Guide to Goa

Konkani is the sole official language of Goa. Most Goans speak Konkani,

English, Hindi, and Marathi. Marathi may be used "=for all or any of the

official purposes.

Portuguese was the sole official language during Portuguese colonial

rule. It is now, however, mostly spoken by only the elderly Portuguese-

educated populations and is no longer an official language.

Goa is a state in India within the coastal region known as the Konkan.

The former Portuguese enclave has been a holiday destination since

colonial times. Its golden, palm-fringed beaches spread along the state’s

105 km coastline that pull in the tourists – around two million of them

each winter.

Serving as the linchpin for a vast trade network for more than 450 years,

Goa was Portugal’s first toehold in Asia. However, when the Portuguese

empire began to flounder in the seventeenth century, so too did the

fortunes of its capital. Cut off from the rest of India by a wall of

mountains and hundreds of kilometres of unnavigable alluvial plain, it

remained aloof from the wider Subcontinent until 1961, when the

exasperated prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, finally gave up trying to

negotiate with the Portuguese dictator Salazar and sent in the army. On

19 December 1961, the Indian Army invaded and resulting in the

annexation of Goa.

Panjim, the state capital and our destination for 2019’s CU Asia, is home

for ruins of the former Portuguese capital – a sprawl of Catholic

cathedrals, convents and churches that draw crowds of Christian

pilgrims from all over India.

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LanguageUnderstanding Goa

Getting to Goa

You could travel to Goa by bus and plane, but we would suggest you to

come by plane as it is the quickest way to travel.

The Dabolim airport in Vasco da Gama is Goa's only airport. Several

airlines offer direct international route to Goa:

Qatar Airways (from Doha, Qatar), Oman Air (from Muscat, Oman), Jet

Airways (from Abu Dhabi, UAE) and Air India (from Dubai, UAE, Kuwait

City, Kuwait and Muscat, Oman) offer an international direct flight to Goa.

Many domestic airlines such as Air India, Jet Airways, AirAsia India,

Vistara, Spicejet, GoAir, and Indigo have daily flights to and from India’s

major cities, such as Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad,

Jaipur, Kozhikode (Calicut), Mumbai, Pune, and Surat.

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CU Asia 2019 Venues

91springboard Goa

📍 https://goo.gl/maps/3b4hP3saKDJ2

Goa is the 91springboard’s fourteenth hub in India, and as well the central

Headquarter.

91springboard has always believed in the maxim of “work hard, party

hard”. It is a philosophy that is reflected in the way they operate our

coworking spaces across 7 cities in India. 91springboard likes to create

environments that enable their team to perform beyond what they

thought they were capable of while also ensuring they have fun in the

process. Moving their headquarter to Goa is the best way to ensure that

their team has as much fun away from work as they do while at the hub.

Away from the crowds, hustle, and noise of India’s metropolitan cities,

91springboard Goa offers the opportunity for a tranquil, relaxed, and less

stressful work environment, with the beach just a 5-minute drive from the

hub itself.

91springboard team is excited to welcome you at its Goa hub for the

Spotlight India on Wednesday, 20 February 2019.

Wednesday, 20 February 2019

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Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG)

📍 https://goo.gl/maps/1rAd55yNZxH2

Established by the Government of Goa in 2004, the main objective of the

Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) is to frame an entertainment policy to

help cultivate Goa into a world-class international entertainment nerve

center of the country. It is home for the annual International Film Festival

of India (IFFI) since 2004.

Inspired by the entertainment culture of India, it is our pleasure to be

partnering with ESG to be hosting the Coworking Academy on Thursday,

21 February 2019.

Thursday, 21 February 2019

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Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias

📍 https://goo.gl/maps/rfJJTBbKA4E2

The Clubhouse is situated on Goa’s most attractive Miramar Beach, which

was originally called Praia de Gaspar Dias.

