UEI representatives attended the Global Entrepreneurship Network conference held in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 2-5. UEI reprentatives included president W. David Tarver, board member Reggie Barnett, and UEI research associate Felipe Furtado, M.D. The conference was a real eye-opener in two ways. The first was the extent to which entrepreneurship is seen as a key driver of economic development worldwide. The second was sheer number of “entrepreneur service organizations” that exist around the globe. Leveraging the effectiveness of these organizations is a key strategy toward achieving the hoped-for economic growth.
One of the conference sessions dealt with the role of entrepreneurship in creating more vibrant cities. This session was right in the sweet spot of the UEI mission, and David Tarver spoke up briefly to indicate the importance of identifying and connecting the innovators, companies, and support organizations that seek to enhance city life via entrepreneurship.
One of the most affirming moments for the UEI staff came toward the end of entrepreneur/investor Mark Cuban’s keynote address. Cuban stressed the unprecendented opportunities available to current entrepreneurs, and he stressed the importance of embracing AI. When asked what advice he would offer aspiring entrepreneurs, he expressed the importance of sharing their ideas and their business models with others. That message was affirming because the Urban Innovator Platform was designed specifically to facilitate such sharing.
