Moscow-Washington DC video conference: “How to Launch a Start-Up”

February 12, 2012

On February 12, the Russian Trade Representation in the U.S. and the U.S.-Russia Business Council within the framework of the Innovation Working Group of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission hosted a video conference on creating and managing successful start-ups.   Hosted by the Technopark “Skolkovo” in Moscow, the video conference connected three locations (Moscow, Washington DC and Boulder, Colorado) using Cisco Systems technology.  The audience, about 10-15 Russian start-ups, participated in a lively discussion of topics ranging from advice on what makes commercialization efforts successful to start-up financing.  The speakers also addressed the enabling environment for innovation and tools available at local, regional and federal levels to help start-ups.

U.S. speakers included well-known entrepreneurs Evan Burfield (Startup D.C.), Brad Feld (Foundry Group).  Also participating were Lorraine Hariton (Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs at the U.S. State Department and Coordinator of the Innovation Working Group), Oleg Fomichev (Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and Coordinator of the Innovation Working Group), Rinat Dosmukhamedov (Russian Trade Representative to the U.S.), and Randi Levinas (U.S.-Russia Business Council).

The video conference was moderated by Samir Shakhbaz of RIA Novosti.