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GIST Boot Camp, MaghrebJanuary 2012
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MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
implemented by CRDF Global
MARRAKESH, MOROCCORyad Mogador Agdal
GIST MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS
AGENDA 4
THE GIST INITIATIVE 7
MENTORS’ BIOS 9
GIST INITIATIVE ADVISORY GROUP BIOS 12
ORGANIZERS’ BIOS 14
UPCOMING EVENTS 16
GIST PARTNERS 17
NOTES 18
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org 3implemented by CRDF Global
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.orgimplemented by CRDF Global implemented by CRDF Global 54
SUNDAY, January 15, 2012
08:30-09:00 Registration
09:00-09:15 Welcome and Opening Remarks
Overview of CRDF
Natalia Pipia, Senior Program Manager, Innovation Programs
Overview of the GIST Initiative
Ovidiu Bujorean, Innovation Program Manager
09:15-10:15 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation: Terms, Concepts, Building Blocks
Dr. David Kirsch, Associate Professor, University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith
School of Business
10:15-10:30 Coffee Break
10:30-11:15 Opportunity Recognition, Exploitation and Harvest
Includes discussion of “3D Printing” Case David Kirsch
11:15-12:00 Executive Summary
Jim Hunt, Managing Partner at the Mita Group
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:00-14:00 Business Models and Visualizing Business Models
Jim Hunt, Managing Partner, Mita Group
Mr. Yann Le Beux, Catalyst, CTIC - Croissance TIC Dakar
14:00-15:00 Financial Projections and Modeling for Startups
Michael Cain, founder, investor and managing partner, Wilmington Investor
Network, LLC
15:00-15:15 Coffee Break
15:15-16:00 The Elements of a Business Pitch
Michael Cain and Jim Hunt
16:00-18:00 One on One Mentorship Sessions for the technology entrepreneurs. GIST selected
participants meet their mentor
18:00 - onwards Entrepreneurs work on crafting and improving their executive summaries. Participants
reflect on the training sessions and incorporate feedback into their executive summaries
MONDAY, January 16, 2012
08:30-09:00 Registration
09:00-10:00 Raising Funds For Your Ideas and Ventures
Michael Cain, founder, investor and managing partner, Wilmington Investor
Network, LLC
10:00-10:15 Coffee Break
10:15-11:00 Professional Networking Offline and Online
How to make powerful new friends for your new venture
Ovidiu Bujorean, Innovation Program Manager, CRDF Global
11:00-12:00 Pivoting and Changing Direction as a Startup. David Kirsch and Jim Hunt
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:00-15:00 One on One Mentorship Sessions for the technology entrepreneurs. The GIST selected
participants meet their mentor
15:15-16:45 Venture Pitching Session Entrepreneurs pitch to practice and learn in front of a panel of
experienced angel investors, serial entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. 3-5
entrepreneurs pitch their ideas
16:45-17:00 Lessons Learned and Recognition Ceremony
AGENDAAGENDA AGENDAAGENDA
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
76
THE GIST INITIATIVETHE GIST INITIATIVE
CONNECT WITH GIST COMMUNITY
As part of President Obama’s call for engagement with the Muslim world,
the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Initiative is
forging links at the individual and institutional level between scientists,
technology entrepreneurs, and the marketplace to improve quality of
life and economic prosperity. Innovation in science and technology
is a key driver of economic development around the world and a vital
tool to address shared global challenges. The GIST Initiative aims to
strengthen national, regional, and global entrepreneurship and technology
development through partnerships and programs focusing on:
• NETWORKING: Linking innovative ideas, people, and financial and
human resources
• SKILL DEVELOPMENT: Providing business training, mentorship and
resources
• FINANCING: Connecting innovators and their ideas with seed capital
GIST Social Networking Platform
• Access innovative business tools
and mentorship
• Form partnerships to foster new
venture creation
• Exchange ideas through popular
social networking platforms
Incentive-Based Competitions• GISTech-I: Bring technology ideas to
the community via YouTube-based idea
pitch competition.
• GIST-MIT Business Plan Competition:
Receive mentorship and seed funding for
early stage ventures via 43 nation joint
business plan competition.
