RELEASE: Public Schedule of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2015 Youth and Women Day

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Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2015: Youth + Women

Background:  The Global Entrepreneurship Summit Youth and Women Day (GES Y+W) will convene 150 established youth and women entrepreneurs along with investors, speakers, and leaders in the entrepreneurship space. The select group of youth and women entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to share their success stories, take part in skills trainings, participate in a pitch competition, and hear from dynamic speakers including celebrity and entrepreneur artist Akon, world renowned chef José Andrés, Fubu Founder Daymond John, Kiva’s Executive Chair Julie Hanna, and UN Youth Envoy Ahmad Alhendawi.

These innovative entrepreneurs will be joined by high-level U.S. Government officials, including Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Administrator of the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet, Acting Administrator of USAID Ambassador Alfonso Lenhardt, Ambassador at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine Russell, and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel.

The GES Youth and Women Day is supported by the U.S. Government in partnership with the Government of Kenya, the Global Entrepreneurship Network and the SPARK Coalition.

Press Access:  All events are closed press unless noted otherwise.

Friday, July 24

7:00 – 7:45 AM           Coffee & Networking

8:00 - 8:45 AM            Opening Remarks – Pooled Press

  • Richard Stengel, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State
  • Catherine Russell, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State
  • Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Government of Kenya
  • Celebrity and Entrepreneur Speaker Akon (Introduction by Thione Niang)

8:45 – 9:45 AM           Becoming Investor-Ready

A fireside chat with top entrepreneurs to learn how they first raised funds, created strong models, and prepared for the next level of success.

  • Moderator: Secretary Penny Pritzker, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • José Andrés, Founder & Chef, Think Food Group
  • Daymond John, Founder, FUBU (and host of “Shark Tank”)
  • Julie Hanna, Executive Chair of the Board, Kiva

9:45 – 10:15 AM         Coffee & Networking Break

10:15 – 11:15 AM       Workshops & Idea Lab

Workshops

Participants can select from a series of interactive trainings that will help boost skills and experiences in the following themes:

I.                   Scaling to Compete in Domestic, Regional and Global Value Chains

II.                Technology Platforms: Leveraging Technology to Provide Platforms and Enabling Environments for Entrepreneurs

III.             Branding and Marketing: How to Build a World Class Brand

IV.              Building Culture I: Breaking Barriers and Encouraging Innovative Thinking in Your Company and Community

Idea Lab

Group sessions, one-on-one consultations with business leaders, and networking opportunities will be provided in common areas. Sessions include:

Challenges & Opportunities Wall with facilitator Francine Muyumba, Pan African Youth Union and Nejla Grabowski, U.S. Department of State

Working in groups, participants will share current challenges and work together to turn them into new opportunities on an interactive wall throughout the day.

Video Interviews Note: Participants must sign up for a video interview in advance

Perfect your pitch or presentation in a video interview with a professional videographer. Keep a copy of your pitch for potential investors or partners. Participants will also have an opportunity to reflect on their experience at the GES.

Curbside Coaching with facilitators Danielle Cass, USAID & Danielle Walker, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

GES Y+W participants will have seven minutes to consult individually on specific company challenges with leaders in tech, impact assessment, online tools, and more.

I. Scaling to Compete in Domestic, Regional and Global Value Chains

In this session, entrepreneurs will learn how to move from local startup to global player through corporate value chains. They will hear first-hand how to successfully connect with a value chain and learn about new programs that help companies prepare to work with global corporations.

  • Facilitator: Esta Kamau, Regional Deputy Director, Technoserve
  • Marilee McInnis, International Corporate Affairs, Walmart
  • Peggy Clark, Vice President, Policy Programs & Alliance for Artisan Enterprise, The Aspen Institute
  • Susan Mboya, CEO, Coca-Cola Foundation Africa

II. Technology Platforms: Leveraging technology to provide platforms and enabling environments for entrepreneurs.

This session will introduce and describe great tools for entrepreneurs to build an app, design an e-commerce strategy, increase search engine optimization, and manage and communicate with teams. Participants will hear from entrepreneurs that have successfully leveraged tools that increased productivity and effectiveness.

