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Tech101 - the Demo Day

14th blog

March 17, 2019

Electricity is one of the needs we need in our daily lives. Its hard not to have electricity. Most of us, especially business men who has problems with electricity due to power interruption and any other problems that may affect our daily lives. This week is Demo week 😀 each of the groups has prepared a presentation for the judges. The presentation is called a "Pitch deck" where each group has to pitch their product to the judges. That is what we did this week, we pitched our product to the judges. So as our classmates.

The problem we faced on week 14 is: the way we explained our project. At first, one of the judges got the wrong idea. She thought that we would be a company like the local electric company which is the wrong idea. The judges were so nice and professional. As the solution to this misunderstanding, we explained it thoroughly and neatly to the judges on how the system works!

What I learned on week 14: Well, I learned that to pitch is never easy. It is never easy to convince someone to invest in your company, but when you really put heart in it, you love what you're doing, you're making efforts, then pitching won't be a problem. Just do what you love. Bye 👋

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Tech101- the launching

13th blog

March 10, 2019

We presented our weekly update this week, as usual. We showed our professor our prototype, since we haven't launched last February 26 due to some problems of the miniature. We also presented our pitch deck to our professor, he clarify some slides and gave us advice. Before we launch, we finalized everything, double check everything. Just to be sure that we can present our miniature to our client. As we arrived at our client's commercial building and greeted him, we introduced ourselves and continued ato present our miniature. We also gave them a demonstration on how the system works. Our client was impressed and asked if he could try it for one month.

For me, it was really hard to explain the system of our miniature. There was a big possibility that we might misunderstand each other (client and us). As a solution to this, we took time to really explain how the system works. If the client can't understand the way my groupmates explain, then I'd be the one to explain. We'll just help each other.

The decisions we decided as a group were: The day of our launching, who will be the one to pitch. And also little things like what should we do about the LCD that doesn't work.

The lessons I've learned for week 13. It is really important to make an effort for everything and also have patience. Make effort for the project you are making. Have patience for the project and have patience to the people who is around you and to your client. That would be all 😀

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Tech101 - the possible

12th blog

We continued to buy the materials last week, such as, plywood, nails, and other types of wood that we will be needing. We estimated the sizes and designed our miniature, which is a commercial building. We cut the wood for the base, walls, divider, and lastly for the roof of our miniature. Due to no class, we really took this time to continue our miniature. We also tested the whole circuit with the Photovoltaic Solar. We exposed it to sunlight to see if the battery charges. There's a reading of the current, voltage, and power. We also add a led strip to test if it works. We are fighting to finish our miniature this week so next we will be able to launch our product next week.

The major problem we encountered on week 12 is, the load side of the meter can't be read by the microcontroller. To solve this problem, our hacker did this research. But, it wasn't easy (nothing is really easy these days). The odds are in our favors! Our hacker, miraculously solved our problem!

What we/I learned on week 12:

Whenever problems come, don't let it get to you. Believe in yourself and believe in the Lord. Nothing is impossible.

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Tech101 - the Challenge

11th blog

We continue to search and looked for the remaining materials needed for the miniature. Unluckily, a certain material is only available online, the shipment will be overseas. So we didn't bother to order the material. We dont want to waste anymore time. We challenged ourselves to make our own system without that certain material. So, we bought the components to make our very own DC power meter. Later last week, we started to make our miniature. We also discussed the update for our project to our class. We reported to our instructor that we haven't started building our miniature yet due to the materials. Our instructor offered/let us borrow his solar panel for our miniature.

The problems that we encountered was: How can we measure the power by using Arduino uno. This microcontroller is only capable and can be supplied by a maximum of 5VDC. We talked to some people who are knowledgeable in this type of problems. Hopefully they can help us.

As a group, our decisions were; not to buy the material we beed online and decide on making it. We decided to start with the miniature.

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Tech101 - the milestone

10th Blog

For this week, both Wednesdays and Fridays, we did not meet with our instructor due to some activities in the University. We haven't had BMC yet. Due to this, we used our time to make/discuss the circuit of our miniature, milestone, and we also went canvassing. As we were canvassing, some of the materials we need for the miniature is not available here in Cdo. So, what we did was we ordered it online. We know that it will take days or a week for the material to arrive here in Cdo, but we have no choice. We waited until the last day of the week, the package didn't came.

The problems that we encountered this week were: First is BMC, because until now, we haven't had BMC. Second, we had trouble looking for some of the materials for the miniature. The solution for this is we should order it online. Third, we failed to buy all the materials for the miniature and it's in our milestone. We failed to buy all the materials, we will surely lack time in the future because of our recklessness.

Well, due to our recklessness, we waited the week ended for the package to arrive. We realized that we should make sure of every olans we have, double check everything. And think ahead. We may not know what challenges may come. And due to "pabaya" we encountered some circumstances. There's nothing we can do anymore. We should learn from our mistakes.

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Techno101 - the plan

9th blog

This week, we approached our instructor and asked if we can start building our prototype, he said us yes and then told that the materials and costing is different from the actual project. As we discussed about the prototype, we came up with an idea, we wanted it in miniature type. Our instructor also discussed a case study about ZeroCater. Y'all already know ZeroCater is.

