The GIST (Global Innovation through Science and Technology) Tech-I Pitch Competition Finals took place on Thursday, June 23, and Friday, June 24, 2016, during the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) held at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Twenty-nine science and technology entrepreneurs representing 23 countries and territories competed for a chance to win US$ 70,000 in cash and additional prizes.
Remarks by President Obama and Conversation with Mark Zuckerberg and Entrepreneurs at GES 2016
The world has shrunk. It is interconnected. All of you represent that interconnection. Many of you are catalyzing it and accelerating it. It promises to bring extraordinary benefits. But it also has challenges. And it also evokes concerns and fears. And so part of why this Global Entrepreneurship Summit has been so close to my heart, something that I’ve been so committed to, because I believe all of you represent all the upside of an interconnected world, all the optimism and the hope and the opportunity that that interconnected world represents.
View Official Photos from GES 2016
President Obama hosted the seventh annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, on June 22-24, 2016. Over 700 entrepreneurs and more than 300 investors attended the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, held June 22-24, 2016 at Stanford University, in Palo Alto, California. GES has become a preeminent annual gathering that provides emerging entrepreneurs with exceptional networking, insight, and investment opportunities. During Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the White House on June 7, President Obama and Prime Minister Modi were pleased to announce India as the host of the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, becoming the seventh country to host the event.
FACT SHEET: Global Entrepreneurship Summit
President Obama today will take part in the 7th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) at Stanford University in Silicon Valley, California, which will feature new commitments to promote entrepreneurship as a driver for economic growth, social inclusion, and secure communities. Following his historic 2009 Cairo speech, President Obama elevated innovation and entrepreneurship in the U.S. engagement agenda and hosted the first GES at the White House in 2010. The United States has made significant strides in supporting entrepreneurship around the world by developing innovative ecosystems; advocating for stronger business climates through rule of law and transparent business conduct...
GES Community Network
We are excited to welcome you to the GES Community Network hosted by the Global Innovation Exchange. The networking platform was created to allow all GES applicants to connect with the greater GES community. Together, GES and the Global Innovation Exchange are working to seek out impactful solutions to change the world. We believe that great ideas can come from anywhere, and we believe that those ideas can lead to something incredible. Connect with fellow entrepreneurs and investors. Collaborate with the global community of change agents. The Global Innovation Exchange is a global marketplace to connect entrepreneurs and innovators with resources, funding, and experts. Search over 4,200 innovations, $72M in available funding opportunities, and over 9,000 expert collaborators to accelerate innovation to impact.
NOTICE TO THE PRESS: Secretary Kerry to Deliver Remarks at the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit
As GES Begins in Silicon Valley, New Announcements to Support Inclusive Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Home
With the eyes of the world on Silicon Valley, today the Obama Administration is announcing new commitments to advance inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation here at home. These announcements build on a week where the Administration has highlighted a powerful record of progress in fueling American innovation over the last seven and a half years and announcing new steps to build on those efforts—including supporting advanced manufacturing and making, publishing a new rule to enable non-recreational use of unmanned aircraft, and supporting next-generation technologies.
LOOK-AHEAD: Thursday, June 23 – Public Schedule of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit
Program sessions are open for on-the-record press coverage to accredited GES media representatives unless otherwise noted, but may have limited capacity. Sessions are first-come first-served, and will be closed to press upon reaching full attendance. Press attending sessions do so in an observational capacity only, and should not interfere with the delegate experience (e.g. conduct interviews or ask questions) while the session is ongoing.
Spark the Fire – Final Pitch Competition
On June 22 at 5:00 PM PT, the Spark the Fire Pitch Competition will take place during GES+, a special day-long program focused on top global youth and women entrepreneurs at the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, hosted at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Organized by the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Spark the Fire is designed to help emerging entrepreneurs from around the world seek investment and start and scale their venture. Six distinguished finalists from around the world will present a three-minute pitch followed by a four-minute Q&A from a panel of expert judges.
GES+ 2016: Emerging Youth and Women Entrepreneurs – June 22
On June 22, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) will host GES+, an intensive day-long program designed to connect 150 emerging youth and women entrepreneurs with investors and leaders in the entrepreneurship space. Youth and women entrepreneurs globally represent a powerful talent pool with innovative ideas; however, they often experience additional barriers in accessing finance and support services needed to grow and scale their businesses.
LOOK-AHEAD: Wednesday, June 22 - Public Schedule of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit
On June 22, the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) will host GES+, an intensive day-long program designed to connect 150 of 2016’s most dynamic global youth and women entrepreneurs whose businesses have the potential to scale and catalyze change with investors and leaders in the entrepreneurship space. Youth and women entrepreneurs globally represent a powerful talent pool with innovative ideas; however, they often experience additional barriers in accessing finance and support services needed to grow and scale their businesses. GES+ will provide a unique opportunity for this select group of entrepreneurs to take part in focused skills trainings, meet with mentors and industry experts, compete for cash and in-kind prizes in a pitch competition, and network among peers.