• Institutionalize connections between
universities and businesses through
industry outreach partnerships.
• Develop innovation leaders primed to
meet industry needs through hands on
training experiences.
University-IndustryLinkage Program
• Accelerate business development
through innovation and entrepreneurship
training in topics including
communications skills, market
assessment, business plan development.
• Learn from successful entrepreneurs
and business leaders.
Skill Development Training
“…all of us must recognize
that education and innovation
will be the currency of the 21st
century.”
Barack Obama
President of the United
States of America
•••
“Malaysia welcomes the
GIST Initiative to support
technology development in
Muslim-majority countries… to
advance key innovation areas,
especially innovation capacity,
entrepreneurship and access to
seed capital.”
Dato’ Madinah binti
Mohamad
Secretary General, Ministry
of Science, Technology and
Innovation, Malaysia
•••
[GIST] is a great opportunity
to increase participation by
the academic sector in the
transfer of technology into
the marketplace through
the development of practical
knowledge and skills, as well as
to heighten understanding of
the value of entrepreneurship
and innovation for the economic
growth and sustainability.
Dr. Abdelali Haoudi
VP of Research, Qatar
Foundation
•••
“It is critically important to
develop the role of universities
in the Arab world to become a
major partner in economic and
social development. The Global
Innovation through Science and
Technology Initiative will help in
providing access to knowledge
and technology to developing
countries; where funding is not
the only obstacle to progress.”
Dr. Rashid bin Moktar bin
Abdullah
CEO, Moroccan Foundation
for Advances in Science,
Innovation, and Research
(MAScIR)
MARRAKESH, MOROCCORyad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
LEARN. CONNECT. GET INSPIRED!GIST Startup Bootcamp is an intense and interactive two day program of training and heavy mentoring designed to spark innovative thinking and trigger the creation of new startup ideas among promising technology entrepreneurs.
Because you are a resilient, innovative, and coachable individual who likes to work in teams and demonstrates 100% commitment to the idea.
WHAT?
WHY YOU?
LEARN
INSPIRED
CONNECT
SUBMIT executive summary developed at the bootcamp to the GIST-MIT Enterprise ForumBusiness Plan Competition to win the top prize of $50k and a learning journey to the US
SUBMIT your idea to the next GISTech-I YouTube competition. RECEIVE additional support and prizes
NETWORK with the best and the brightest entrepreneurial minds from the US and the Maghreb region
BOND with your peers and future business partners INTERACT with people like YOU through the GIST NETWORK
GET INSPIRED:
LEARN:PRACTICAL HOW-TO SESSIONS that show you how to bring your ideas to life
DEVELOP your executive summaryHOMEWORK designed to start on your business plans
LIVE FEEDBACK from successful entrepreneurs
CONNECT:
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.orgimplemented by CRDF Global
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
BIOGRAPHIESBIOGRAPHIES
MENTOR’ BIOSMENTORS’ BIOS
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org 9implemented by CRDF Global
Dr. David KirschAssociate Professor University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business
David Kirsch is Dean’s Term Associate Professor of Capitalism Studies and Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park. His research focuses on the intersection of problems of innovation and entrepreneurship, technological and business failure, and industry emergence and evolution. Kirsch has studied the history of alternatives to internal combustion (The Electric Vehicle and the Burden of History (2000)) and the intense period of technological entrepreneurship in the 1990s known as the Dot Com Era. His research has been published in Management Science, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Financial Economics and Strategic Management Journal, and he has been the subject of feature stories in
national publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Firas BenAchourCo-Founder, President and CEO Diagnosoft, Inc.
Mr. BenAchour is a seasoned healthcare and technology entrepreneur and executive with 24 years of experience in working with technology and healthcare startups. He is also an angel investor and a mentor for several young entrepreneurs in the MENA region.
Firas BenAchour is a Co-Founder at Diagnosoft and is currently serving as Diagnosoft’s President and CEO. Diagnosoft is a venture-backed healthcare technology startup located in the Research Triangle Park in Morrisville, North Carolina. Diagnosoft offers unique enterprise clinical analytics and knowledge
support solutions as well as Cardiac MRI quantification and analysis software.
