Promoting Entrepreneurship Globally

Entrepreneurs play a critical role in expanding the economy and creating jobs. That's why the United States runs and funds hundreds of programs which support entrepreneurs globally and maintains a broad coalition of public and private sector, civil society, investors and academics to educate and support entrepreneurs around the world.

Promoting Entrepreneurship Globally

President Obama recently hosted the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship, a group of successful American business people who have committed to sharing their time, energy, ideas, and experience to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs at home and abroad. The U.S. Commerce Department, U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, are also partners in this effort.

USAID recently launched the U.S. Global Development Lab. The Lab will empower a global network of individuals to help solve global challenges using scientific, business, and technological expertise. In the next five years, scientists and technology experts at The Lab will create a new global marketplace of innovations and share them with over 200 million people worldwide. The new USAID Research and Innovation Fellowships Program will send more than 60 young U.S. leaders in science and technology to universities, NGOs, and companies in 12 developing countries this year.

This fall, the Department of State will host TechCamps for women in El Salvador, Colombia, and Argentina. These intensive training sessions will bring together hundreds of women from across the region over the course of the year and enable them to address key challenges in business formation, from financing to marketing.

Additionally, the Department of State will launch two new exchange programs for entrepreneurs in the Western hemisphere. The Small Business Network of the Americas Fellowship Program will connect incubators across the hemisphere to share best practices in entrepreneurial development and unlock market access for small businesses across the region.

The Professional Fellows Program will bring Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and American officials together for a six-week internship and training program that focuses on professional development, problem-solving, and networking.

Entrepreneurship drives economic growth and development. That's why the United States is committed to increasing the prevalence and success of entrepreneurs across the globe.