Since I am the designer of the group. I am tasked to design our miniature. We also discussed that our miniature will have same concept as the actual project that the commercial buildings need.

We were invited to a seminar about Intellectual Property last Saturday (February 2, 2019) but, due to late announcement, I wasn't able to go. I know I missed the learnings I might find helpful in the future and I feel very sad about that.

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TECH101 - The Pitching

8th blog

Started our week with nervous hearts. Major exams came and gone. Here comes the pitching. We were not sure if we should pitch last week. Yes, we were approved but, the words of the engineer whose giving us advices held us back. We were so excited and happy as we went to him to deliver our good news, which is the news that we got approved. Suddenly, he turned us down, he doesn't agree with us. We just didn't communicate well, we misunderstood each other. So, there's that. Pitch day came, we were all nervous. As we waited for our turn, seeing my classmates pitch in front made me nervous. I wasn't even the one who is going to pitch. We were hearing the questions the panels were giving them. Fast forward, it is now our turn. The panel is now asking questions. Most questions were answered but we got stuck with the question "What's the innovation of your project" we answered that we have grid wit batteries. But, we were told that that was not an innovation. Our project doesn't have an innovation.

That is one hella problem. We didn't know what to do so, we approached another engineer. We talked to him, asked him questions and he also gave us advices. After talking to the new engineer, we went back to our instructor and told him about what the old engineer told us. Our instructor gave us the position to decide for ourselves. But he suggested that we should go for this solar and look for another adviser. After the pitching, here comes another problem, which is the innovation. We talked about this but didn't come up with a solution yet.

After hearing all that, we took some time and discussed it with my fellow groupmates. We came up to a decision that we should go for this. There were second thoughts, of course. But it didn't stop us. We haven't decided yet on what to do next for our innovation. I know, we should double time and come up with a solution as soon as possible.

I learned the past week that we should make sure to communicate properly, ask questions if you have one. Make sure that you do not misunderstood the person you are talking to. Make sure both the sides are clear. And also make sure to have an innovation. 😏

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TECH101 - The Approval

7th blog

January 20, 2019

What we first did this week was proposed. We proposed again to our instructor, that was Monday afternoon. But then when we proposed our new idea, he told us that we have the same idea with the CPE students. That is to make a website for electricians, plummers, and other technicians that may help the household. Our instructor told us to talk to the CPE students and ask them if its okay for them to have the same idea as ours. They were the first to propose after all. So, we did, we talked to them and asked them. Our conversation was short, they agreed. There were no second thoughts. After we proposed and talked, we went and interviewed more people. We interviewed an engineer. While we were interviewing him, he gave us some problems and some ideas. After interviewing, we discussed and shared our thoughts/ideas to each other. And then we came up with a new idea. That is to make a website for solar providers. So we proposed the solar idea. Our instructor also showed us more videos. Videos about students who started a startup, what they've been through and how they did it.

While we proposed about the solar idea, our instructor told us to validate and talk to one of the engineers who has more knowledge about solar. This isn't our idea, it's been made already and it's already existing. So, all we have to do is look for holes in this idea for us to give thi hole a solution. That may be a problem. We brainstormed and poured our minds out. But as we talked to an engineer, he gave some real problems and some ideas on who would be our possible clients.

We decided to give this idea our last push. We talked about on how to fully participate in group. We should share ideas/thoughts. We should work together for us to succeed together. We got approved. Yay!

What I learned from this week is: there is really no point in being shy. You should overcome your shyness, and face your fears, face people, be confident, be smart. AND TAKE THE RISK, taking the risk may be risky, but as long as you trust your partners and the people who is around you, there is nothing to worry about.

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TECH101 - The New Year

6th Blog

January 13, 2019

Last week, January 9 and January 11 2019, most of us in section B wasn't able to propose the last days, so most of us hasn't been approved. We were the first group to propose our idea, but then it didn't went well. Due to some misunderstanding, we proposed automatically that we ourselves didn't planned out what we should say, because of that we didn't get approved and sir Bronson also gave us some advices. Sir Bronson also discussed about Innovation Ecosystem. Innovation Ecosystem is the term used to describe the large number and diverse nature of participants and resources that are necessary for innovation. The concept of the Innovation Ecosystem has begun to attract attention as a framework for policy makers only in recent years. He also discussed and showed us some videos about Pitching. What is Pitching? Pitching is a presentation of a business idea to potential investors. People pitch because they need resources, because the goal is to raise start up cash. The target of the Pitch is an investor. Other businesses pitch to potential customers fo sell their products. Why do we Pitch? Pitching is also important. For example, a business may need an investment when it has an unexpected but very profitable order beyond its current capacity. Such a pitch is easier to make because investors feel far more secure with the purchase order in hand. Pitching maybe difficult, especially when you are not fond of talking to people. But, practice makes everything perfect or at least better.