Mr. BenAchour is also Founding Member at Tunisian American Young Professionals TAYP. The organization focuses on fostering economic and financial relationship between USA and Tunisia to encourage and increase the flow of private and public investment between the two countries.
Mr. BenAchour was most recently with CareSystems, Inc. where he was Vice President of Sales and Market Development. While at CareSystems, he established the sales and marketing strategy and re-organized and focused the business operation in preparation for venture capital funding. Previous to that BenAchour was Regional Vice President of Sales with CareFusion (acquired by Cardinal health). He managed sales operation for eastern US and grew the region’s revenue year over year. BenAchour has also held various positions at Per-Se Technologies (acquired by McKesson), including Business Development Director and Account Executive. Firas BenAchour holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org10 implemented by CRDF Global
James H. HuntManaging Partner, Mita Group
James Hunt is Managing Partner at the Mita Group, a public affairs and business strategy consultancy based in Washington, DC.
Jim has served in an executive capacity as the past President of Cap Gemini Technologies, LLC and as Founder, President and CEO of Ernst & Young Technologies. Additionally, Mr. Hunt served as Managing Director, System Integration at Price Waterhouse, Founder, CEO, and President of BDS, Incorporated and as a consultant providing businesses with insights and strategies related to development of their federal government business.
Mr. Hunt currently serves on the boards of six technology companies: iMove, Sensics, videoNEXT, SpotterRF, Unveillance, and Interfolio.
At Ernst & Young Technologies, Jim oversaw a staff of over 300 professionals and drove the company to revenues of over $90M in the third year after formation – placing 3rd on the INC 500 listing of US fast growing private companies. Hunt orchestrated and optimized the successful sale of EYT by packaging the company into two pieces and selling each piece to public companies.
Jim was only at Price Waterhouse for two years – at which point he was recruited away by Ernst & Young along with 17 of his Price Waterhouse team. Jim founded the System Integration practice of PW and grew it to over $50M of backlog in the first 18 months. The SI piece of Price Waterhouse was approximately $400M by the time it was sold to IBM some years later.
As founder, chairman and CEO of BDS, Hunt grew revenues to $80M in the year BDS merged with BTG in 1992. Twice during the ten year lifespan of BDS, the company was ranked on the INC 500 listing. After the merger, Hunt spent a year working with the CEO of BTG to position the company for a public offering. In the first year after the IPO, the stock rose from $12 at the offering to over $26/share. Hunt exited his equity position with BTG during that first year.
Jim has extensive experience in building technology companies and angel investing. He has invested in and assisted with the start up of over two dozen companies over the past twenty years.
Hunt’s angel investments are mostly technology oriented and most are products and or services that have a market into the federal government markets.
Jim has historically invested as a “singleton angel” but has also been a founding member of three angel groups where he invests collectively with other angels. The three angel groups are: the Irish Angels (Notre Dame Alumni), the “Active Angels” (group of Washington area angels), the “D’ArchAngels” (angels focused on investments in the defense and intelligence market space) and “Blu Venture Investors”
Additionally, Hunt is an advisor to two venture funds – “Edison Ventures”, an early and mid stage Venture Capital Fund headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey and the “Seriphim Fund”, a joint US-UK venture fund focused on investments in start-up companies in the United Kingdom.
In his capacity as an advisory to both small and large companies, Jim has worked on strategic and tactical planning ranging from market penetration and expansion to cost reduction and restructuring.
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org 11implemented by CRDF Global
Hunt has been retained by a number of larger companies who have asked for strategic guidance regarding potential acquisition targets and integration planning.
Jim also served as the Chairman of the Computing Technology Industry Association (ComTIA) and has been actively involved in industry panels and forums for the past twenty five years.
Mr. Hunt has BS in Photographic Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a BA in Marketing, University of Notre Dame and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Georgetown University.
Michael G CainAngel Investor
Michael Cain is the founder, investor, and managing partner of Wilmington Investor Network, LLC an angel investment fund he formed in July 2004. He is a founder and managing Partner of Guardant Partners, LLC an investment management partnership and also a managing partner of their special situations fund both located in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is an investor and manager of Emergent Growth Fund II in Gainesville, FL and founder and Managing Partner of Research Triangle Angels, LLC of Raleigh, North Carolina. His angel funds have invested in over 40 early stage startup companies totally angel investments in excess of $25M. Each investment requires continuing
angel involvement, mentorship, advice, and consultation.
