New announcements support inclusive entrepreneurship during Global Summit

On Friday, President Obama will speak at the 7th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), bringing together over 700 entrepreneurs from every corner of the globe – and from all across America. Entrepreneurship is a fundamental American value, and it is also a force that has the ability to unlock opportunity for people globally, a statement released by the White House Office of the Press Secretary said.

GES is a reflection of the US Government’s commitment to utilizing entrepreneurship as a foundational tool to build more economically prosperous, secure, and globally connected communities around the world.

“With the eyes of the world on Silicon Valley, today the Obama Administration is announcing new commitments to advance inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation here at home. These announcements build on a week where the Administration has highlighted a powerful record of progress in fueling American innovation over the last seven and a half years and announcing new steps to build on those efforts—including supporting advanced manufacturing and making, publishing a new rule to enable non-recreational use of unmanned aircraft, and supporting next-generation technologies,” said the statement.

Major expansion of the Small Business Administration’s Startup in a Day initiative to nearly 100 US cities and communities. This effort helps streamline licensing, permitting, and other requirements needed to start a business in their community, with the goal of enabling entrepreneurs to apply for everything necessary to begin within 24 hours.

Three Federal agencies will adopt new expansions of the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) entrepreneurship-training program. Over 800 teams have completed the curriculum, from 192 universities in 44 states, resulting in the creation of over 320 companies.

Over 30 companies are joining a new, industry-led Tech Inclusion Pledge. As part of the pledge, companies are committing to take concrete action to make the technology workforce at each of their companies more representative of the American people.

Today’s announcements build on the first-ever White House Demo Day, held in August 2015, which focused on inclusive entrepreneurship and welcomed startup founders from diverse walks of life to demonstrate their innovations at the White House.

Also, in response to the Administration’s efforts to inspire a diverse generation of innovators, the #SeeHer initiative to improve equal representation of women and girls in media was announced at last week’s White House United State of Women Summit.

GES 2016 brings together entrepreneurs and investors from across the world for dynamic, outcome-oriented sessions; mentoring; and opportunities to showcase their work. GES has become a preeminent annual gathering that provides emerging entrepreneurs with exceptional networking, insight, and investment opportunities. This year’s GES, held in the heart of Silicon Valley, also includes diverse entrepreneurs from every corner of America.