Learning from Techno

Technopreneurship

is defined as entrepreneurship in the field of technology. Wherein it is connected to high tech ventures in ICT, electronics, internet, life sciences and biotech. In technopreneurship there are some service firms where technology is critical to their mission, such as: e-Bay, FEDEX, SMART money transfer, e-learning. But before anything else let me define the two words associated with technopreneurship. The entrepreneur and entrepreneurship what are the difference between the two. Well entrepreneurs are people who enter into new and pioneering ventures. They are whole-brained, meaning he/she uses both the left brain (logical) and right brain (creative). On the other hand, entrepreneurship is defined as starting up a new business. So that is the differences of the two. I learned in the discussion that this subject, technopreneurship has followed a course model named as SEED, where the meaning of it is S for Self Mastery, E is for Environment Mastery, other E refer as Enterprise Mastery, and lastly D is for Development of business plan. Well, I also understand deeper the meaning of the SEED course model. Let me first explain what is Self Mastery, in my own words, it is developing and knowing one’s self and personality as well as one’s attitude. Moreover, as what I have learned Self-mastery passion comes from knowing yourself as well as Self-mastery brings passion. When you know yourself, you know what you want and do not want. So when you know yourself deeply it is easy for you to define what your passion is really. It is also explained there that what is a self-mastered person, it does not have need high IQ but does need high EQ and AQ. Also they are naturally a/an performer where they are competitive and efficient; also an epicure which are sensual and cheery and lastly a boss that takes charge and love a good fight. Moreover, they are whole-brained and have a personal vision and recognize their strengths and lastly they know their weaknesses. Another part of SEED course model is Environment Mastery, in my own words it is refer to evaluating one’s society and knowing what are needed in its society and what are the possible that you can contribute to it. In discussion it explained there that environment mastery is about generating business ideas and seeking opportunities out from his or her environment through serendipity walks, it refers to thinking while suddenly you did not expect you come up with an idea, also during crises because it sometimes make you rich, the other one is through trends because when you know the latest trends you will know on what are the possible ideas for it and some other ways where you can generate ideas. Since we have self-mastered person what about environment-mastered person, it refers to someone who understands the industry he/she is in it, one who sees the opportunities, not the problems, who is always on top of the situation instead of being under the situation, and is the organization/industry innovator and lastly strategist. More of the course model SEED is the Enterprise Mastery, in my own words it refers to knowing how to buy and sell as well as the cycle of consumer and producer where they are both factors in running a business. Well, it is explained that this kind of mastery refers on how to run a business. This also pertains to the knowledge of the different enterprise disciplines such as: Creating the Business, Marketing Management, Operations Management, Financial Management, and Risk Management. What really is an enterprise-mastered person? It understands and integrates the functions of management (marketing, human resource, operations, and finance), also understands and integrates the process of management (planning, organizing, directing, and controlling) and lastly leads and inspires rather than manage. Lastly the Development of a business plan, in my own words it means that knowing how to develop and organize one’s business in a documentary form. In discussion, it covers writing the business plan, presenting and defending the business plan, and lastly adding refinements to the presented business plan. On the other hand, there are four types of entrepreneurship. First, the Incremental type, such as Routine business, modest novelty Ex. (new coffee shop, new BPO). Second, Imitative type, refers to imitation of venture, same business model and template Ex. new regional branch, franchised operations. Third, Rent-seeking type, refers to Business that utilizes standards, regulations and laws to share in value of enterprise, Ex. Coca Cola Export. Fourth, Innovative type refer to Business based on innovation Ex. new memory chip. It also added to the discussion what are the different characteristics of technopreneurs. It states there that it should be hard working, self-confident, builds for the future, profit-oriented, goal-oriented, persistent, copes with failure, responds to feedback, demonstrates initiative, willing to listen, sets own standards, copes with uncertainty, committed, builds on strengths, reliable and has integrity and finally a risk-Taker. I also learned what makes an entrepreneur a technopreneur. A technopreneur is a technology idea owner who ventures to make his idea a commercial reality while an entrepreneur is the one who gets a technology idea, finds an opportunity to make it a commercial reality. It also shows there the different technology ventures such as in local the smart link where they deals with computer hardware and software, Repairs, Networking and Computer ad LCD Rentals. (OCW) or in short they are a computer shop, an example of technopreneurship. The other local business is the lane system where it is a software integration development. While on national there is Netopia an internet café and yehey.com an internet portal. Lastly one good example in international is the youtube a video sharing website. We also discussed about some basic facts one of these is businesses start from ideas, but ideas alone do not make a business. Of course, when you start a business it should be in reality