5th Edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012

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As a charter member, I'll be attending the 5th edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum in Lyon, France from October 24-27, 2012.

Topic of the 2012 edition: Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: How to create entrepreneurship friendly ecosystems and foster the development of locally efficient entrepreneurial communities.

More than 200 participants will generate ideas and recommendations through the forum's think tank.

It is well recognized that entrepreneurs cannot succeed in a vacuum. They need customers, partners, suppliers, employees, legal, financial and educational institutions, as well as governmental bodies and proper infrastructure.

Ecosystems are made of environment, actors and interactions.

This year the participants of the forum will discuss this thematic through a round-the-world tour of ecosystems highlighting:

• Highly resource-endowed ecosystems
• Resource-constrained ecosystems
• Specifics of education within a sustainable ecosystem
• Territorially-constrained ecosystem (regional or local identity)

Learn more here.

U.K. Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Insights: Brought To You By the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012

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This is the third installment in our interview series and in preparation for the 5th edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012 in Lyon, France (October 24-27), which I will attend.

The theme for this year's Forum is:  "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems:  Cultivating Communities to Drive Wealth Creation and Social Justice."

Below is the interview with Peter Harrington, UK, is currently the CEO of SimVenture (Venture Simulations Ltd), a company that specialize in Innovative Business Simulation Technology. Peter has been official member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum since 2011.

From your experience and knowledge, what do you think Entrepreneurial Ecosystem is?

Peter: For me, a successful Entrepreneurial Ecosystem is a space run by people with very entrepreneurial minds. Ecosystems are self-supporting, energetic environments that attract, nurture, move on and reward different stakeholders. Rules are few and failure is encouraged; yet through mutual trust, shared thinking and doing, budding entrepreneurs develop the right attitude of mind and acquire key skills to take them into their future world. Budding entrepreneurs are also able to learn and enjoy work through a process of discovery, responsibility and some adventure - rather than ...

Read the entire interview here.

Watch for more information and interviews regarding the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012!

U.S.A. Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Insights: Brought to You By the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012

iStock/Thinkstock

This is the second installment in our interview series and in preparation for the 5th edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum 2012 in Lyon, France (October 24-27), which I will attend.

The theme for this year's Forum is:  "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems:  Cultivating Communities to Drive Wealth Creation and Social Justice."

Below is the interview with Professor Patricia Greene, who is a pioneer member of the Forum and a Professor of Entrepreneurship of Babson College, USA, where she holds the Paul T. Babson Chair in Entrepreneurship.

YH Robillard:  Professor Greene, being based in the USA which is traditionally perceived as THE place for entrepreneurs, you are familiar with successful entrepreneurial ecosystems creating outstanding global companies. Which ones, according to you, are the most interesting cases to study?

P. Greene:  If I had to select a few ecosystems all over the US, I would mention the following four: Silicon Valley, Boston, Kansas City and New York City. Each of them is at the heart of a vibrant entrepreneurial community comprising high-growth companies - but not only. Just as in the case of a rainforest being made of different trees, bushes and leaves, a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem is not made of high-growth companies oriented ...

Read the entire interview here.

Watch for more interviews to come from Peter Harrington, SimVenture (U.K.) plus more!