In the year 1921, some like-minded gentlemen took the initiative and met to

lay a foundation of a Clubhouse at Gaspar Dias. On 25 April 1926, a shack

constructed of local materials like bamboo mats was put up. It was the birth

of Clubhouse Gaspar Dias.

With 90 years of glorious history of wholesome family entertainment,

playing hosts to some elite dignitaries & sportsmen of different bygone eras,

and now being consolidated as a full fledged sports consortium, the Clube

Tennis Gaspar Dias will become the venue of the Opening of Coworking Unconference of Asia in the morning of Friday, 22 February 2019.

Friday, 22 February 2019

Old GMC Complex

📍 https://goo.gl/maps/mou4RbYPw442

The Goa Medical College (GMC) in Panaji, Goa was built in 1927 and is one

of Asia’s oldest medical institutions. Rich of Goa history, this beautiful

building and compound will feature a mix of exhibitions and culinary

workshops.

Together with Entertainment Society of Goa, the Old GMC building is also

home for the annual International Film Festival of India (IFFI) since 2004.

The old GMC building will be the venue of Coworking Unconference Asia 2019’s panel and unconference sessions on Friday - Saturday, 22 - 23

February 2019.

Friday - Saturday, 22 - 23 February 2019

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Reis Magos Fort

📍 https://goo.gl/maps/YhUH3BjbQYo

The Reis Magos Fort is the oldest fort in Goa and is located about 9 km

from Panjim, the capital city of Goa. It has been restored to serve as a

Cultural and Heritage Centre.

The Fort of Reis Magos was of great strategic importance because it

served as a first line of defence to the port town of Old Goa. It has served

the state since 1493.

This historical building will be the venue of the closing party of Coworking Unconference Asia 2019 on the evening of Saturday, 23 February 2019.

Saturday, 23 February 2019

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CU Asia 2019 Passes

CU Asia 2019 PassesALL ACCESS PassALL ACCESS Pass will give you access to Spotlight India on Wednesday, 20 February 2019, Coworking Academy on Thursday, 21 February 2019,

Coworking Unconference Asia (CU Asia) 2019 on Friday, 22 February to Saturday, 23 February 2019, and the Goa Excursion on Sunday, 24 February

2019.

Standard PassALL ACCESS Pass will only give you access to the Coworking Unconference Asia (CU Asia) 2019 on Friday, 22 February to Saturday, 23 February 2019,

and the Goa Excursion on Sunday, 24 February 2019.

Spotlight India PassSpotlight India Pass will only give you access to Spotlight India on Wednesday, 20 February 2019.

Spotlight India Coworking AcademyCoworking Unconference Asia

(CU Asia 2019)Goa Excursion

ALL ACCESS Pass ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Standard Pass x x ✓ ✓

Spotlight India Pass ✓ x x x

To upgrade your pass, please get in touch with hello@coworkingasiapacific.com

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CU Asia 2019Program Schedule

Spotlight India | Wednesday, 20 February 2019

Spotlight India

9:00 am - 10:00 am Registration and Networking

10:00 am - 10:10 am Introduction by CU Asia 2019’s Hosting Partner

10:10 am - 10:30 am Rise of Coworking in India by Varun Chawla (91Springboard)

10:30 am - 11:10 amPanel Session: Coworking in India

with Puneet Chandra (Skootr), Ashish Goenka (Redbrick Offices), and Sakshi Rastogi (91Springboard)

11:10 am - 11:40 amPanel Session: Community within India

with Anurag Maloo (Techstars), Paras Pundir (Community Folks), and Mithun Shetty (91Springboard)

11:40 am - 12:00 pm What is Government’s Involvement / Interest in Coworking Spaces?