  • Rosemary Momanyi, Industry Manager, Google

Topic: Search Engine Optimization – building your online presence; managing and communicating with teams.

  • Agatha Gikunda, Software Solutions Lead, Intel East Africa

Topic: Monetization of mobile apps.

III. Branding & Marketing: How to Build a World Class Brand

In this session, entrepreneurs will learn how world-class brands are built using local and national communications strategies, marketing tools, storytelling campaigns and social media.

  • Natalie Byrne, Director of Global Impact, Dermalogica
  • Thione Niang,Co-Founder, Akon Lighting Africa
  • Daymond John,Founder, FUBU & CEO Shark Tank

IV:  Building Culture Workshop I (2 hour session)

Breaking Barriers and Encouraging Innovative Thinking in Your Company and Community

Entrepreneurs will hear from industry leaders on building culture within the company and community. During the second half of the session, entrepreneurs will have a chance to sit in roundtable discussions to actively create strategies to build culture in their own environment.

  • Facilitator: Dash Dhakshinamoorthy,Founder, Startup Malaysia
  • Her Excellency Rael Ruto,Founder, Joyful Women Organization
  • Selima Ahmad, President, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Nik Nesbitt,General Manager, IBM East Africa

11:30 – 12:30 PM       Workshops & Idea Lab

Workshops II

Participants can select from a series of interactive trainings that will help boost skills and experiences in the following topics:

I.                   Pitching to Investors: Messaging and the Power of Word of Mouth (Room #11)

II.                Structuring your Business for Scale and Success: Determining a Model for Growth, Financing Options, and Tips and Pitfalls (Room #9)

III.             Leveraging Communities: How to Build Your Own Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (Room #14)

IV.              Building Culture II: Breaking Barriers and Encouraging Innovative Thinking in Your Company and Community [continued] (Room #10)

Idea Lab

Group sessions, one-on-one consultations with business leaders, and networking opportunities will be provided in common areas. Sessions include:

Challenges & Opportunities Wall with facilitator Francine Muyumba, Pan African Youth Union and Connie Tzioumis, U.S. Department of State.

Working in groups, participants will share current challenges and work together to turn them into new opportunities on an interactive wall throughout the day.

Curbside Coaching with facilitator Danielle Cass, USAID, and Danielle Walker, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

GES Y+W participants will have seven minutes to consult individually on specific company challenges with leaders in tech, impact assessment, online tools, and more.

V. Pitching to Investors: Messaging and the Power of Word of Mouth

This workshop will focus on helping entrepreneurs outline some of the most important aspects of their business for investors. Participants will be encouraged to create the three most unique offerings of their company to share aloud.

  • Facilitator: Connie Tzioumis,Director for Global Partnerships, U.S. Department of State
  • Loretta McCarthy,Managing Partner, Golden Seeds
  • Mbwana Alliy, Managing Partner, Savannah Fund

VI. Structuring Your Business for Scale and Success: Determining a Model for Growth, Financing Options, and Tips and Pitfalls

This session will focus on building a successful scale-up model, sharing learned experiences from the field, and tactics on scaling without sacrificing innovation.

  • Erik Hersman,Founder, iHub
  • Shivani Siroya ,Founder, Inventure

VII. Leveraging Communities: How to Build Your Own Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Connecting with activities, leaders and institutions will help entrepreneurs reach new goals along the path to scale. This session will cover different aspects of community engagement.

  • Facilitator: Nick Vilelle,Global Entrepreneurship Network Africa
  • Hana Kefela ,LIONS Africa
  • Sara Yousefnejad Gallagher, Program Officer, International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA), Calvert Foundation

VIII:  Building Culture Workshop II (continuation of morning session)

Breaking Barriers and Encouraging Innovative Thinking in Your Company and Community

Entrepreneurs will hear from industry leaders on building culture within the company and community. During the second half of the session, entrepreneurs will have a chance to sit in roundtable discussions to actively create strategies to build culture in their own environment.

  • Facilitator: Dash Dhakshinamoorthy, Founder, Startup Malaysia
  • Her Excellency Rael Ruto, Joyful Women Organization
  • Selima Ahmad, President, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Nik Nesbitt, General Manager, IBM East Africa

12:30 - 2:00 PM          Lunch

2:00 – 4:00 PM           “Spark the Fire” Pitch Competition

During the second half of the day, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their companies to businesses and investors, network with businesses, and implement what they learned in the morning sessions.

