ATECH Conference 2018, and the winner is:
The ATECH conference was smaller this year, this is not a form of criticism, it is a statement, and it was also much shorter, and more compact.
Apparently, the organizing team was unaware of the ballroom renovation project at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, and when they realized their ‘home’ was not available they scrambled to move their successful event to the Renaissance Conference Center, squeezed into a one-day format.
Next year they promise, in the redecorated Hilton Ballroom, the conference will go back to its previous size with a more interactive layout, an expo, breakout rooms, and a more extensive menu of speakers.
But overall, ATECH 2018 was well attended, we still learned a lot, and had a good time.
The startup pitch competition included two Aruban entries for the first time. Their ideas were both brilliant.
I liked the Keto Clinic, from Aruba, aspiring to develop simple low-cost dietary interventions that can be used as a treatment for Obesity, Diabetes, Epilepsy and Metabolic Syndrome. They basically want to teach us to eat less, and teach our bodies to burn more fat with the help of a digital platform.
Hi5 Solutions, from Aruba, provides businesses and governments a trusted system for identity validation and document sharing to meet their compliance requirements. What this means is, that just one AWG 5 Censo paper, stored on line, can serve you for the rest of your life when you are dealing with various GOA departments. Your ID info is stored and validated, ready to use.
I liked Sea Going Green, I thought she would win, her platform promotes sustainable tourism through sustainable business. She is a consultant to tourism companies with marine related activities. Her app maps the marine environment, so you could for example know in advance where to anchor your boat and where the snorkeling is best.
I also liked LocalAventura, that is a curated platform for booking authentic tours all throughout Latin America. In the age of Over-Tourism, this platform allows us to connect with passionate local guides for off-the-beaten-path experiences.
Finally, findSisterhood, an anonymous social network for women, out to create a safe space for women to share their personal stories and find their strength with the support of other women. The safest place on the internet to share what you are too ashamed or too shy to tell elsewhere.
Not surprisingly, FINDSISTERHOOD was the winner of the startup pitch competition and awarded the $10,000 grand prize!