12:00 pm - 12:40 pm Panel Session: Government's involvement in Startups and Coworking Ecosystem

12:40 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch

1:30 pm - 1:45 pm Startup Ecosystem in India by Techstars

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1:45 pm - 2:15 pm Panel Session: Startup Ecosystem in India and the Support from Coworking Space

2:15 pm - 2:45 pmPanel session: How Can Coworking Spaces Help Members to Succeed?

with Eashita Maheswary (Beyond Nomad) and Mayur Sontakke (Remote Explorers)

3:15 pm - 3:35 pm Chai and Networking

3:35 pm - 4:10 pm Unconference Session Unconference Session

4:20 pm - 4:55 pm Unconference Session Unconference Session

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Dinner and Networking

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Coworking Academy 2019 | Thursday, 21 February 2019

Coworking Academy 2019

8:30 am - 9:30 am Registration

9:30 am - 9:45 am Introduction by Steve Munroe and Renee Martyna, CAAP

9:45 am - 10:25 amSeeing The Big Picture: Coworking Strategy from 35,000 Feet

by Marc Navarro, Marc Navarro Coworking Consultancy

10:25 am - 11:05 am Coworking Sales and Marketing

11:05 am - 11:30 am Chai Break

11:30 am - 12:10 pmHow to Use Events to Imprint the DNA of Your Space and Making Your Space Profitable by Brittnee Bond,

Bondworks

Strengthening Your Ecosystem Through Strategic Partnerships by Maria Agustin, HUBUD

12:10 pm - 1:10 pm Lunch

1:10 pm - 1:50 pmA Thoughtfully Designed Space Makes Workers Happy.

Don't Screw It Up! by Shravan Bendapudi, GenslerHow to Keep Your Team Awesome as You Grow by

Michael Moonsinghe, Business Hubs

2:00 pm - 2:40 pmKick Ass Saas: How to Dial in Your Software Choices to

Manage Your Business Better.Building a Playbook For Growth by Marcela Fernandez,

Selina

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2:40 pm - 3:00 pm Chai Break

3:00 pm - 3:40 pm AMA: Getting Funding From Investors by Lachlan Sloan, CoLo Life

3:40 pm - 4:20 pm 5 Things We’ve Learned About Scaling by 91springboard

4:20 pm - 4:30 pm Wrap Up

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CU Asia Day 1 | Friday, 22 February 2019

CU Asia Day 1

8:30 am - 9:30 am Registration at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias

9:30 am - 10:00 am Opening

10:00 am - 10:20 am Presentation by Jaanus Juss, Founder and CEO of Telliskivi Creative City

10:30 am - 10:50 am Presentation by Mahdi Shariff, Co-Founder of Guanxi.ai and Advisor to Slush China

11:00 am - 11:30 am Chai Break

11:30 am - 11:50 am Presentation by Carsten Foertsch, Founder of Deskmag

11:50 am - 12:10 pm Presentation by Lachlan Sloan, Co-Founder of CoLo Life

12:10 pm - 12:30 pm Presentation by Marcela Fernandez, Employer Brand Ambassador at Selina

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Move to Old GMC Complex

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Lunch at Old GMC Complex

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2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

Breakout Session 1

Social Innovation: Coworking as an Agent of Social Innovation and

Community Enrichment

Raising $$: Coworking Has Become a

Fundraising Race

New Design: How Beauty and Function Combine to Form the

New Workplace

Layer, Layer, Layer: Insights on Sustainability through Diversified Profit Centres

3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

Breakout Session 2

Is Coworking Truly Global: Regional Differences from Europe,

LATAM, Asia and North America

Getting Acquired: How to Prepare and How It

Can All Go Wrong

Coliving: Is it Unique to the Coworking Industry or Part of

the Trend of Social Living

Burnout: It’s Real. How to Restore and Retain Your

Best Staff

4:00 pm - 4:45 pm

Breakout Session 3

The Waking Giant: Commercial Real Estate Firms are Really

Entering the Fray

The Law of Attraction: Partners, Investors and

Angels

Partnerships: Governments and Enablers that Support and

Need Coworking Spaces

Going Big: Franchising, Multiplying, and

Diversifying

5:30 pm - 6:00 pm Transportation to Cocktail Hour

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Cocktail Hour

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CU Asia Day 2 | Saturday, 23 February 2019

