Scaling Start-up Communities: Business Models Which Open the Wallets of Investors

Success in raising money from domestic investors in the emerging markets is not only about the ‘pitch,’ but the business model selected and executed which local $ will finance. Certainly entrepreneurs in the developing world must create and deploy business models which meet customer requirements for commercialization and revenue generation; but they frequently overlook which models best match the risk behavior of wealth too. Selecting the business model which impacts the DNA of investors is the path to open their…

Mentoring at Singularity University

Every Summer Singularity University (SU) conducts the 10 week Graduate Studies Program (GSP) which challenges future leaders and entrepreneurs to tackle widespread global problems with innovative team-based technology solutions. Many of the teams develop projects which are commercialized in both developed and emerging market countries. This is my 2nd year as a team project advisor, mentoring GSP participants in selecting business models and the raising of $$.  Big thanks to Sandy Miller (Co-Chair Entrepreneurship / Managing Director, New Venture Development)…

Scaling Start-up Communities: Catalyzing the Korean Venture Capital Ecosystem

The Park Geun-hye government is embarking on an national agenda to not only integrate Korea’s economy more deeply in the global innovation ecosystem, but to be one of its leaders too—to increase the prosperity and well-being of not only Korean citizens, but residents of the world.  Park challenged global leaders to use creativity, technology and innovation as the growth engines for the creation of new and unheard industries for the 21st century.  This is a theme espoused by Peter Diamandis…