Cain is Vice Chairman and Treasurer of the Angel Resource Institute, a non profit angel research and education foundation originally created and funded by the Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City. He remains Vice Chairman of The Atlantis group a fully invested angel fund based in Durham, NC. He also serves on several for-profit and non-profit boards.
Prior to becoming a full time angel investor in 1995, Cain started, operated, and successfully exited a variety of businesses. These ranged from computer software sales and service, to supplying drying equipment to the paper industry. During the 1980’s he developed a regional Wendy’s Franchise from a 1 store startup into a 28 store corporation.
Cain received his Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Vermont.Certified Management Accountant. Mr. Ducker reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro and finished 7 marathons, including the Safaricom Marathon in Kenya which is ranked by Running World Magazine as one of the top endurance marathons.
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org12 implemented by CRDF Global
Yann Le Beux
Yann Le Beux is currently working as a Catalyst for CTIC Dakar, the first IT and Mobile Technology Incubator of Senegal. He is in charge for advising high-growth entrepreneurs on their strategy and business model and he is also responsible for developing the incubator long term strategy and building key partnerships with local and international stakeholders. Yann was previously in charge of the mentoring program for MoovJee, the leading organization in France dedicated to young entrepreneurs. He has also served for few years within the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department of the French Embassy in the US. Based in Boston, he was in charge of creating, implementing and managing a new initiative to help the most innovative
French start-ups accelerate their development in the US. He co-funded several projects in the US including one startup that has now stopped. He also worked and lived in the UK and Belgium. He holds a Master in Engineering and Innovation Management and followed an Entrepreneurship training at Harvard University. Yann is passionate by technology and social entrepreneurship, he reads about geopolitics and he loves travels, great food and basketball.
Matthew MeredithPresident, Newfound Counsulting
Matthew Meredith is an experienced entrepreneur with 10 years of small business experience. Matthew was the founder of Ice Age Ice AG, one of Europe’s leading companies in the frozen food segment packaged ice from 2003-2009. He built the company from an idea and raised Euro 8 million in venture capital financing to execute the growth strategy. Additionally he is the founder and President of Newfound Consulting, a small business advisory focused on serving high growth companies preparing for a capital raise. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Matthew was a ranger qualified Infantry Officer with the US Army. He has a BA from Tufts University in International
Relations and an MBA from the Kellogg School of business.
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org 13implemented by CRDF Global
Jeff HoffmanFounder, Priceline
Jeff Hoffman is an accomplished entrepreneur and innovator in the fields of Internet, e-commerce, and entertainment. Having launched his first software company while still a student at Yale University, Hoffman has founded and grown a series of successful startup companies in his career, guiding his companies to both acquisitions and public offerings. For his efforts, Jeff received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Entrepreneurship from the National CEO Council in 2010, and was also inducted into the Hall of Fame for Entrepreneurs by the international association of college entrepreneurs in 2010.
GIST INITIATIVE ADVISORY GROUP BIOSGIST INITIATIVE ADVISORY GROUP BIOS
Jeff is currently a founder and partner in ColorJar, a venture accelerator firm that helps entrepreneurs and small business owners launch and grow new business ventures. In this capacity, Jeff works as a virtual CEO with startup companies all over the world to help turn great ideas into profitable businesses.
Jeff previously served as the CEO of Enable Holdings, Inc., one of the world’s leading excess inventory solutions companies. Enable Holdings, a publicly traded company, operates online sites uBid.com and RedTag.com, and specializes in the liquidation of excess inventory from major brand name manufacturers and retailers. The company has sold over $2 billion worth of computers, consumer electronics, jewelry, apparel, collectibles, and other products since its launch.Jeff’s first startup was a software company in the travel industry named CTI, a company that quickly became the industry leader in technology for the travel and tourism industry, and was later acquired by American Express. For his achievements, Jeff was twice named one of the 25 Most Influential Executives in travel and tourism worldwide. Hoffman was also a founder and CEO of early e-commerce pioneer Virtual Shopping, Inc., which developed patented, proprietary software and hardware for online retailing on the Internet, and was later acquired by Europe’s Wallenberg Group.