CU Asia Day 2: The Unconference

9:00 am - 10:00 am Morning Chai at Old GMC Complex

10:00 am - 10:30 am Opening: The Unconference

10:30 am - 11:10 am

11:20 am - 12:00 pm

12:10 pm - 12:50 pm

12:50 pm - 2:20 pm Lunch

2:20 pm - 3:00 pm

3:10 pm - 4:00 pm

5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Summary and Wrap Up

7:30 pm - 11:00 pm Dinner and Closing Party at Reis Magos Fort

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Other Important Things You Need to Know

Accommodation Partners

OYO

OYO is India’s largest hotel network. OYO offers many accommodation options in Goa with prices starting at INR 1,100 (15 USD) / night.

OYO has hotels for couples, families, friends backpackers to enjoy positive vibes in Goa.

OYO is giving 25% discounts for CU Asia participants to stay in one of OYO hotels in Panjim are, where most CU Asia venues are located.

(See the list of hotels on page 22)

To book, please email boosters@91springboard.com with your hotel of choice (see page 22). Add subject “OYO for CU Asia”, and mention:

- OYO Hotel’s name

- Number of Rooms

- Check-In Date

- Check-out Date

- Name of all guests, and their email IDs

- Email ID of the person making the reservation and alternate email ID

- Whatsapp Contact Number (if present)

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List of OYO hotels in Panaji, Goa

OYO 805 near Panaji Market https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/yoKTdRN822

OYO 807 Hotel Gopika International https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/8B2JgnUCN5

OYO 1286 Hotel Campal https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/V1dqJ54bEk5

OYO 1365 Hotel Manoshanti https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/165mTbPScp8

OYO 2863 Hotel 4 Pillar's https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/4iwdo1db1B8

OYO 5658 Hotel In City https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/5MNXZ5Me2k1

OYO 9518 Hotel Aqua Mira https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/MR613rpBPX2

OYO 4195 Clausil Inn https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/HCqg6l6c5F7

OYO 4321 near Panaji Market https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/Foa69fj1iZ8

OYO Flagship 395 Miramar Beach https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/H1vr0Iz17LZ9

OYO 6503 Tesero Villa https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/zRfLn1U085f5

OYO 9517 Hotel Sunheads https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/gFD1j5c5EQ31

OYO 9520 Hotel Aqua City https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/akh1dc57Dp20

OYO 10241 Hotel Mayfair https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/1hiCxH750eC3

OYO 11845 Hotel Victoria https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/1f87ZxWA6fv7

OYO 12993 Pramila Court https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/rd2Os7U34xE2

OYO 18786 Flagship Hotel Sona Panaji https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/qm4mu1Apc711

OYO 18855 Hotel Pete's Hideaway https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/pr4Q1MTy82c7

OYO 18951 City Xpress Hotel Rooms https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/4X2TEyc03za0

OYO 22006 Flagship Paradise Inn https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/4zLcb3fN3b29

OYO 22247 Flagship Casa Paradiso https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/IqiVa43m6n84

OYO 23068 Hotel Kamal Palace https://details.oyorooms.com/hotel_crs/4Z50FF6gdFq3

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The Fern Residency Miramarwww.fernhotels.com/the-fern-residency-goa.html

The Fern Residency Miramar is a quaint boutique hotel located in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Caranzalem, just a few meters from

the beach. The hotel is designed to offer a contemporary luxury experience for the business and leisure traveler. Its proximity to Dona Paula Jetty,

Miramar beach and Panjim makes it an ideal destination when you are travelling to Goa. The hotel’s unique interiors, chic ambience and personalized

service make it a trendsetter. It’s an eclectic blend of traditional architecture and contemporary amenities.

The Fern is giving almost 30% discounts on all rooms for CU Asia participants (an option to include transportation to CU Asia venues is available!)

To book: Send a reservation email to res.fr.panjim@fernhotels.com and copy to: sales.fr.panjim@fernhotels.com

Use “CUASIA 2019” in the email subject!

