COUCH CONFERENCE
Thanks for joining. Video recordings of the sessions are available now.
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FT
Renewing economic growth in 2020
As the consequences of national lockdowns weigh in, governments and companies are looking for ways to restart stalling economies. Meanwhile, impacted startups subsist on short cash runways. Looked at optimistically, governments are faced with the opportunity to fundamentally realign their economies on a more sustainable and digital path. Now is the time for city policy makers, business leaders, investors, and startup founders to come together to discuss how governments can support and leverage tech ecosystems and renew economic growth.
In collaboration with the FT, Ecosystems online event will leverage expert insights to tackle questions like:
- To what extent were startup communities around the world affected by the global pandemic?
- Learning from the public health crisis: how can tech ecosystems help governments build more resilient economies?
- What will startup-government collaboration look like in 2020 and beyond?
We’ve enlisted top thinkers including Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President at European Commission and Jonathan Ortmans, President at Global Entrepreneurship Network, to lead the way.
Ecosystems will also feature the launch of the Startup Genome Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking.
We know what you’re thinking: not another webinar. Couch Conferences go beyond the online format with hands-on workshops, live interviews, and audience Q&As. Interact with other attendees on real-time discussion boards and expect a few TNW-style touches — digital disco, anyone?
This event is for you if you are a startup founder, policymaker, or are curious how governments and startups can work together to achieve economic growth.
ECOSYSTEMS SPEAKERS
Big names, bigger ideas (got what it takes? Apply as a speaker)
COMPANIES AT ECOSYSTEMS
Network with these powerhouses at our online event.
EVENT PROGRAM
All times in CEST (GMT+1).
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11:40 — 12:20
Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking Launch with Startup Genome
The opening session is reserved for the global launch of Startup Genome’s annual Global Startup Ecosystem Report and a discussion of its main themes.
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12:00 — 12:30
Transnational collaboration across ecosystems for mutual benefit
Discover all that is required for ecosystems to work together in the field of technology, such as blockchain. In this panel discussion, representatives from Singapore and the Netherlands share a look behind the scenes and their key insights. Concrete examples of collaboration will be discussed, as well as how to deal with different cultures, and benefit from each other's strengths. Learn from firsthand experience in the dynamics of ecosystem partnerships between governments, and the government / private sector.
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12:20 — 12:50
World-leading ecosystems driving the recovery
In this session top leaders from the Startup Genome network are going to share specific challenges and key learnings from world-leading startup ecosystems.
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12:50 — 13:20
How can the tech ecosystem contribute to the resilience of a city or region?
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12:50 — 13:15
Talent attraction challenges and opportunities in 2020
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12:50 — 13:15
Australasia Driving Recovery - Insights from SG Network
Top leaders from the Startup Genome network share specific challenges and key learnings from Australasian startup ecosystems.
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13:00 — 13:30
Asia Driving Recovery - Insights from SG Network
This panel discusses a roundup of measures announced from countries and economies in the Asia-Pacific area, to emerge from COVID-19 inflicted lockdown.
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13:15 — 13:45
The rise of women in business: stepping up in crisis
How do we ensure that female empowerment and gender equality remain important topics in times of crisis? Research indicates that past pandemics have had long-lasting implications for gender equality and women's financial independence. StartupAmsterdam is joining forces with RISE, working with a collective of 20+ female-focused organizations within the region to provide actionable solutions for long-lasting impact and change. Discover which areas and projects to must focus on to realize change, and how to embed the relevant tools.
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13:15 — 13:45
Gov-startup collaboration in NL: Successes and Obstacles
We will ask the front runners of government-startup collaboration in the Netherlands to share their success stories, but also the obstacles they have been encountering. This session will provide insights into what makes this type of collaboration unique, and more importantly, what makes it work.
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13:30 — 13:50
Fireside Chat with the Prime Minister of Serbia
Prime Minister Ana Brnabić offers insights into ongoing efforts to protect the Serbian startup ecosystem during and beyond the crisis.
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13:45 — 14:15
The urgency of green entrepreneurship to save the planet
As governments worldwide ease lockdowns, this panel discusses what key policy changes could be implemented to take advantage of what we have learned, and tackle the next big crisis of humanity, climate change.
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13:45 — 14:15
Sub-Sahara Driving Recovery - Insights from SG Network
The World Bank states that sub-Saharan Africa will suffer its first recession in 25 years, as COVID-19 brings economies to a halt and disrupts global trade. This panel will discuss perspectives from innovation ecosystems in Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, and Nigeria. Panelists will share success stories and how each of us can be part of the recovery, in collaboration with governments.
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13:50 — 14:20
Realigning Europe's economy to a more sustainable and digital path
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14:00 — 14:30
Supporting a fruitful startup ecosystem against disruption
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14:00 — 14:30
Building an impact ecosystem with Innofest and Impact Hub
During this session, two key players in the Dutch impact ecosystem talk about solving societal challenges through supporting impact entrepreneurs. Innofest uses music festivals and events as living labs, a mini-society to test prototypes, creating an important stepping stone for impact innovation. Impact Hub is an expert on acceleration and providing support infrastructures, driving impact and scale.
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14:15 — 14:30
Fireside Chat: Lacina Kone, Director and CEO, Smart Africa
Lacina Kone shares details on how the African community is responding to COVID-19.
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14:15 — 14:15
Keystone Teams Accelerate Ecosystems by Supporting Everyone
This session discusses how keystone teams strengthen local leadership by uniting active ecosystem builders and experts worldwide to share practical learnings. Ruben Nieuwenhuis, responsible for the meteoric rise of StartupAmsterdam, will share his experience and playbooks.
