Businesses That Caught My Eye in the Wharton Business Plan Competition Venture Finals

Businesses that caught my eye in the Wharton Business Plan Competition Venture Finals

Just recently, I attended the Wharton Business Plan Competition Venture Finals. Every one of the finalists’ business ideas was all really amazing but there were three businesses in particular that really caught my eye. These were SlideJoy, Identified Technologies and AdmitSee – all for very different reasons.

SlideJoy giving their elevator pitch to the audience! —“Knowledge is the muscle of Business” —

SlideJoy — “You get paid to view ads”

Whenever we see ads popping out in websites or our smartphones, we never really click them. And during the times we do, it’s probably by accident. This is the problem alot of companies face in trying to promote their products. Enter SlideJoy and their very creative solution to this problem — pay people to view these ads.

This is what SlideJoy was pushing for, and it was probably one of the reasons why they ended up winning the entire competition. I mean, they just basically went against all odds and created an application that pays you to click on ads?? Talk about innovation! If I had an Android phone, I’d make sure to get this app!

SlideJoy – “You get paid to view ads!”

Find out more on how you can get paid for swiping on the advertisments on your lock-screen by checking out their website at: https://www.getslidejoy.com/about and don’t forget to start downloading SlideJoy!!

8 Tips for Students Looking to Apply Abroad (From an applicant who just went through the process)

Looking back at the past year and what I went through during the application process, I can say that CAMP Philippines and my CAMP mentor really helped me in myriad of ways that I will forever be thankful for.

A few days ago, I got a chance to visit my CAMP mentor Chris Dee who is currently a junior at Yale. At one point, we ended up exchanging notes on the application process, synthesizing my experience (what worked well for me), talking about what CAMP has done for all the mentees and underclassmen and just going over the rising college-abroad scene in the Philippines and our role as “Illustrados.”

(CAMP has a super duper helpful guide for people interested in studying abroad (all the essentials are here): http://www.campphilippines.org/uploads/1/2/3/6/12362897/_camp_college_app_guide.pdf

With my CAMP mentor in the Yale, New Haven campus

I still remember going through the process like it was yesterday. The college application process was an experience in itself, filled with countless of highs and lows. And in between all those were valuable lessons I learned that I wish to share with you guys as you go through the process yourselves!

Top 8 Tips for Students Looking to Apply Abroad

1. Enjoy the Process; Treat it like a Game –As you start thinking about applying abroad, it’s inevitable that you will become busier than ever. To add to your academics and countless of meetings already, you will have to study for the SATs, write your essays and find ways to stand-out and boost your application.

Since you will go through it anyway, might as well stay positive and enjoy the process. The best way to do this is really treating the college application process like a (video) game with you trying to improve his score (SAT score?) and finding ways to make it to the next level! And besides, believe it or not, some of your best memories will come from the fact that you’re applying abroad!

An extremely helpful SAT guide: https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/955109-silverturtle-s-guide-to-sat-and-admissions-success.html

Khan Academy: A Free World Class Education – Salman Khan@Stanford

It was always a dream of mine to visit Stanford University and after visiting Stanford today, I now have much bigger dreams when it comes to education – Thanks to Mr. Salman Khan.

I could’ve visited Stanford University on another day but I decided to visit today because there was a speaker I didn’t want to miss. Through the Stanford events page, I found out that, you guessed it right, Mr. Salman Khan, the founder of Khan Academy would be speaking on campus for the Stanford’s DFJ Entrepreneurial Thought Leader Series. I knew I couldn’t miss this opportunity, and I’m glad I didn’t because his talk was worth every minute!

“For the next 10, 15 years, this thing called education, we can make it much more equal, we can make it more like water, a fundamental human right.”

Khan Academy has changed the lives of students from all over the world

Mr. Salman Khan didn’t only keep the talk entertaining by dropping jokes and puns here and there, but he also kept the audience on board by using powerful stories, anecdotes, lessons and real-life experiences that left us all inspired.

(The video will be soon uploaded at the Stanford website: http://events.stanford.edu/events/433/43305/ and http://etl.stanford.edu/)

How it started

Mr. Salman Khan started his speech by talking about the journey of Khan Academy and how it all started. He went way back to the moment where he encountered a simple problem that he wanted to solve. This problem was his cousin having a hard time in math.

5 Lessons from Best Selling Author Mitch Albom

Last week, Mitch Albom visited Xavier School and we were able to hear him speak about his life story, his books and more importantly, lessons he has learned throughout the years. Not everyone gets the opportunity to hear such an inspiring individual so here’s a few of the takeaways I got from our session with him.

Thankful to have gotten to meet Mitch Albom, one of my all time favorite authors

Lesson 1 

You don’t need to know what you want to end up doing at 15 or 16

Mitch Albom wasn’t always the New York Times best selling author we know him to be. He emphasised in his talk how when he was still a high school student, he never thought he’d write all these books. He was just another ordinary high school student who was into several different activities like sports and music. And he actually wanted to become a record producer and write song.

“Sometimes, the kids here worry about what they’re going to be in life at 15 or 16, but I always tell people what I wanted to do at 15 or 16 wasn’t what I ended up doing. Life is going to change. I wanted to be a musician but it didn’t work out. I went into writing and writing worked out but I didn’t write anything until I was 23 years old.”

