Global Entrepreneurship Summit Selects The Entrepreneurs and Investors To Attend The Summit | #GES2016

The United States has made public the list of names of over 700 entrepreneurs and over 300 investors that have been selected to attend the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES). The summit will be held in Palo Alto, California at the Stanford University.

The 1,000 selectees are part of over 5,000 entrepreneurs from all over the world that applied to attend the event. The fact that the applications came from all over the world only serves to prove that innovation is global and found at every corner of the planet.

The applications were reviewed by a committee of experts made up of seasoned business and industry leaders including venture capitalists, founder of incubators, startup founders, and finance professionals. The selected attendees represent 170 different countries and territories.

There is also a list of 150 GES delegates that have been specially chosen to participate in GES+; a day-long event focused on the most promising youth and women entrepreneurs. GES 2016 is a global event that highlights innovators, pioneers, and problem-solvers across the international community, while inspiring a generation of leaders to use their ideas to change the world.

Applicants include entrepreneurs who are harnessing technology to solve some of the world’s most intractable problems, innovators who are driving solutions for target populations such as adolescent girls and refugee communities, and others who are creating new markets and expanding industries like manufacturing, services, and energy in their countries. GES applicants illustrate the impressive potential to create enterprises that deliver positive solutions to consumers, communities, and countries, regardless of scope or scale.

More than 300 investors and supporters of the entrepreneur ecosystem have also been selected as GES delegates, representing some of the best examples of entrepreneurial spirit and innovation. GES will be an opportunity for these investors and supporters to connect with entrepreneurs and discover new solutions and opportunities for the markets where they invest.

“One of the principal goals of GES is to increase the opportunities available to promising entrepreneurs from around the world through access to capital and mentorship,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “By welcoming an unprecedented number of investors to this year’s GES, we are able to achieve this goal and showcase the talent, solutions, and opportunity that exist around the world directly to investors.”

In welcoming top entrepreneurs and investors from around the world to Silicon Valley, the U.S. government hopes they will be inspired to incubate, invest in, and develop their full potential.

This is the core of GES: make lasting connections that help entrepreneurs succeed and transform innovative ideas into reality.

Background on Selected Entrepreneurs: The over 700 entrepreneurs—approximately 100 coming from each of the world’s major geographic regions—represent a broad range of industries.

The largest share of those entrepreneurs selected come from the information technology (94 attendees), education (91 attendees), technology (56 attendees), health (54 attendees) and energy (44 attendees) industries. Selected entrepreneurs also represent the artisan sector, innovative agriculture, and the creative industries.

From pre-launch concepts to startups that have already secured substantial investment to individuals working on their fourth venture, these entrepreneurs represent all stages of business development. For additional background, visit: http://www.ges2016.org/ges-by-numbers/

Women entrepreneurs not only fuel economic growth but also drive the innovations needed to address some of the most critical challenges the world faces. The selection process reflects this fact; 50 percent of entrepreneurs selected to attend GES are women.

Representing the most technologically empowered generation the world has ever seen, the average age of registered entrepreneurs is 36. The oldest entrepreneur is 69 years old, while the youngest invited entrepreneur is 11 years old.

Individual GES delegates are sharing their stories on Medium. Hira Rizvi, of Pakistan, started She`Kab, a shared taxi service that provides women with a safe and reliable way to get to work. Dr. Bishal Dhakal, of Nepal, started “Health at Home,” a healthcare service delivery organization. Further delegate profiles can be found at this link.

Meet #GES2016 Delegate Hira Batool Rizvi founder of She’Kab, a business changing how #women get to work in Pakistan. https://t.co/QheCXR6MX5

— GES2016 (@ges2016) June 15, 2016

Background on Selected Investors and Entrepreneur Ecosystem Supporters:

Investors and representatives from organizations that support entrepreneurs were hand-picked to catalyze investment, networking, mentoring, and hands-on activities. More than 300 of these individuals were invited to GES, representing 65 countries and territories:

Regional Breakdown of Selected Investors/Ecosystem Supporters

As compiled based on investor/ecosystem supporter country of primary business operation.

While good ideas originate everywhere, access to capital and opportunity is far from universal. These individuals reflect the broad spectrum of accelerators, corporations, foundations, funds and venture capital representatives

Industry of Invited Entrepreneurs:

Note: Due to rounding and reporting errors, industries may have slight variances.

Event Background: President Barack Obama will host the seventh annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) at Stanford University, June 22-24, 2016. GES is a reflection of the U.S. government’s commitment to utilizing entrepreneurship as a foundational tool to ensure more communities around the world are economically prosperous, secure and globally connected. For more information: www.GES2016.org.

Innov8tiv will also be in attendance as media to cover the event through live tweeting followed by a comprehensive blog post.