Harvey Javier, the chief executive officer of SparkPoint, highlighted the importance of IRL events for community engagement and growth in Bicol’s crypto scene.
- The interview happened last September 7, 2024, at the Avenue Plaza Hotel in Naga City, Camarines Sur during the first-ever Bicol Traders Meet.
In Focus: SparkPoint Innovations Inc., based in Naga and Legazpi, Bicol, is a blockchain and cryptocurrency startup developing digital products and services, including its own SRK token, a cryptocurrency exchange within its SparkPoint Wallet, and blockchain games for Filipinos to earn through gaming.
Worth Reading:
The following excerpt from the interview, Javier noted the emphasized the significance of in-person events for community engagement and growth in Bicol’s web3 space, and praised government partnerships for their support in organizing and promoting these events.
Interview: SparkPoint CEO on the Importance of IRL Events
Nath Cajuday, Junior Editor, BitPinas: Good evening! We are here with SparkPoint CEO Harvey Javier to discuss the crypto community in the Bicol region.
Our first question is: What are the advantages of in-person, real-life (IRL) events for onboarding new users and engaging crypto enthusiasts?
Harvey Javier, Chief Executive Officer, SparkPoint: In-person events are valuable because they allow you to interact directly with the community, especially newcomers.
Being physically present helps build stronger rapport compared to online interactions. While online events can use video and audio, nothing beats the personal connection you can make at a physical event.
Despite being more costly for organizers, IRL events are more effective in engaging and onboarding people into the community.
Cajuday: As mentioned earlier, SparkPoint and Ownly are like the OGs in Bicol. Can you tell us about the growth of the crypto community in Bicol, how quickly has it expanded, and whether have there been any challenges?
Javier: Good question. Back in 2019, we held the first Bicol Blockchain Meetup, which we called Bicol Blockchain Meetup 0x1—a nod to Ethereum’s 0x in its addresses. Initially, our conference was small, and we often had empty seats.
However, fast forward five years, and we now see a much larger and more engaged audience. The growth has been significant, and events like the rise of Axie Infinity have played a key role in introducing more people to web3.
We’ve been enhancing our efforts to support this growth.
Cajuday: Lastly, I’ve noticed that there are partnerships with government agencies like the DICT, DOST, and DTI. How does collaborating with these agencies affect your ability to organize events and build the community?
Javier: Government entities have been very supportive, especially in Bicol and Naga. The local government in Naga is particularly proactive in supporting startups. DICT and DTI are consistently supportive of our events.
We’re very grateful for their assistance, including funding and their efforts to promote web3. The support from individuals like Ralph Spencer Talagtag of DICT Region V and Madel Alacar of DTI Camarines Sur has also been invaluable.
Keep watching the BitPinas webcast and read this website for interviews with the people who move the crypto industry in the Philippines forward.
This article is published on BitPinas: Interview: SparkPoint CEO on the Importance of IRL Events
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