Global Entrepreneurship Week

November 15, 2012

Cisco’s Chief Futurist Dave Evans addresses an audience of Russian entrepreneurs

On November 15, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow celebrated Global Entrepreneurship Week with an exciting event that highlighted global attitudes toward entrepreneurship (http://goo.gl/I4QpH) and a discussion about what the future holds for aspiring entrepreneurs.

With an audience of over 100 students, young entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, businessmen, diplomats and Russian government officials gathered at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, the event kicked off with a presentation of the results of the Global Entrepreneurship Week Policy Survey by Monitor Group’s Project Director for Growth and Innovation Dr. Steffen Gackstatter.  The results revealed that Russians interviewed for the survey positively evaluated Russia’s policy supporting some of the basic tenets of entrepreneurship including supply of capital, entrepreneurship as a desirable career choice, favorable environment for start-ups, and support for individualist culture.  In areas such as financial strategies, skills development, and tax credits, the survey found there is room for improvement in Russia.

For the second part of the evening, using Cisco’s digital conferencing technology, the audience linked into a crystal clear real-time presentation by Cisco’s Chief Futurist Dave Evans.  Evans presented his view of exponential growth and expansion in technology which he believes will lead to unprecedented advancement of the human race.  From 3D printing, to artificial intelligence, to augmented reality, the world of the future will be one where man and machine communicate seamlessly.  An engaged audience asked Evans about his predictions for the future of education, intellectual property protection, climate change and cloning.  Throughout his talk, Evans stressed two important ideas: there has never been a more exciting time to become an entrepreneur and it has never been easier to start your own business.  With technological advances of the future, Evans said the possibilities are virtually endless.