We continue our series about remarkable Bicolano entrepreneurs. This time we feature Arvin Arik Carranceja, Founder and CEO of ABC Tech Ventures Inc. Arik, as his friends and colleagues call him, is from Daet, Camarines Norte. His grandfather, Eleodoro David Bicierro, was the former mayor of the provincial capital. A significant part of the ABC Tech Ventures support staff is in Daet along with his other businesses, construction and engineering, food, and media services. He is the Regional Vice President – Bicol for JCI Philippines. He is also an active member of Rotary Club of Manila and the Management Association of the Philippines.
Technology has transformed virtually every aspect of our lives, including the way we learn. Online learning has gained immense traction, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and has become a crucial tool for education worldwide. Recognizing the need for digital solutions for the young Filipino learners, ABC Tech Ventures Inc., under the leadership of Carranceja, has developed an innovative product branded as Study Buddy—a tablet designed to empower the users’ online learning experience.
Study Buddy Tablets
It was in 2020 when the newly established ABC Tech Ventures released its line of educational tablets geared for school children. This was during the spread of the worldwide pandemic, not exactly the best time to start a venture. However, the seismic shift to online learning as academic institutions adopted new teaching methods created opportunities for the fledgling company.
Three years later in August 2023, ABC Tech is now thriving and has become a significant force and technology partner in the Philippine education sector. Their Study Buddy tablets enable schools to provide a better learning experience for their students. The gadgets are affordable and easy to use, making the transition from face-to-face to online classes less stressful.
“Three years ago, we dreamed of merging technology and education. Today, that dream is a reality as our accessible, affordable tablets enter the market,” Carranceja said.
ABC Tech had the young users’ needs and preferences when the tablets were designed. Some models feature skid-proof covers, bright color schemes and pleasing characters to catch the interests of the kids. Last July, more sophisticated tablets, models X8, X10 and X10 Plus, were released which are sleeker and more refined in appearance compared with the brightly colored models designed for the younger users.
The new tablets have technical specifications that cater to the educational requirements of higher grade levels. They have increased durability, being waterproof and dustproof, and can withstand the rigors of daily use by students. They have the clean utilitarian look of high-end tablets and are available in four colors: charcoal black, azure blue, rose gold and graphite gray.
The X8 model is intended for grade school children. It comes with an 8.0-inch screen and has 32GB of storage. It has an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The X10 model, which is offered to high school level learners, comes with a 10.1-inch screen and 64GB storage. The top of the line upgrade, the X10 Plus has a 10.4 screen and 128GB storage. The higher-end models feature dual cameras, an 8MP front-facing camera and a 13MP rear-facing one, more than adequate for capturing and documenting needs in school. Docking keyboards and protective cases are available accessories.
The availability of devices at different levels of processing and data storage capabilities has proven to be effective and has paved the way for ABC Tech’s remarkable growth. This year, the company hopes to produce 100,000 tablets and continue to build its reputation as the number one choice for educational tools in the country. ABC Tech Ventures Inc. runs a manufacturing company in China, that is manned by Filipino software engineers.
The success of ABC Tech Ventures has been made possible by the partnership forged with the National Development Company (NDC) and the Department of Education (DepEd), This collaboration aims to provide students with technologically advanced tablets equipped with the latest in learning applications. Last June, the company donated computer tablets worth Php1 Million to different divisions of Region 6 (Western Visayas) Department of Education thru Rotary Club of Manila headed by President Herminio Esguerra. Carranceja is an active Rotarian from this club.
From Tablets to Laptop Computers
Upbeat about the prospects of digital learning in the Philippines, ABC Tech Ventures will be releasing its line of laptops targeted to the schools in July 2024 just before the next school year starts. These will feature the latest Microsoft Windows operating system, with expandable RAM at a mid-level price range.
“Our pipeline for next year is from tablets to laptops. The models that we are crafting for our laptops next year are shock-proof so that even if these are accidentally dropped by students, it will still work.”
“Affordability and durability are our main objectives for this. The price will range from around P10 to P20,000. We will devote six to eight months for the testing stage alone. These laptops are for retail purposes, so we put more innovations on them. Where else in the world can you find laptops that works even if dropped repeatedly?” Arvin Arik Carranceja, ABC Tech Ventures Inc. CEO said.
The company announced plans to introduce software dubbed “Teacher in A Box” to address the problem of intermittent connectivity in far-flung areas. CEO Carranceja described the technology under development, “It is an access point that has a server that even if one does not have WiFi access, the user can watch movies and videos, particularly learning modules being given by the Department of Education to students. Imagine a WiFi that is offline, with an access point radius of 3 to 5 kilometers. That is the same technology used in most international flights in airlines.”
(References: Manila Times, August 2023; Homeiskool.com, August 2023; Daily Tribune, August 2023)