About Us
Team Chikka
Chito Bustamante
Chief Executive Officer
- Director of Technology, AJOnet Holdings, Inc., investment holding company for companies providing innovation in Information and Communications Technology
- Experienced in network and infrastructure development and deployment
- Systems Engineer at Compucom Systems, Inc.
- Certified Systems Engineer for Microsoft and Novell; also certified in IntelBay Networks and Lotus Notes
The inspired name “Chikka,” slang for small talk, first rolled out of Chito’s mouth while watching Philippine TV in San Francisco. He was one of those Silicon Valley Engineers frequently mentioned in any history of Chikka, and he gave validation to the venture’s business and technical viability when it was but a gleam in the eyes of other Chikka founders.
On a visit to Manila in early 2000, Chito was given room at Dennis Mendiola’s apartment where, he performed a study of secretly tilting picture frames and watching Dennis straighten them back, daily.
While Chito supervised the “code rush” that characterized the development of Chikka (2000-2001) he officially came on board only in mid-2002, serving as the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) until 2008.
He is credited for establishing processes that ultimately enabled the company to sustain the frenetic pace of product development and the timely delivery of services to a growing community and international clientele. During his term as COO, Chikka picked up triple ISO certifications and a rare CMMI maturity level 5 standing among technology companies, the highest in the industry.
“To provide a method to the madness,” he likes to say.
Kindred spirit (with Chikka founder Dennis Mendiola) in product development, Chito would invent such products as free-reply SMS, now enjoyed by mobile users in markets as far away as Latin America.
Dennis Mendiola
Founder
- Successful Investment Manager with extensive experience in wireless communications technology
- Ernst and Young awardee “Entrepreneur of the Year” (2006)
- Go Negosyo Movement of the Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship awardee “Ten Most Inspiring techno entrepreneurs” (2007)
- The Philippine Marketing Association for the Agora Asia-Pacific Marketing Excellence Award (2007)
- Philippine Jaycees’ Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee
- Investment Manager, Next Century Partners (Managing Director and founding partner)
- Investment Banker, Bankers Trust and Morgan Stanley
- Management Consultant, McKinsey & Co.
- BS Electrical Engineering & Economics, University of Pennsylvania
- MBA, Harvard Business School
Dennis sat calm and collected, reflecting, calculating what he wanted to say, as he listened to ideas being thrown at a recent product development meeting. It was uncharacteristic of Chikka’s founding CEO and product development czar. This particular day, he would open his mouth but only to pick up important calls thru the blue tooth device people are certain formed part of his anatomy.
Hanging up the phone, he gets up, parts the wood and paper sliding doors of the private room at the Japanese restaurant and pulls in the waiter standing guard outside, for some small talk with the group. He interviews the young lad confirming his mobile handset, subscription plans, where and why he would access the Internet, and whether he would subscribe to Chikka’s new service.
A timetable is laid. Meeting adjourned.
Dennis has indeed had some of his best ideas translated into some of the Company’s most successful apps because of this strong sense, pulse if one may call it, for the market.
These ideas include Chikka Messenger; probably the world’s first commercially successful integration of web and mobile utilities, as well as the equally hit “Text Newsletter” that let fan legions “follow” largely whimsical celebrity text messages. That was in 2003. And an idea it would later be learned, was way ahead of its time.
The Management Team
The Chikka management team is composed of seasoned entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses in the past and experienced managers who have had successful careers in marketing management, technology management, finance, consulting and investment banking.
Battle-tested, the management team has led the company through its ambitious launch in 2001, and amidst challenging economic conditions, practically established a wireless applications development industry that flourishes to date.
The dedicated team of qualified and competent professionals, ensures through Quality, Security and Technology Management certified by the highest international standards of ISO and CMMI Maturity Level 5, that Chikka maintains its steady course, delivering increasing value to customers, partners and stakeholders that include company employees.
The management team is best of all immersed in the great mobile culture, possessed with knowledge from years of experience pushing innovation in their space, fostering this innovative spirit and championing best practices among employees and partners.