Monstar Hub: A Startup Community

Last January 11, I was privileged to be part of Monstar Hub’s grand opening at Buendia, Makati City. Ms. Judy Lorenzo, the owner of Monstar Hub and the founder and COO of myBOSS.asia Inc., was there to personally open the space and welcome guests. It was a night of networking, exchanging of ideas, and positive vibes over snacks and beer.

The author poses with her “media” badge at the Monstar Hub opening event

I was excited to witness this because I am an advocate of entrepreneurship. Being an online seller myself via my online shop, I understand that it takes guts to put up a business. And to see a coworking space and incubator for SMEs rise in the middle of Makati is remarkable!

Judy explained during her opening remarks that the biggest challenges that startup entrepreneurs face are admin-related. This has inspired her to put up myBOSS, a back office shared services company that aims to handle the back-end needs of SMEs such as taxes and financial reports. Their website and online portal is targeted for launching by the end of this month, so now is the perfect time to invest in a membership at Monstar Hub.

Members have the option to enjoy myBOSS so that they can focus on running their businesses with ease.

myBoss envisions itself to be an online hub where startup entrepreneurs can view their business records online

Judy further stated that she put up the business to solve her own problems with being an entrepreneur. The vision is to have a collaboration among colleagues to scale up each other’s businesses. This can be achieved through a hub which can foster a community spirit.

Most startup entrepreneurs cannot afford having a workplace to call their own. Working together and making a difference is the grand vision of Monstar Hub.

Different rooms make Monstar Hub an ideal incubator for startup businesses

Monstar Hub envisions a community of entrepreneurs. Judy is not just selling the seats, rather, she is also selling the company’s purpose, which is is to help startup entrepreneurs grow.

Ms. Lorenzo introduces the different stakeholders who helped her put up Monstar Hub

Customer service experience, social impact, and scalability are her top values. And with myBOSS’s efficient service, the backend admin work is taken cared of so that community members can focus on operations and marketing.

Her community emphasis is evident in the hub’s official hashtag, which is #makingsolutionstogether.  

Allan Lim, Monstar Hub’s Managing Director, promises global expansion opportunities for potential members thanks to Monstar Lab’s international presence

Mr. Allan Lim, the Managing Director of Monstar Lab Philippines, supported Judy’s vision of a community by explaining that global expansion is possible for SMEs thanks to MonstarLab’s international network across 15 countries. With that, opportunity and access outside the Philippines is possible. 

This means that competition is possible on a global scale, and it all starts with Monstar Hub.

If you have a startup business and you are interested in having access to technical expertise and market expansion, visit Monstar Hub today!

Monstar Hub Philippines

G/F, SM Cyber Makati Two Bldg., Jupiter Street, corner Gil Puyat, Makati City

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonstarHubPhilippines/

Finishing Strong: Drive's Year-end Celebration

Finishing Strong: Drive's Year-end Celebration

Yearender

by Sam Lucas

December 30, 2019

Drive Manila was overflowing with the holiday spirit during its 2019 year end party at Murato Streat on December 29. It was a casual get together and meet and greet with the company's officers and partners, over dinner and drinks. The event also marked the first anniversary of the Drive app, an important milestone that began the the company's accelerated growth, which is anticipated to continue in the coming year.

Drive's correspondent Sam Lucas was on the scene, and got the firsthand details regarding how Drive became a part of their personal growth and improvement. 

Drive founder Mike Miranda, shared  that there will be continuous training for sales and marketing staff in the following months, to support the growth of partners and growing needs of the renters. Upgrading standards in quality and safety continue to be key focal points for Drive.

Ms. Grace Miranda, Drive's CEO has also shared how Drive has started with some of their vehicles initially as part of a TVNS. The breakthrough came in deciding to change the model from TVNS to a rental service.Their vision was a service that would cater to families like theirs, who wanted to travel and go around the country without sacrificing comfort. 

They wanted to make car rental hassle free for both the partners and the renters, by streamlining the Know Your Customer (KYC) and on- boarding process. After seeing an increase in demand, they found friends who were willing to rent out their cars and Drive was born. In 2018, they launched the app and also increased their presence on social media. Ms. Grace has stressed that this is aligned part of their vision to make Drive's service accessible, but also secure to ensure that all their partners adhere to their standards. Her vision is to bring Drive to other parts of the country, such as Cebu and Zamboanga, not just to provide business opportunities but also to help Filipinos move around more conveniently.

Sam also spoke to Keats Ronquillo, the Site Lead for Drive Bohol. He joined Drive with confidence as Mike was a good friend  since high school. He believes that travelling around Bohol is best experienced on one's own time and not with a tour group. Having Drive will make booking a vehicle available anytime will make sightseeing around the province more convenient and economical. The beautiful sights of Bohol is also conducive for leisurely driving, at one's own pace. In Bohol, Keats is also a teacher for the Deaf, and he foresees Drive's continuous inclusive partnership with PWD partners and renters.