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14:20 — 14:50
What is the role of innovation in the post-pandemic European economic recovery?
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14:30 — 15:00
Multiplying innovation policy impact with Startup Genome
Startup Genome shows ecosystem leaders how they can identify and expand on key knowledge / IP creation in their ecosystem.
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14:30 — 15:00
What ecosystem builders can learn from tech events in 2020
In this session, we will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the event industry and its response to the crisis. We will compare findings and best practices shared by dozens of event organizers and ecosystem builders within the Startup Sesame community in the last 4 months.
Discussion Points:
- Shifting a physical event to the virtual world;
- Using virtual event software to boost ecosystem engagement;
- How do you keep an ecosystem alive without physical events? -
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14:30 — 15:00
How do we ensure governments scale up their tech savviness, post-Corona?
We all know digitalization has been a challenge for Government. With COVID-19 accelerating the adoption of digital tools and working methods, how can we work to scale up and strengthen the further digitalization of Government? What are the opportunities and pitfalls? The goal is to discuss and learn from experiences in Denmark, the Netherlands, and the USA.
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14:45 — 15:00
Fireside Chat: Rowan Barnett, Head of Google.org EMEA & APAC
Rowan Barnett from google.org will share details on Google.org’s $100 million contribution to COVID-19 relief.
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14:50 — 15:30
Ecosystems rescue strategy review: How to support innovators in a time of crisis?
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15:00 — 15:30
Producing scaleups with global connectedness & market reach
Scaleups are vital for the development of ecosystems, as they function as role models and motivation, creating a “pull effect” across the entire ecosystem funnel. Famous scaleups and unicorns can inspire entrepreneurially minded people to make the jump to entrepreneurship and shine like a lighthouse beyond the ecosystem, attracting resources.
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15:00 — 15:30
Global Efforts to Accelerate Underserved Startup Communities
Three leading thinkers discuss best practices on how to break down barriers and make entrepreneurship more inclusive.
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15:30 — 16:00
The emerging ecosystem in Latin America: The success cases of Colombia and Chile
Innovation and entrepreneurship have become two fundamental pillars of economic growth, especially in developing countries. Latin America, Colombia, and Chile have paid attention to facilitating the creation and development of innovation ecosystems, boosting up disruptive firms, and linking local start-ups with the global economy. In this session, we will be discussing the experiences of Santiago and Medellín, and the challenges involved in facilitating both the local and international success of their ecosystems.
This session will tackle questions like:
- What are the main features of the rapid expansion of the Colombian and Chilean ecosystems?
- What has been the role of the Public Private Alliances to support innovative firms in their process of internationalization?
- How does the development of these ecosystems impact some of the greatest challenges of the region, such as social inequality?
- What are the opportunities of international partnerships to further strengthening both ecosystems? -
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15:30 — 16:00
Funding policy to save scaleups and startups
Tech startups are key to economic recovery. At the same time, a sharp drop in private investments could trigger the death of many startups. This panel discusses the importance of well-designed startup funding policy in times of crisis.
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15:30 — 16:00
EUvsVirus: Building a resilient recovery ecosystem
In this session we will learn about EUvsVirus, organized by the European Commission, and one of the largest hackathons in Europe with more than 25k people uniting Europe to fight Covid-19. We will also explore how to build a resilient recovery system for the new normal.
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15:35 — 15:45
Interview Mona Keijzer by Patrick de Laive: Working on ecosystem recovery
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15:50 — 16:20
The future of tech-government collaboration: building resilient government services
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16:00 — 16:25
South America Driving Recovery - Insights from SG Network
Top leaders from the Startup Genome network share specific challenges and key learnings from South American startup ecosystems.
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16:30 — 17:00
Advocating for Forward-Looking Innovation and Tech Policy
Discussing perspectives on forward-looking innovation and tech policy from Germany, Ireland and the United States.
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16:30 — 17:00
Startup Nations: A new business plan for the economy
Entrepreneurs who take risks and create jobs will be key allies in the post COVID-19 recovery. How can governments remove the unique barriers which entrepreneurs face starting out, enabling them to revitalize our economies? Jason Wiens will share the process and underlying principles that led to launching America’s New Business Plan as a roadmap to expand access to entrepreneurship at the federal, state, and local levels in the United States. This fireside chat is designed for members of the Startup Nations policy network and their allies, who are working with their ecosystems on creating new jobs and leveling the playing field for startups. Non-members are also welcome.
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16:30 — 17:00
Connecting cities towards a global community
Insights on how to leverage programs and platforms to build trust and incite conversations leading to collaboration across ecosystems.
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16:30 — 17:00
Tech cities in a post-Covid future
Covid-19 wrought havoc across geographies and economies. Startup ecosystems will have to adjust and evolve as the "new normal" sets in.
What will a tech city look like in a post-Covid world? How can policy making combine innovation with resilience, and turn them into recovery potential?
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16:30 — 17:00
Multiplying innovation policy impact with Startup Genome
Startup Genome shows ecosystem leaders how they can identify and expand on key knowledge / IP creation in their ecosystem.
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16:30 — 17:00
North America Driving the Recovery - Insights from SG Network
Top leaders from the Startup Genome network share specific challenges and key learnings from North American startup ecosystems.
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COMPANIES AT ECOSYSTEMS
Network with these powerhouses at our online event.
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