Global Innovation Forums
Athgo’s Global Innovation Forums provide an applied startup development experience to students and budding entrepreneurs from across the globe. The Forums bring together several hundred young entrepreneurs for 3-days at the United Nations and the World Bank headquarters in New York City and Washington DC respectively. The participants form new startup teams and go through a guided innovation process at the conclusion of which each team produces a business concept. The teams with commercially viable solutions receive Innovation Grants to jumpstart their innovation.
The entrepreneurial teams are supported by mentors, experts, and speakers from Fortune 500 companies, the Silicon Valley, International Financial Institutions, and Governments from around the World.
Testimonials
Jed Cohen
Founder and CEO
RocketHub.com
5th Global Innovation Forum
World Bank HQ
Winning Team
3rd Prize
4th Global Innovation Forum
World Bank HQ
John Shegerian
Co-Founder, Chairman, CEO
Electronic Recyclers International
4th Global Innovation Forum
World Bank HQ
Latest Forum

6th Global Innovation Forum
World Bank HQ, Washington DC
August 12 – 14, 2015
Athgo’s 6th Global Innovation Forum at the World Bank headquarters will bring together 200 young (18 to 32 years of age) entrepreneurs and promising college students from around the world to 1) Form Startup Teams, 2) Generate Entrepreneurial Ideas, 3) Identify Commercially Promising Solutions, and 4) Turn Those into Business Concepts.
Venues

World Bank Headquarters, Washington DC
Since 1944, the world bank has served as a symbol for reduction of poverty and commitment to the promotion of investment and trade. Two blocks away from the White House, its headquarters’ shimmering glass exterior wall canted toward Pennsylvania Avenue rises from the ground to reveal the open-plan lobby, its adjacent public spaces, and the large central room encouraging entrance and creating connection between interior and exterior. Establishing a dialogue between parts of great weight and great lightness, these elements create a strong urban presence, while symbolizing the institution’s desire for transparency and accessibility for its constituents and the public at large. (wikipedia)
United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY
The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization established 24 October 1945, to promote international co-operation. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; there are now 193. The headquarters of the United Nations is situated in Manhattan, New York City, and enjoys extraterritoriality. Its objectives include maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, fostering social and economic development, protecting the environment, and providing humanitarian aid in cases of famine, natural disaster, and armed conflict.

Speakers and Mentors

Paul Kagame
President, Republic of Rwanda

Muhammad Yunus
Social Entrepreneur, Economist and Nobel Peace Laureate

Denis O'Brien
Chairman, Digicel Group

Armen Orujyan
Founder of Athgo, UN Broadband Commissioner

Hamadoun Toure
Secretary-General, ITU

Suvi Linden
Minister of Communications, Finland

Paul Wolfowitz
President, World Bank

Tigran Sargsyan
Prime Minister, Republic of Armenia

Leonard Yip
CIO and CPO, Panda Restaurant Group

Markku Kauppinen
Ambassador, Political Counselor, Embassy of Finland, Washington

Masiela Lusha
Actress, Author, Ambassador of Youth, Athgo International

Cheick Sidi Diarra
Under Secretary General, United Nations

Marie Thérèse Royce
Senior Director of International Public Affairs, Alcatel-Lucent

Jean Philbert Nsengimana
Minister, Youth and ICT of Rwanda

Danielle M. Foster
Director, Public-Private Partnerships, Department of State

Ivo Ivanovski
Minister of Information Society, Republic of Macedonia

Linda Sanchez
Congresswoman, USA

Naila Chowdhury
Chairperson, Women4Empowerment

Enrico Pisino
Head of Innovation, Chrysler Group LLC

Gary Fowlie
Head of the Liaison Office, ITU; Economist and Journalist

Angelica Silvero
Head of the Speakers Bureau, World Bank External Affairs

Michael Doellefeld
Director, Engineering & Regulatory Affairs Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Paul Garnett
Director, Microsoft Technology Policy Group

Ediola Pashollari
Secretary General, World Assembly of Youth
Collaborators