 

Jury

  • Adil Popat, CEO, Simba Corp
  • Alicia Robb, Kauffman Foundation
  • Mbwana Alliy, Savannah Fund

Pitch Group B

Jury

  • Harry Hare, DEMO
  • Patience Marime-Ball, Mara Ad-Venture
  • Dash, Startup Malaysia

Pitch Group C

Jury

  • Thione Niang, Akon Lighting Africa
  • Celestine Munda, E&Y Africa
  • Sriram Bharatam, Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Pitch Group D

Jury

  • Jose Andres, Think Food Group
  • Kamal Battacharya, IBM Africa
  • Cheryl Dorsey, Echoing Green

Pitch Group E

Jury

  • Susan Mboya, Coca-Cola
  • Immanual Commarmond, Allan Grey, Orbis Foundation
  • Harry Tomi Davies, African Business Angel Network
  •  

Pitch Group F

Jury

  • Michaelis Stangos, Future Agro Challenge
  • Sillingi Innocent, John Deere
  • Reeta Roy, CEO, Mastercard Foundation

2:30 – 3:45 PM           Afternoon Workshop: Tools for Financial Success

The first half of the session will introduce the session speakers and various tools for financial success. The second half will divide participants into group discussions around specific financial topics. Participants are encouraged to bring financial questions including how to approach investors, structure business practices, access funding and more.

  • Facilitator: Lesa Mitchell, Instigating + Co
  • Kellie Kreiser, Executive Director, Thunderbird for Good, Thunderbird School of Global Management
  • Marianne Nyangi, Chase Kenya, Global Banking Alliance
  • Candace Johnson, Founder SES, Loral Teleport Europe and President, European Business Angels Network
  • Patience Marime-Ball, Managing Partner & CEO, Mara Ad-Venture Investments

Idea Lab

Group sessions, one-on-one consultations with business leaders, and networking opportunities will be provided in common areas. Sessions include:

Challenges & Opportunities Wall with facilitator Francine Muyumba, Pan African Union and Connie Tzioumis, U.S. Department of State

Plenary Hall, Conference Room #1

Working in groups, participants will share current challenges and work together to turn them into new opportunities on an interactive wall throughout the day.

Video Interviews

Participants can perfect their pitch or presentation in a video interview with a professional videographer. Participants will also have an opportunity to reflect on their experience at GES Y+W.

Curbside Coaching with facilitator Danielle Cass, USAID

GES Y+W participants will have seven minutes to consult individually on specific company challenges with leaders in tech, impact assessment, online tools, and more.

4:00 – 5:00 PM  Providing Solutions: Leveraging entrepreneurship to solve social challenges – Pooled Press

Participants will hear from accomplished entrepreneurs who are promoting peace and using business to solve social and political challenges around the world.

Spark Talk: Ahmad Alhendawi, UN Youth Envoy

Entrepreneurship and the Sustainable Development Goals

  • Panel Conversation: Moderator: Ambassador Alfonso LenhardtActing Administrator, USAID
  • Lindsay Stradley, Co-Founder, Sanergy
  • Nina Davuluri, Founder, Circles of Unity
  • Mohamed Abdulkadir Ali, Founder, Iftiin Foundation

5:00 - 6:00 PM            Final Pitch Competition

Finalists from the afternoon’s pitch competition will present to the Y+W audience and a jury of top investors for a chance to win awards and prizes.

  • Emcee: Richard Stengel, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Final Jury

  • Jean Case, CEO, The Case Foundation
  • Iqbal Paroo, U.S. African Development Foundation
  • Lauren Kickham, Vulcan Inc.
  • Courtney O’Donnell, Airbnb
  • Derek White, Barclays

6:00 – 6:30 PM Closing Remarks and Award Presentations – Pooled Press

  • Catherine Russell, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State
  • Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
  •  Iqbal Paroo and Jack Leslie, U.S. African Development Foundation
  •  Jean Case, CEO, The Case Foundation