not in an idea only. The other fact in business is customers do not buy ideas, they buy your products/services that is true your customer should not steal an idea from and make it on their own, sometime it happens when a certain customer gets the idea of your business then he will steal it from you and even develop it so in the end you lost in the business world because your former customer beats you in the business world; and lastly fact in business is that customers pay the price; value is what they get as what I understood in this last fact the customer should not after on the price or they should not think of the price of your product instead to continue your business without making the customer will not buy your product you should also make them say that when they buy your product it should be worthy buying for not only the price it counts but the most important in selling products in your business is the value of the product contains so that the customer will love your product and as well as the value of your product. It also discussed that the different technopreneurship ecosystem the human resources component, environment, laws & policies, and lastly the financial resources. Well, the human resources as we dig deeper to it compose of research who is thinker, idea generator and innovator. It also composes of developer who is technical people and implementer. Moreover, who is also scanner, marketing people and a financer. Another component of ecosystem is environment. It is made up of science parks and incubation center, academic institution, internet access for communication, geographic accessibility and venture mentoring services/support. Next other component of technopreneurship ecosystem is the Laws and Policies Intellectual Property Rights Office, Technology Licensing Office which facilitates commercialization of inventions, and Legal Services. Another component is Financial Component made up of Venture Capitalist and Investors, Business Sector, Funding Agencies, and Financial Services (i. e. Accounting). We also discussed the different Academe and Research Institutions: Ateneo de Davao University, Brokenshire College, Cor Jesu College, Davao Doctors College, Holy Child School of Davao, Jose Maria College, St. Mary’s College, Interface Computer College, University of Immaculate Concepcion, University of Mindanao, University of the Philippines Mindanao, and lastly University of Southeastern Philippines. These are the three crucial common components for business: Excellent market opportunity, Superb entrepreneur (and management team) as well as Resources needed to start the company and make it grow. Excellent market opportunity made up of what are the customers needed also the timing, if there will be an inadequate planning then it will lead to costly mistakes. The technopreneur and management team which define even with the right opportunity, the business will be successful if led by a person with strong entrepreneurial and management skills. The resources means entrepreneural frugality means: Low overhead, a high productivity, Minimal ownership of capital assets. Lastly, I have learned in the discussion that the common mindset of parents to their children is go to school, get good grades, graduate and get a job. Well, this mindset is really true to my parents. It is also they want to happen to me to graduate in in my school which is in the University of Southeastern Philippines and after it in the future get a good job and of course help them as a return to their sacrifices when I’m still young and also will be able to be independent and help myself. For me, this kind of mindset is just a shallow plan for someone in life. We also discussed the alternative mindset which I also like and I guess more effective. Same as goes in going to school, get good grades, graduate, and build an own company. Well, the alternative mindset is much effective and more progressive for someone who will plans for his life. For my own opinion, this kind of mindset is present in this generation one good example of this home based, outsourcing projects works. Well, honestly this is one of the reasons why I also come up with the course of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology because someday I want to be one of those persons who graduated in the field of computer and took this kind of job because their clients are in other countries or foreigners. I also think that if your clients will be in other countries and other nationalities then it will be challenging and surely I can mold myself in terms of what I know in computer and I believe I can explore more about it. On the other hand, the alternative mindset also makes me inspire more to become technopreneur in the future because aside from generating new ideas, building your own company, the most important thing is you can help the country or your society a more uplifted economy place. Well, the thought about this is when we study and graduate in our courses. It is significant to also help our economy in developing it especially here in the Philippines as what I observed it is not really like other countries such as Japan and USA in terms of economy as well as technology. We’ll all I can say is that we should think of what are the possibilities that we can contribute to our society. For me, it is good in having a contribution to the country and at the same time you are enjoying with your passion. The alternative mindset really inspires me to do such thing that will help the country as well as the people living in it. That will make the people living in modernize living and comfortable way which also an important reminder in a way where it will not make people irresponsible and lazy but instead will make them easy and help the works more fast and progressive. Finally, I have learned different phases of technopreneurship and the most important of all that also inspires and helps to do something for this country the alternative mindset it helps a lot in me. And the SEED model course I believe that this model course is effective for everyone.