Getting around Goa and CU Asia VenuesTaxiUnlike other parts of India, international taxi app service such as Uber and

Ola are not available in Goa. However, you could try getting taxi using

GoaMiles app.

Tip: From the airport, besides GoaMiles, you could also take a taxi from

one of the taxi booths in the arrival hall. To get to Panjim area, it will cost

you around 1,200 Rupee (±16 USD).

Auto Rickshaw

No auto rickshaw goes by meter. If you want to travel in auto rickshaw in

Goa, you are at the mercy of auto drivers.

The fare should be around INR 150 (USD 2.00) - INR 500 (USD 6.95)

within Panjim area.

The CU Asia team will provide a bus from Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias to the Old GMC Complex on Friday, 22 February 2019 and from the Old GMC Complex to Reis Magos Fort on Saturday, 23 February 2019.

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Sim CardThe process to obtain a sim card in India is not as easy as in other

countries. The Indian government requires sim card owner to present

various documents, for security reasons. These are:

● A passport photo (3cm x 4cm)

● Photocopy of your passport (and the original document)

● Photocopy of your visa (and the original document)

● Proof of address back home (on official government document i.e.

driver's’ license / passport)

● Proof of address in India (where you are staying)

● Note: If you have an e-visa, you may be asked for a photocopy of your

entry stamp in your passport. Usually there will be a photocopying

shop close by or the phone shop will be able to create one – just ask

them where is best to get one if they say that it is required.

We would highly recommend you to buy sim card at the official telco

stores. Please note that it will take 24 hours after purchase until the sim

card is validated and ready to be used.

Note: it is crucial to have an Indian cell number, as most places that offer

free Wi-Fi in Goa will ask to send an OTP to Indian cell number.

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Dress CodeGoa in February will be hot and dry. The temperature is estimated to be

between 25°C (77°F) to 31°C (88°F)

The dress code for CU Asia is casual; wear what you feel most comfortable

to wear.

For the closing party on Saturday, 23 February 2019 at Reis Magos Fort,

we would like to see everyone in glamorous, colorful, Bollywood style outfit.

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BarsBelow you will find some of CU Asia 2019 team’s favorite bars in Panjim area.

Coming to Goa early? You might meet fellow participants having drinks here:

Joseph Bar📍 https://goo.gl/maps/5Ckww9iinbs

Joseph Bar is charming. It has the whole hole-in-the-wall style of a beautifully decrepit Portuguese home. You can sip your drinks while standing on the

street or perch on a stool, if you are lucky to find one.

Pinto Bar and Restaurant📍 https://goo.gl/maps/3rfUanYRY842

Pinto Bar is a tiny bar located in St. Inez, Panjim. Good place to go with a group of four to 10. It has tasty bites, from sausage bread to macaroni with pork

and beef. You could also order alcoholic drinks here.

Black Sheep Bistro📍 https://goo.gl/maps/qE2UhHjZyZT2

Black Sheep Bistro is located right in the heart of Panjim. It has a fine dining and trendy bistro feel, with a reasonable price on the higher. It also serves

good tasty cocktails.

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Brunch and CoffeeLooking for a yummy brunch and strong coffee?

Below is some of CU Asia 2019 team’s favorite brunch spots in Panjim area:

Blue Tokai Coffee📍 https://goo.gl/maps/4SU1BE8HA452

Blue Tokai is located on a small alley in Panjim. This coffee shop serves any coffee, from pour overs to cold brew, lattes and espresso.

Cafe Bodega📍 https://goo.gl/maps/kwTxSnWXE822

Cafe Bodega serves continental breakfast, as well as good coffees. The place is very serene and relaxing. It's a place you'd like to sit in for hours and read

a book, chat away or maybe even work.

Café Coffee Day📍 https://goo.gl/maps/Xc6YWewG2Lo

You could find proper good coffee and power breakfast at Café Coffee Day.

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