So reads the title of an article on BusinessMirror. The Philippine Center of Entrepreneurship is inviting investors to setup Internet café businesses in the 90% of barangays in the Philippines (45,000 barangays) that are “waiting to be tapped for Internet-based businesses.”
This is one thrust of the TechnoNegosyo technology entrepreneurship expo on September 14 and 15 at the World Trade Center.
This is an interesting development. When I was connected with Digital Philippines Foundation and Foundation for IT Education and Development back in 2001-2004, the franchising model for Internet café’s hadn’t developed enough to be marketed for the barangay level.
At that time, we were still struggling with the question of how to increase PC/Internet penetration and usage especially in the rural areas.
Now, we’re seeing Smart Click being specially packaged for remote areas in the Philippines. And it’s not just a “grant” or “goodwill” project. It has a business model where entrepreneurs are expected to invest their own money and sweat to make this business work.
I guess it just took some time for the market and the industry to mature. PCs are cheaper now, there are more Internet users now, the cities are saturated and the rural areas are today’s greenfields.
The time is right for entrepreneurs to go to the rural areas, bring in the benefits of the Internet, provide services and at the same time make a profit that will sustain the business.
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ka edong
dreaming awake
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting idea, though I think OFWs shoul invest in the state universities or public schools in their respective barangays. This would out their hard-earned money into better use.
Internet/PC penetration in the rural Philippines can wait, education cannot.
Invest in local universities — how?
Put Php100,000 in a local university and get Php200,000 after 5 years?
how?
That would be more of a donation than an investment. My big boss is one of the backers of Technonegosyo.
honga …
But then again, don’t the likes of AMA and STI make big bucks? So instead of funding the state university, someone could put up a private enterprise. The educational equivalent of the cybercafe business.
One way:
1.) OFWs provides investor capital
2.) local school runs the internet shop franchise
3.) students from the school have a pay-per-use arrangement with the school.
But of course, #3 introduces complications re: conflict of interest, making business out of public education etc …
Ka Edong,
Will it not be difficult to get a market or clients for providing BPO services? How is it being done?
Hi Minnie,
The initiative in the article above encourages OFWs to setup Internet shops where local Internet users will be primary customer.
Re: BPO/call-center services, it takes a lot more expertise to set this up, and this is not included in the Internet shop franchise being offered.
More on frranchises: http://eofw.edongskey.com/entrepreneurship/internet-cafe-franchises/
BPO is currently done by bigger companies. I’ll try to get contacts of that group that converts internet shops to callcenters.
Exactly! My company helps you build, establish your internet cafe negosyo/business in the Philippines. Thi s is indeed a perfect business for our beloved OFWs. We are in the industry for almost 5 years and counting. For just P35K, you can have your Internet Cafe in the Philippines with 5 units! Visit our website at http://www.ariseo.110mb.com/icafe or http://www.icafenegosyo.tk. You may also email us at icafenegosyo@yahoo.com.
Thank you.
P.S. You may also visit http://www.gonegosyo.net and head on to the forums.
Hi Ariseo,
Thanks for sharing your information! This is a good business opportunity for OFWs and Pinoys within the Philippines. Mabuhay ka!
ka edong
Greetings, Ka Edong:
I am interested in your program. I’m an OFW and have put up already an internet cafe in my city, outside Manila. I need additional units (5 or 10 more), and that I would like to know the complete info about your proposal. Would greatly appreciate your kind reply. I will be leaving for my home leave on Oct. 25th and hopefully I can do what is required of me to meet your requirements. Thank you and God Bless!
Hi Rolly,
I write to share thoughts / ideas.
Feel free to share your thoughts, let’s build on ideas here.
I don’t have any formal business / project proposal. maybe you’d like to make a pitch? Feel free!
ka edong
May makapag testi ba dito na kumita na sila o nabawi na ang investment nila?
eto po ang testi,
ako po.. nag umpisa lang sa isang Pc.. ngayon 15 units na sa loob lang ng 1 year.. lakasan lang ng loob ang puhunan .. ngayon pangarap ko pang hanggang 50 Pc. Itong buong bahay ko gagawin kong internet cafe at video games arcade…. sabay nito meron din binabantayang di kalakihan na tindahan…
kailangan din alamin mo lahat ng nalalaman ng technician mo para pagdating ng panahon hindi na kayo ganon kadalas magkita.
mahirap pero worth naman ang pagod at hirap atleast ikaw na ang boss… wala pang pressure diba?
maraming trends ngayon sa internet business kahit hindi ka ganong nakakasabay basta marunong ka makisama sa mga client mo, bago pa masira ang mga unit mo bawi na ang investment…
good luck sa mga kabayan!
salamat sa pag-bahagi ng iyong kwento Edwin!
Congratulations at sana marami pang success stories tayong makuha katulad mo!
Mabuhay!
ka edong
Hello, ako po yung may ari http://www.icafenegosyo.tk at http://ariseo.110mb.com. Sa mga interested po na mag ka Internet Cafe Business dyan at nakita nyo ang information namin sa website na ito, mangyari lamang po sabihin na dito nyo po kay ka edong na kita. Nag pasya po kami na bigyan ng maliit na halaga (P2,000.00) si ka edong (once closed) sa bawat taong mag banggit na dito po nakita ang website namin.
Sana po ay makatulong din kami sa magandang layunin nag website na ito.
Maraming salamat!
Salamat, Ariseo
Sana nga may ma-refer kami sa iyo.
Marami ring dumadalo sa http://www.eOFW.Net . Marami rin kaming inquiries duon tungkol sa internet cafe business.
Pwede rin sigurong same arrangement tayo duon
ka edong
ka edong, ok po. I’ll check the website. Many thanks.