Drive partners Kevin and Rebecca Regaña, Lydia and Jun Cabero, and Carlo Tagle, had only good things to say about Drive. They shared how Kayle Miranda, Drive's Chief Marketing Officer, is always available to assist them with their concerns regarding rental, booking, and customer service. They also expressed how happy they were with how the Drive augmented their income and helped their families in the process. 

Ms. Eva Parreño of AccessiWheels shared how Mr. Miranda helped her startup. She mentioned how AccessiWheels connects sensitive drivers to people with mobility concerns, and their partnership with Drive has helped PWDs successfully and autonomously move around. She sees a continuing of this collaboration in 2020, and to continue the visibility of AccessiWheels through Drive's app and social media platforms.

Kayle Miranda, Drive's Chief Marketing Officer. shared that there are many opportunities for work from home job seekers in the coming months. She is looking for people to support her as Drive is continuously growing, and building her team which will undergo intensive training in early 2020. She is inviting everyone to like Drive Manila on Facebook stay posted for upcoming job openings for sales and marketing.

Finally, there was Gene Rose Imphang, a tour organizer who is part of Drive's upcoming tour at Angono, Rizal. This is the first of many tourism events which will promote Drive's partnerships with different LGUs and organizations. She is excited to see how Drive will make day tours easier and more convenient for renters and optimistic about the company's growth and upcoming projects.

There are events to come at Drive Manila, stay tuned for an expanding car rental experience that continues to be more convenient and inclusive. 

Don't forget to like Drive Manila on Facebook, and to download the Drive app on Apple or Google Play, and here's to an awesome 2020!

#LetsCarousell

One of the ways that I have dealt with my father’s recent passing was setting up my Carousell shop. I needed an additional income stream aside from my freelance work and Human Nature online shop, so a buy-and-sell online platform sounded like an exciting opportunity for me. I had a closet filled with pre-loved objects which I have worn with great care. I knew that there were other fashion-forward individuals out there who could find joy in owning my things, which were all in excellent condition. I started with just a few items to test the market, until I was able to sell some things and learn more about customer service.

Most of the customer service in Carousell involves price negotiation with clients, and discussing payment and shipping options. To simplify my life, I only offer two payment options, and one shipping partner. This has saved me time, and streamlined my selling process. Carousell also has an in-house customer service team that handles reports regarding abusive users. I recently reported a buyer who has falsely accused me of shipping a defective item, when in fact I have sent her a pair of eyeglasses in excellent condition. I felt safe in the app despite the accusatory review left by this particular customer, because I knew that I am protected as a seller. I also learned from this incident. I realized that some buyers have the tendency to make false accusations, so it pays to take photos of the item prior to shipping. This is something that I will practice moving forward, to ensure my buyers that I am sending out quality items, and to protect myself as well.

Nothing beats the joy of selling items from my own closet, and cleaning my room in the process. I feel lighter and more at peace whenever I sell something that is attached to a memory of mine. I know that all my belongings deserve a new lease in life, so if that means being sold to another fashionista, then so be it.

Having said that, I hope that you will check-out my Carousell shop here: www.carousell.app.link/samblucas13. Feel free to chat with me should you have questions regarding my items!

I hope to serve you on my shop soon!

Garage Sale

I have been selling my pre-loved items on my Carousell shop for a few months now. I have closed a few deals, and I must say that the experience has been gratifying! More than earning money on the side, I enjoy selling my secondhand goods because I am giving them a new lease on life.
I am also learning more about business while chatting with customers and negotiating prices. It has not been easy at first, but I am already getting the hang of it.
Please support this venture of mine and shop my closet! The QR Code below will take you to my shop, where items in excellent condition await you. Hope to see you there!

Human Nature Online Store Launch

My Human Nature Online Store is now LIVE! You may now place your orders on my very own shop. 

I attended the launch of their online store for dealers (like me!), as well as the release of their new hair mist, cooling body cleanser, and odor protect feminine wash. 

My new online store is a side-hustle and passion project which I hope you will support!

By getting my own link, https://humanheartnature.com/buy/speakoutsam, I am able to sell Human Nature products under my name. Human Nature’s website allows convenient payment options such as credit card, PayPal, and bank deposit. In addition to that, delivery will be conducted via Human Nature’s system as well so it is an easy and worry-free business for me. 

​I celebrated the opening of my store with a veggie skillet at Breakfast Bin.

I also went to my favorite waxing salon for some self-care. 

Here’s to more small wins and milestones ahead! I hope that you will buy from my online store soon and experience Human Nature products yourself. Thank you and God bless you!