One Year Blogging Anniversary — The Best Is Yet To Be

I know I should be doing some last minute review for my SAT subject tests right now but as I posted my post on taking my last SATs tomorrow just a few minutes ago, I noticed a WordPress notification with a little trophy and as I clicked on it, there it came, “Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!”

One year of finding the silver lining in every step of the journey

Indeed, time flies. I can’t believe it’s been a year since I started this blog. And reading through some of my posts, I can’t help but feel that I’ve somehow learned how to enjoy life more, to make life count a bit more.

Funny how in some ways, I have gone through a 360 degree change but deep down, I’m still the same David who one year ago started this blog with a purpose. This same purpose I guess is what has enabled me to continue blogging about my experiences, learnings and adventures. 

And no matter how much I’ve changed since the day I started my blog, January 23, 2013, I’m actually still the same curious student of life with a bit more love for writing, but just as perplexed with the obscurities of life as I ever was.

SAT subject tests — One Last Time

It’s been quite a while since I last blog. A lot has happened since the fourth quarter has started yet central to everything I’ve been doing in the past few days and weeks is one thing — reviewing for the SATs, one last time.

And finally, this is it. Tomorrow is the day I take my SAT subject tests. Barring any craziness in the future, this will be the last time I’ll be taking the SATs.

It has honestly been a crazy adventure that has gotten me studying like I’ve never studied before. I’ve carried my biology and math books to places I’d never even think of studying in. I’ve poured almost every ounce of my energy and glucose in an attempt to master all the concepts I’ll be needing.

A Reminder that Life ain’t Perfect

 I miss playing basketball and that’s a fact.

Just last monday, as my friends rushed to the basketball court in my house, I simply couldn’t resist the temptation anymore, I just had to shoot some hoops.

Simply put, it had been so long since I played a pick-up game that when my friends brought up the idea of a half court 3 on 3, I said why not? I mean, I told myself, you don’t need to jump or anything, you just need to chill and have fun.

Yet, muscle memory got to me and I ended up soaring for a lay-up midway through the game and boom, my knee without an ACL anymore, which I haven’t had surgery on, gave out.

I fell to the ground remembering the first time I tore my ACL. The excruciating pain brought back so much memories of the day I tore my ACL and how all my basketball dreams were subsequently crushed. Yet at the same time, a few moments later I realized that tearing my ACL also brought about a lot of new memories and opened a lot of new doors.

18th Birthday – A Reminder That I’m Not Just Another Year Older

Birthdays represent a lot of things. It can mean you’re a year older. It can mean that you’re still alive after said years. It can mean a passing of time. And it can also mean that you can now do certain things, I mean, I’m legal now!! But more than that, it can also mean that it’s time to make a bigger ripple in the world. For me, my birthday this year meant all that plus so much more.

I’m really happy that I got to spend these last few days, including my birthday, with friends who made the last few days such surreal experience. There’s just nothing like eating in a buffet, watching a suspense movie, talking about life, playing basketball with your friends on your birthday. I mean, no matter how absurd or nonsensical we get in our conversations, it’s always a good and euphoric time when you’re with your friends. You can’t help but feel invigorated as you laugh your heart out in almost every single word. I definitely couldn’t have asked for anything more especially after the tiring past few weeks. Laughter with friends truly is the best medicine to anything!

There’s no dull moment with these guys! Super thankful to have spent my birthday with them!

I honestly can’t believe I’m a year older already. Time really does fly by quickly. I’m finally 18 yet it feels as if I’m still a child. I was expecting to feel radically different on the day of my birthday. Yet I realized that change doesn’t happen in one day and that this 18th year of mine, I’ve already changed so much.

Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm – Starting Them Young – DUCK DELIGHTS!

As you step into Gawad Kalinga (GK) Enchanted Farm you will be blown away for you can’t help but feel amazed as you see the vast farmlands with unique built centers of entrepreneurship in between. This awe-inspired feeling was the feeling Xavier students felt as we walked into the Hyundai Center for Green Innovation, a social entrepreneurship center made with bamboo for natural cooling and glass to maximize the sunlight, a powerful example in itself of what the Enchanted Farm is all about, sustainable innovation.

The Hyundai Center for Green Innovation!

Just from the area itself, you can see that there is so much potential for growth and development. And once you hear the social entrepreneurs speak, you suddenly realize that this potential growth isn’t just potential, it is a possible reality. With a mission to not only educate villagers but to also enable them to start their own social enterprises, Gawad Kalinga (GK) has become a hub for social entrepreneurs.

A Week in Preparation for the Entrep Weekend!!

The last two days have been two of the most hectic days of the quarter. It’s funny how all projects are now actually harder than taking tests.

The thing about group projects is that you’re forced to find ways to get everybody to work. You’re forced to work with every single person whether you like him or not. Furthermore, you have to be creative in finding ways to get everyone to contribute.

Unfortunately, the sad reality of life is that some people will just free load. Some people will just do the bare minimum. While the others who want to do their best goes the extra mile. It’s in these types of projects that you see who really cares and who you can count on.

Looking back however, I have to admit that these last two days have been extreme experiences. I had to force myself to adapt and stay focused on the task.

Group picture during the oral defense 🙂 Looking good fellas!

This 3rd quarter focus on creating our own social enterprise and learning about sustainable and authentic development has been an interesting journey so far. We haven’t reached the zenith of the adventure yet we’ve gone through so many abstruse and novel moments already.