Hoffman is perhaps best known as a founder and CEO in the Priceline.com family of companies, where Jeff led the development and launch of Priceline’s consumer company (Priceline YardSale). Hoffman also served as an executive in Walker Digital, the parent company of Priceline and one of the country’s most innovative creators of intellectual property and new business models.After Priceline, Jeff was a founding partner, Chairman, and CEO of Black Sky Entertainment, an independent production company in the film and music industries. Hoffman’s firm successfully produced such independent films as CABIN FEVER (a horror film made for $1.4 million that has grossed over $100 million worldwide), and is currently in development on several new film and television projects. In the music business, Jeff has produced concerts with Elton John, reality programming with Boyz II Men, had his artists (pop band LMNT) open for Britney Spears, hosted charity events with members of *NSYNC, produced musical events with Ashanti, Fat Joe, Cash Money Millionaires, and more.
Jeff dedicates a significant portion of his time to mentoring other entrepreneurs. In this capacity, Jeff has served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Georgia Tech and Rollins College, and has judged business plan competitions at MIT, the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, Pepperdine University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Jeff also served as a coach and mentor in the Kaufman Institute’s FastTrac Entrepreneurs Boot Camp.
Jeff Hoffman is an accomplished professional and motivational speaker, featuring topics such as entrepreneurship, innovation, and business leadership, and has spoken at conferences and symposiums in over 40 different countries. Jeff is a featured business expert seen on Fox News, CNN, NBC, and more.
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org14 implemented by CRDF Global
Natalia PipiaCRDF Global
Natalia Pipia develops and oversees all Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programs at CRDF Global. In her current position, Natalia is responsible for developing program vision and outreach strategies to external partners and funders for Innovation Programs as well as overseeing a portfolio of programs that support entrepreneurship ecosystem development in emerging countries. She develops new opportunities with various organizations and funders who share CRDF Global’s objective of promoting innovation in emerging economies and advancing the development of new opportunities for technology entrepreneurs. She carries out programs that support and promote technology start-ups, build innovation ecosystems in countries where programs are being implemented, and facilitate U.S. market access.
The objectives of CRDF Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship programs and more specifically, the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Initiative, one of the programs Natalia oversees, are to develop and support new entrepreneurs by enhancing their knowledge of the technology commercialization process, creating mechanisms that allow them to network with like-minded entrepreneurs, providing them with access to seed capital to develop their business, and establish a virtual platform to link them with potential investors and funders. GIST also aims to establish a stronger entrepreneurial culture across the regions of the Middle East, Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, foster more economically productive research through university – industry partnerships, and create sustainable linkages between regional researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and business services providers amongst themselves and with the broader business and investment community.
Natalia has 10 years of experience working in economic development and executed entrepreneurship and technology commercialization initiatives in more than 2o countries in partnership with numerous associations, companies, technology transfer groups, governmental, and non-governmental organizations in Eurasia, Middle East, Africa, Central and Southeast Asia.
Natalia holds a M.A. in International Relations from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University and Law degree from Kazan University. Natalia is fluent in English, Russian, and Georgian. She resides with her family in Washington, DC metropolitan area.
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org 15
Ovidiu (Ovi) Bujorean CRDF Global
Ovidiu (Ovi) Bujorean is Program Manager for the GIST Initiative. The GIST Initiative aims to accelerate technology commercialization and entrepreneurship in the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Southeast Asia. Between 2011 and 2013, GIST is organizing two technology idea competitions (GISTech-I) and business plan competitions open to all entrepreneurs in the region interested in the fields of information technology, energy, health care and agriculture. The Initiative is also building the GIST Network, designed as a virtual platform for aspiring entrepreneurs, the academic community, and investors to BUILD entrepreneurship skills, to
NETWORK with peers and CONNECT with mentors. In addition, GIST promotes University-Industry linkages in the regions mentioned above.
