NEW YORK -- The World Entrepreneurship Forum 7th edition commenced on Sunday, 19th October, 2014 at 7pm and ends today Wednesday, 22nd October 2014 at the La Confluence, Lyon, France. Founders, executives, decision-makers in the political world, investors and financiers, representatives from non-governmental organizations and global institutions from 250 firms and organizations across 50 countries discussed best entrepreneurship practices during this year’s forum, with the theme “Entrepreneurship 3.0: Unlimited Opportunities.”
According to David Drake, "Angel investors are increasingly playing a critical role in fueling entrepreneurship by providing capital to innovative startups. Majority of angel investors opt to invest in low risk but high return early stage and growing enterprises. Crowdfunding provides an alternative source of capital that is a good match for opportunities and challenges facing small and new businesses at startup and growth stages.” David Drake is the Founder and Chairman of Victoria Global, LDJ Capital and The Soho Loft Media Group. He is a think-tank of the World Entrepreneurship Forum and was one of the featured speakers at the 6th edition in 2013 held in Lyon, France.
This year's agenda comprised sessions for World Entrepreneurship Forum (WEFO) members and the general public. Sessions dedicated to WEFO members were scheduled for Sunday night, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Sunday night, WEFO members participated in a welcome reception at the Celsius Restaurant. They also participated in Think Tank Workshops and Sessions the whole day on Monday. Morning sessions focussed on developing entrepreneurial toolbox. Workshop discussions revolved around the practice and art of pitching. In the afternoon, the focus was on learning and building together. The focus of workshop discussions were on the future of entrepreneurship.
A final session for WEFO members was held Wednesday morning. It was a Masterclass for Awardees and featured an unlimited question and answer session. Last Tuesday, the forum was open to the public - participants were inspired by the talks of selected keynote speakers, and they participated in an exciting activity where they nudged a favored early stage project that reflects WEFO's vision, mission and values through micro-investment and also attended workshops with focus on the future.
WEFO members enjoyed a community dinner last Monday evening at the Lyon Chamber of Commerce & Industry. On Tuesday, public participants and WEFO members participated in a networking lunch with French businessmen and later in the evening, a gala dinner where they witnessed the announcement and crowning of the Seventh Award Winner.
WEFO members had optional tourist programs included in the agenda - cruise on the Saone River on Wednesday afternoon and tour to Beaujolais area on Thursday.
Highly qualified and experienced speakers were the speakers during this year's forum, drawn from varied countries and backgrounds. Keynote speeches were given by:
Bertil Hult - Founder of EF Education First
Chief Nyamweya - Co-Founder of Tsunami Studio
Letizia Moratti – Businesswoman
Marita Cheng – Founder of Robogals Global
Micky Jagtiani - Owner of Landmark Group
Rapelang Rabana- Founder of Rekindle Learning
Renuka Jagtiani - Growth Strategist of Landmark Group
Rapelang Rabana- Founder of Rekindle Learning
Richard Eu - Chief Executive Officer of Eu Yan Sang International Ltd,
Rodrigo Baggio - Founder of the Center for Digital Inclusion
The speakers included:
Abdallah Absi - CEO of Zoomaal
Aishwarya Mahajan - Head of Livelihood Education Unit, Aide et Action, South Asia
Alexandre Vallette - Co-Founder of SNIPS
Aishwarya Mahajan - Head of the Livelihood Education Unit of Aide et Action South Asia
Andrea di Anselmo - Vice President of Meta Group
Antonio Meloto – Founder and Chairman of Gawad Kalinga
Arnaud Mourot - Co-Director of Ashoka Europe
Atef El Shabrawy - Senior partner at AL Maali Islamic Finance Consulting Group
Ayşen Zamanpur – CEO and Founder of Silk & Cashmere
Bruno Bonnell – Founder of INFOGRAMES
Bruce Ferguson - Director of Center for Innovation Systems and Entrepreneurship
Colin Jones - Senior Lecturer of Entrepreneurship in the University of Tasmania in Australia
Evanna Hu - Co-founder and CEO of g.Maarifa
Fernando Dolabela – Entrepreneur and Author
Jenni Parker - Freelance Design Consultant
Marwan Mery – Author and Expert in Negotiation and Team-Management
Mathieu Lefevre - Executive Director of New Cities Foundation
Romain Lacombe – Entrepreneur, Environmental Researcher and Consultant
Thomas Lagier - Co-Founder of GROSSE ForCity
Tia Kansara - Founder and Director of Kansara Hackney Ltd. (KH)
EMLYON was the official host of this year’s forum.
For more info:
http://thesoholoft.com/conferences/the-soho-loft-supports...
http://lyon2014.world-entrepreneurship-forum.com
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Contact
David Drake
09175789069
david@ldjcapital.com
