The Heroes’ Journey: Staying the Course
The story of the ilumina as shared by the Founder & Chief Inoventor of Inovent, Inc., Brian Quebengco
After the November 30, 2008 launch of the Ultra Alpha Prototype ilumina LCD iTV, it was a sigh of relief for all of us that we survived. Interesting thing about physics is that water boils at 212 degrees, but at 211 degrees, it is still hot water. All we needed was just that one extra degree to make the difference. And as we hoped for, it was able to generate enough buzz to give us enough momentum to build a stronger base of supporters and possible partners.
We welcomed 2009 with the hopes that we could build a Beta Prototype ilumina LCD iTV and go on sale in the market by the 1st quarter of 2010. This gave us a renewed focus and the realization that there was no more turning back. And what transpired from the month of January & February 2009 was a series of six TV interviews from shows like The Explainer to TV Patrol. I, Mark Ruiz & sometimes the other Inoventors would do the road show. Although tiring they were, the interviews were priceless experiences that gave us much needed exposure.
A new code name had to be given. The name had to signify the strategy we would take. The name had to remind us that the purpose of the ilumina LCD iTV is to enter the Global Consumer Electronics market. And to remind us that entering the market is just the beginning.
The code name given was Project Trojan Horse. The strategy involved 3 main directions that we had to do all simultaneously: 1) Build the Beta Prototype ilumina LCD iTV by June 12, 2009. 2) Source key partners for manufacturing the ilumina LCD iTV in the Philippines. And 3) assemble the best Executives to launch Inovent Electronics, Inc.
The first direction of developing the Beta Prototype took a different turn in terms of the team involved. Ruben Canlas Jr. had to leave for Australia and Dig It All Solutions, Inc. had to return and focus on their core business and Noriel Mallari had to focus on being a full time professor at DLSU. Much to their credit, they helped us build the foundation & the much needed momentum to begin. Now, a new Super Team of Inoventors was needed to bring it to the next level. In the spirit of a true Inoventor, Noriel Mallari invited his best student, Nikko Torcita, a 20 year old undergrad of DLSU who will graduate soon with honorable mention in 2009, to help him with the load of doing the electronics part of the ilumina LCD iTV. Noriel also didn’t waste time in finding and inviting one of the best Programmers from DLSU, Ryan Bitanga, who is only 21 years old. And to complete the new team, Nikko Torcita, was tasked to look for the best Mechanical Engineer in DLSU. He returned with Victor Yu, a 21 year old undergrad who will soon graduate a Cum Laude. With their futures bright with prospects and opportunities, they passionately signed on board Inovent, Inc. with just the initial promise of shares of the company. And with the Industrial Design force of Jonas Peralta, Peter Can, & Jaed Del Moral, we were ready to begin developing the Beta Prototype ilumina LCD ITV.
The second direction was to seek support from the PEZA Zone manufactures. Our stepping stone came in the form of an endorsement letter by Alex Villafania to SEIPI. This gave us the much needed audience with Ernie Santiago, President of SEIPI. Although we were a fledging startup without an office, Ernie gave us his undivided attention. Seeing the promise of potential with the ilumina LCD iTV, he personally endorsed us to IMI’s Arthur Tan. This gave us a personal invitation to meet with IMI and discuss the development of the ilumina LCD iTV. Simultaneously, we also visited a good friend, Perry Ferrer, Director of EMS Components Inc. Aside from talking about the possibility of partnering with them, Perry Ferrer has been a mentor to us, giving us valuable advice in launching the ilumina LCD iTV. And with Mark Ruiz’s help, we were also able to get an audience with Intel. Those numerous meetings with Intel gave us the confidence we needed to develop the features of the ilumina LCD iTV. Intel also introduced us to possible partners for the motherboard. We have now signed Non Disclosure Agreements with all four of these companies.
The third direction was to assemble the best Executives to run Inovent Electronics, Inc., which has been duly incorporated with the SEC. Although I may not disclose their names yet, they fill the five positions of the company; CEO, VP Marketing/Sales, VP Finance, VP Human Resource, & VP Manufacturing. Combined, they have a seasoned experience of 90 years in the industry working at Global Firms. Three of the Executives have already resigned from their full time jobs and are now on board. Also, with the assistance of our Corporate Lawyer, Sedigo & Associates, we were able to invite a 15 year Executive Veteran of a Global Bank to act as our Financial Advisor.
With Inovent doing all this work, the months of January to May went by so fast. And with June 12, 2009 just around the corner, as a fledging startup with no office and cash, we realized we had to get started developing the beta prototype ilumina LCD iTV. And as faith would have it, a person by the name of Henry Nguyen approached Father Ted and inquired if he knew people who had a passion to build the Philippines. The person Father Ted recommended was Mark Ruiz. After only two meetings and a chance to share the vision, Henry Nguyen signed a check to fund the development of the Beta Prototype. Henry, who is 27 years old, became Inovent’s first true Angel Investor, finally giving us the much needed cash to get started.
Being two weeks into May, the Inoventlings had to voraciously work splitting the development with three groups. The Industrial Designers focused on developing the mold, the Engineers focused on buying the parts needed and assembling them, and our programmer, with the aid of Noriel & Jonas, focused developing a yummy interface. We secretly spent working at Nikko’s condo along DLSU Taft. Even during the H1N1 incident at DLSU, the inoventlings never stopped working.
We would meet several times a week with numerous nights of no sleep for the inoventlings. And finally with the help of Ricky Rivera who invited close friends from the press and bloggers and Matthey Cua helping spread the word through viral efforts, made June 12, 2009 a memorable Independence Day for Inovent, Inc.
The vision just lacks the most Important and final element: an Investor. This will require all our efforts combined. I have dreamt of the Philippines penetrating the Global Consumer Electronic market and hopefully have a chance to begin competing against Samsung & Sony. The LCD iTV industry, being very new, is our chance. Once this is launched, I know it will harness the collective talents of our best Engineers, Designers, Programmers, Executives, Managers, local OEM & EMS manufactures, and also slowly build the image of the Philippines as an Inoventive country exporting technology. This will eventually reverse the brain drain we are experiencing. I see a future where the best Filipinos around the world will want to come back and work with Inovent Electronics, Inc. in the Philippines. And as the industry matures, the price to afford the technology will be available to all Filipinos.