Ovidiu is member of the Board of Directors and Regional Chair for Washington DC and Virginia for MIT Enterprise Forum. He also serves as an Advisor to the MIT Portugal Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative. Previously, he was the Senior Associate at Rudyard Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in consumer technology opportunities for the global marketplace. Ovidiu managed a $600k UNDP e-government Project for the Romanian Presidency. The project was recognized by UNDP as regional best practice in capacity building and public administration reform. He also worked with Gemini Consulting, Deutsche Post Consulting, and BCG.
Ovidiu also founded and led LEADERS, an organization who impacted the lives of approximately 10000 young leaders and entrepreneurs in Romania and Southern-Eastern Europe. The partnership he built between Leaders and Vodafone was recognized by the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum as a worldwide best practice in developing young leaders. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of The Capital Network, City of Cambridge, AIESEC at Harvard and as a judge in the competition Startup Chile.
He was invited to speak on the topic of “Professional Networking” by the MIT Portugal Entrepreneurship program, the Swiss government, Columbia University and The State Department TechCamp initiative. He was the winner of Mayor Menino Boston World Partnership Battle of the Network Stars competition that included 125 top Boston connectors.
He is a graduate of the MIT Sloan School of Management MBA program and the inaugural Sloan Entrepreneurship and Innovation program in Technology. Ovidiu also holds an MPA degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, an MA in Organizational and Business Psychology and an MA in Governance and Institutional Development. He holds a BA in trade from Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. He served two terms as the National President of AIESEC in Romania.
implemented by CRDF Global
ORGANIZERS’ BIOSORGANIZERS’ BIOS
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org
Yuritzi Acosta CRDF Global
Yuritzi has significant international experience working in the fields of education and advocacy. Her interest in working with entrepreneurs and leaders across the globe brought her to CRDF Global in April 2011. As a member of the GIST Initiative she has worked on projects that empower entrepreneurs to commercialize their innovative ideas through the coordination of events and facilitation of access to relevant information.
Over the course of her work, she has coordinated a variety of educational and advocacy programs funded by agencies, such as NeighborWorks USA, USAID and the Florida Department of Education and now the Department of State.
Having lived in countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, Yuritzi brings a global view and adaptability to the team. Her interest in the interconnectedness of cultures and people has led her to complete an MA in International Studies with a focus on development from Florida International University. Yuritzi is also fluent in English, French and Spanish.
16 implemented by CRDF Global join the GIST network today! • www.gistinitiative.org 17implemented by CRDF Global
GIST PARTNERSGIST PARTNERS Building local entrepreneurialecosystems together
REGIONAL JORDAN
TURKEY
INDONESIA
MALAYSIA U. A. EMIRATES BANGLADESH
PAKISTAN
TUNISIA ALGERIA
EGYPT
GIST Initiative is supported by U.S. Department of State, The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
UPCOMING EVENTSUPCOMING EVENTSEVENT DATEWebinar: Business Plan Development February, 2012Entrepreneurship Workshop, Abu Dhabi, UAE March 16-17, 2012MIT Global Startup, Istanbul, Turkey March 28-30, 2012GIST Startup Boot Camp Indonesia April 18-19, 2012GIST Startup Boot Camp Malaysia April 23-24, 2012GIST Startup Boot Camp Tunisia July 18-19, 2012GIST Startup Boot Camp Algeria Mid-July, 2012
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
MOROCCOMOROCCO
NOTESNOTES
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference MARRAKESH, MOROCCO Ryad Mogador Agdal
MAGHREB STARTUP BOOTCAMP
January 15-16, 2012
Second US-Maghreb Entrepreneurship Conference
HOW TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE GIST INITIATIVE?APPLY FOR THE COMPETITION
www.gist.crdfglobal.org/gist-programs/business-plan-competition
JOIN THE GIST NETWORK www.gist.crdfglobal.org/gistnetwork/join-the-network
FOLLOW US TO RECEIVE NEWS ON NEW EVENTS:
GIST • CRDF Global1530 Wilson Blvd. 3rd FL
Arlington, VA 22209www.crdf.org; www.gistinitiative.org
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@GISTinitiativewww.facebook.com/GISTinitiative