My group mates and I found it difficult what to do next after we proposed. We thought it will go smoothly and successfully, but our assumptions were wrong. We talked about it, discussed about it and came up to a plan. We should gather more data and interview more people. I know that every challenges we encountered/ will encounter, we'll just have to do our best and listen to the advices that are given to us and of course pray.

We came up to a decision. We interviewed more people. We gathered more data. As we interviewed and gathered datas, we also gained confidence as we continued to go out to the open and ask people. Until the end of the day, we had what we need and add it up to the datas we collected the past week.

I learned quite a lot last week. I learned what Innovation Ecosystem is, what Pitching is, and why is it important to pitch. I also realized that it is not easy to pitch, it's not easy to sell your product or present your product to potential investors. I also learned and realized that we should've gathered more data the week before last week.

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Tech101 - the 2nd Presentation

5th blog

I wasn't able to join the second presentation. I was absent the whole week last week. We had an early vacation with my family. But my absence didn't affect my group mates, which is good. While I was away, I still communicate with them. I still ask for updates about our project. They told me they got rejected and came up with a new idea, which is the problem of Manicuristas. I know, I missed all the discussions our instructor discussed. And I didn't ask permission to my instructor for being absent. Now, I must double time so I can catch up with my classmates.

This week, we decided to push with this problem, giving it a go. But, it isn't that easy, nothing is easy. We brainstormed and gathered the concerns of both sides, which is the Manicurist and the client.

We haven't successfully proposed our project, due to unluckiness. I hope we won't get scolded next year.

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Tech101 - the Proposal

4th blog

Last week, we discussed about what we should propose in front. Everybody was sharing their thoughts. Disagreeing and agreeing. Until we all came up to our top 3 problems. We had 3 problems but, only one problem was proposed. As we waited for our turn, we listened to the problems and solutions of our classmates. Our adviser was asking questions, as we listened, we got nervous.

The week before last week we interviewed a student, we asked what were problems he noticed in his surroundings, in his community or his problems himself. He talked about unable to access the Student Information System of their university due to low internet access in their area. He also added about how the University's delayed information dissemination. We came up with a solution to this problem. We talked and shared our thoughts about updating the Student Information System of the University. The system may be able to text every registered number in every particular account in the Student Information System if the instructor already posted their grades. The system may be able to also disseminate the information to students through text.

After we proposed, our adviser gave us comments and told us what we should do or who we should interview next. So we went and look for someone who works at the Management Information System. We told them our problem and solution. They're feedback was what we are expecting. They told us that this project would be complicated. We agreed, this really is complicated. We also interviewed more students and told them our proposal, some say it would be an advantage to them but when we asked if they are willing to pay, some backed out and some said it would be worth it.

After hearing from both sides, we decided to give up this project and look for another problem. You can't force people to agree with you. Rejection Therapy really helped.

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TECH101 - the hunt

3rd blog

Hello again! So last week, we already started asking strangers what where the problems they observed in their communities. As Im about to ask, my adrenaline kicks in, that causes my heart to beat faster and gives me more energy, makes me more eager to ask.

We have interviewed 10 people about 20's to 40's and gathered 13 problems. As we gathered our datas, we noticed that some of the problems are very common. Problems that doesn't have solution until now. Our team is eager to hunt for possible solutions to these problems.

To start a company is not easy, you should gather all the problems/datas you could find. Then, look for solutions. Looking for problems was easy, but looking for solutions isn't. To start, you should be patient, you should be brave, and you should have a positive mind set.

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Tech101 - the Gathering

2nd blog

After looking for teammates, we directly decided to meet last week. We, assigned ourselves to the positions we are comfortable of. Elbert as the Hacker, Paul and Dry Den as the Hustlers, and me, as the Designer. Choosing of the positions isn't that hard. We got help from the Personality Test. To know if you are an introvert or an extrovert helped us as we choose our positions.

We also discussed and shared our ideas to the group about how to look for problems that we can solve by the help of technology.So we decided to observe a certain place. We also talked about our team/company name.

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Tech101 - the takeoff

1st blog

Let me start this with introducing myself. I am Sophie Frances A. Montañez a 4th year Electrical Engineering student of University of Science and Technology of southern Philippines (USTP). I was living my life inside my comfort zone. I was once the shy girl, the not so confident girl, but now I am trying to spread my wings, open every door of opportunities. Technoprenuer would really help me become confident. So, witness Sophie become a confident and outgoing person as I, Sophie will share to you my journey only here on my blog.

To make a team is not that hard. I already have 3 friends who happen to be 2 extroverts and 1 introvert. I am an extrovert as well. We really get along and it is easy for us to discuss what ideas we have. We aren't shy to each other. The Personality test helped us know if we are extroverts or introverts.

Rejection: the act of refusing to accept, use, or believe someone or something.

We did some experiment this week. We go and ask someone about something or ask for a favor and end up being rejected. The goal is to be Rejected. It was really hard to ask a stranger for something. It takes more courage, you need to be fearless. For me, it's really hard to talk to a stranger. I'm not really fond of talking to someone I don't really know. I'm also not that confident, this experiment is really hard for me. But I have to do this to overcome my shyness. Little steps to confidence.