GES Featured Speakers Announced
President Obama will headline the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) to be hosted at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, June 22-24, 2016. More than 1,000 attendees, including entrepreneurs, investors, educators, foreign government officials, and business representatives who represent the full measure of entrepreneurial talent from diverse backgrounds across our nation and the world will gather for two plenary sessions in addition to breakout sessions and master classes.
Secretary Kerry and Senior State Department Officials to Attend #GES2016
President Obama will lead the official U.S. delegation to the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) to be hosted at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, June 22-24, 2016. The composition of the delegation highlights the wide range of innovative solutions to solving some of the world’s toughest challenges, including poverty, climate change, extremism, as well as access to education and healthcare. The U.S. delegation, consisting of cabinet members and senior U.S. officials, will join more than 1,000 attendees, including entrepreneurs, investors, educators, foreign government officials, and business representatives who represent the full measure of entrepreneurial talent from diverse backgrounds across our nation and the world.
Spark the Fire — Pitch Competition and Logistics Information Announced
The Spark the Fire pitch competition will take place during the Global Entrepreneurship Summit Plus (GES+): Emerging Youth and Women Entrepreneurs Day at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, at Stanford University, on June 22. 36 entrepreneurs from around the world will compete for a chance to win cash – up to US $30,000 – and additional in-kind prizes.
U.S. Announces Innovation Marketplace, a Hub for Startup Entrepreneurs
The Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) focuses on putting innovating global entrepreneurs together with those who can help transform dreams into reality. In this spirit, and in conjunction with partner Stanford University, the United States is pleased to feature the Innovation Marketplace -- a series of booths and demonstration hubs that will focus on resources for entrepreneurs scaling their businesses. From partners exhibiting public-private partnerships that showcase artisan enterprises, to those spotlighting the latest in design technology, the diversity of market exhibitors highlights U.S. government and partner programs that support global entrepreneurship and provide startup resources.
Partner Events Hosted on the Margins of the 2016 GES Announced
In collaboration with the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), more than 30 partners will host events in and around the San Francisco Bay Area to expose participating global entrepreneurs and investors to the full breadth of Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem. Held on the margins of the Summit, June 21 to 25, GES Partner Events include workshops, panel discussions, field trips, film screenings, intimate dinners, and networking receptions. Events are hosted by GES sponsors, partners and affiliated organizations, such as Skoll Foundation, Silicon Valley Bank, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, and Deloitte, in addition to a wide spectrum of tech industry leaders across sectors.
Entrepreneurs and Investors Selected for the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit
The United States is proud to announce that over 700 entrepreneurs and more than 300 investors have been selected to attend the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, to be held June 22-24 at Stanford University, in Palo Alto, California. The GES participants were selected from more than 5,000 entrepreneurs from across the world who submitted applications. These applicants demonstrate that innovation exists in every corner of the globe. Applications were reviewed by a committee of experts comprised of business and industry leaders including founders of incubators, venture capitalists, finance professionals, and start-up founders.
U.S. Announces Public Schedule of GES Summit Events
The United States is pleased to announce the availability of the program agenda for the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), June 22-24, at Stanford University. The 2016 GES agenda will include a wide range of workshops, panels, ignite talks, pitch competitions, mentoring, and networking sessions designed to give the more than 700 entrepreneurs joining from around the world an opportunity to build the skills and relationships that will help their business ventures grow. The agenda caters to the diversity of the GES participants and their needs as entrepreneurs, from industry and regional focused sessions, to skills building workshops, as well as a full day dedicated to emerging youth and women entrepreneurs.
Join a Twitter Q&A with U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel
To build on the success of previous Global Entrepreneurship Summit events, the U.S. government is holding the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in the heart of American entrepreneurship: Silicon Valley. Under Secretary Rick Stengel traveled to California earlier to highlight #GES2016, which will host some of the most innovative entrepreneurs from around the globe between June 22-24, 2016. Now join Under Secretary Stengel at 9am EDT on Wednesday, June 15 for a Twitter Q&A on #entrepreneurship and GES2016. You can ask questions using #AskStengel and #GES2016!
GES 2016 Facebook Live Event
What happens at a Global Entrepreneurship Summit?
This Friday, June 3rd, at 9am ET, GES2016 will host a Facebook Live event on the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit's Facebook page. The discussion will feature Sarah Heck, Director for Global Engagement at the National Security Council, and Jehiel Oliver, CEO of Hello Tractor and GES alum. Sarah and Jehiel will discuss their experiences at last year’s Summit, and what you can expect to see at GES2016. More specifically, Sarah and Jehiel look forward to engaging with you and receiving your questions about this year's Summit agenda as well as how the U.S. Government and major U.S. private sector partners are supporting GES and entrepreneurs around the world. Ask your questions here now!