microsoft BizSpark and its partners Startup Weekend and Founder Institute took 10 startup companies to DEMO Asia 2012, Asia Pacific’s launchpad for the latest technology and trends.

 

DEMO Asia is an event for the best companies and tech startups to launch their products throughout Asia to attract potential investment.

 

For 2012, a selected number of new products and projects will make their public debut to potential investors, partners and the media.

 

Microsoft BizSpark is a global program that helps software companies and startups by giving them access to Microsoft software development tools, connecting them with investors and key industry players.

 

Some of the companies who have acquired promising DEMO companies in the past include Adobe, Cisco, Google, Microsoft, Motorola, Symantec and Yahoo!. DEMO Asia 2012 is co-organized by Sphere Exhibits and the International Data Group. 

 

“Microsoft believes in what Filipinos can achieve with the use of technology. There are many great Filipino minds and we are doing our best to help them recognize their potential in the field of information technology. We will continue to support these individuals as they compete in DEMO Asia 2012 and represent the country,” said Alvin Gendrano, Microsoft Philippines' Developer and Platform Evangelism Director. — TJD, GMA News