RainMakers Live! The Argonauts Journey November 16, 2006

Inspired by the book "The New Argonauts: Regional Advantage in a Global Economy" by Prof. AnnaLee Saxenian, dean of the school of Information at UC Berkeley, this event will highlight the journeys of prominent Argonauts* from around the world and bring to light this growing trend that is giving rise to new entrepreneurial hubs.

*Argonauts: Successful immigrant entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley who returned to their home countries to fuel the growth of entrepreneurship by setting up companies, mentoring and affecting government policies and in the process, creating new entrepreneurial hubs.

Keynote Speaker:
Professor AnnaLee Saxenian, Dean and Professor in the School of Information, UC Berkeley

Panelists:
Dr. Robert P. Lee, President & CEO, Accela, Inc., Chairman, AAMA
Mr. Jack Jia, Founder and CEO of Baynote, Inc., President, HYSTA
Mr. Farzad Naimi, Chairman, CEO and President of LiteScape, Inc.
Mr. Vish Mishra, Senior Venture Partner, Clearstone

AGENDA
6.00pm  6.45pm Registration and Autograph session
6.45pm  7.15pm Introduction and Keynote
7.15pm  7.45pm Panel discussion
7.45pm  8.30pm Q and A
8.30pm  9pm Networking

REGISTRATION
Individual - $20
Student - $10
Onsite registration add $5
Register at: https://s08.123signup.com/servlet/SignUp?PN=152130800&PG=1521308182300

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Immigrant entrepreneurs from all over the world - Come to learn how you can capture opportunities in your home markets and how you can recreate the Silicon Valley model.

American businesses and entrepreneurs - Learn how businesses coped in the past with returning entrepreneurs and how you can leverage on the rise of these new entrepeneurial hubs. As an example, Intel set up a base in Israel thirty years ago because one of their researchers wanted to go back. Today, Israel is the leading center for IC design and manufacturing.

The Singaporean community in the Bay Area - Aspiring Singapore entrepreneurs can learn from these Argonauts who were positively influenced by Silicon Valley, returned to their home countries, and spurred the growth of entrepreneurship there. Currently Singapore is still facing a huge obstacle in entrepreneurship, while countries like India, Taiwan, regions in China and Israel have taken off as entrepreneurial hubs.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
i) How have these Argonauts impacted their own economies?
ii) What were the biggest challenges they faced in the journey?
iii) What gives them the passion to be an Argonaut?
iv) What is the importance of continuing the bridge with Silicon Valley?
v) How do they recreate, replicate, or leverage on the Silicon Valley model in their own countries?
vi) What do they want to create at the end of the day?

Official Website: http://mixer.nusea.org