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Google event attracts 150-some participants
Participants in Start Up Weekend Saipan have their picture taken at the Pacific Islands Club. (Erwin Encinares)
A Google event that aims to promote entrepreneurship on the islands was held for the first time ever on Saipan over the weekend at the Pacific Islands Club.
The workshop, which lasted three days and was called Start Up Weekend Saipan, drew about 150 participants. It was hosted by Google and Bank of Guam and was led by Anthony Quenga, business development officer at the Bank of Guam.
Google has been hosting multiple events with Techstars Accelerators, one of which is Start Up Weekend Guam, which inspires the youth to pitch business ideas to a panel of judges. Last Nov. 4 marked Saipan’s version of the workshop.
For the price of $0.99, the workshop pitted young aspiring entrepreneurs against each other in a battle to see whose business idea is worthy of development.
Quenga said the workshop gave young minds the opportunity to develop their business ideas into real life projects.
“Google has designed it very well where it’s not that difficult. It really is just putting people into a room and just getting those ideas out and then working it into something we can get excited about and hopefully start off,” said Quenga.
Start Up Weekend Guam was well received by the community, so the Bank of Guam wanted to bring that opportunity to Saipan.
“Start Up Weekend Saipan is organized by volunteers of the University of Guam professional Master of Business Administration Program. Start Up Weekend Guam is organized by a different organization, but it is still the same thing—we follow the same guidelines,” said Quenga.
The panel of judges on Saipan was composed of Bank of Guam Saipan branch manager Larry Phillip, Docomo Pacific brand manager Danny Daniel, and University of Guam dean of Business and Public Administration Dr. Annette Santos.
“We’ve consistently been hitting the 50 participant mark and we’re very happy with how well Start Up Weekend Saipan has been received by the community. To see [the participants] dedicating their time and resources to get their projects done was most welcome and refreshing,” said Quenga.
