1. <br />Latvia @Stanford 2011<br />Connecting business and government from Latvia and Silicon Valley<br />A seminar and reception hosted by Stanford Business School, <br />LABACA (Latvian American Business Association of California)<br />and LIAA (Investment and Development Agency of Latvia)<br /> <br />Time: <br />Friday, July 15, 2011, 13:30-15.30<br />Venue: <br />Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB)<br />Stanford University, Knight Management Center 665 Knight Way, McClelland Building 220 , Stanford, California 94305<br />Hosts:<br />Stanford Graduate School of Business (www.gsb.stanford.edu)<br />LABACA (www.labaca.org)<br />LIAA (http://www.liaa.lv/eng/home/news/) <br />Goals of the seminar: <br />The purpose of the seminar is to begin a dialogue between Latvian government, startups and enterprises, and the Stanford University and Bay Area communities. Latvia offers an emerging location for startups to grow and larger IT enterprises to find talent and capabilities, while the Stanford community offers a world-class technology network as well as lessons for how Latvia can be more successful in its growth.<br />Location:<br />Large classroom at the Stanford GSB (capacity 80 people) for the seminar and the courtyard outside Arbuckle for the reception.<br />Description of the event: <br />The event is divided into 2 parts – a panel discussion and a reception.<br />Seminar and panel discussion: 13.30 – 15.00<br />Introductory remarks by Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and Andris Berzins (LABACA) will serve to introduce Latvia, its investment and business opportunities, success stories and potential for the future, to the Bay Area participants. The panel discussion that follows will cover topics on business opportunities and investment infrastructure in Latvia, IT and high tech sector and case studies (successful experience in expanding to Latvia and existing competencies in Latvia) including Q&A and discussions.<br />13:30 -13:35 (5 min) Opening address by John Roberts, Stanford GSB<br />13:35 -13:45 (10 min) Keynote speech by Prime Minister Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis<br />13.45-13.55 (10 min)A brief introduction to Latvian startups and IT business by Andris Berzins (LABACA)<br />13.55-15.00 (65 min)Panel discussion<br />Moderator: Andris Bērziņš, Stanford MBA 1998, Advisory Board Member of LABACA, and also Chairman of Reach.ly (an angel-funded startup that connects the hospitality industry with potential guests in real-time on Twitter)<br />Panelists:<br />John Roberts, Director of the Center for Global Business and the Economy, Stanford GSB<br />Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Minister, Republic of Latvia<br />Burton Lee – representative of Stanford University Mechanical Engineering department. Leads speaker series http://www.europeanentrepreneursatstanford.com/. Mr. Lee has extensive experience working with European governments and businesses, advising them on how to strengthen ties between European businesses and Silicon Valley.<br />Leonīds Ribickis, Rector, Riga Technical University<br />Representative of Exigen Services, an Inc 5000 IT company that provides application outsourcing services<br />Representative of Tilde, an R&D and localization company for smaller languages and creator of the Language Shore project<br />Topics:<br />Topics to be covered will include the following:<br />The role of universities in fostering entrepreneurship – what are the most valuable activities for them to do?<br />What are some examples of success stories and how can industry, government and universities work together to help create more?<br />What happens if the headquarters of a startup moves to Silicon Valley – is that considered a success?<br />What is the value of government-funded outreach programs to support networking in the Valley and what is the best support to spend money on?<br />How can smaller companies leverage relationships with tech industry giants to grow?<br />How can Latvian companies find niches that are particularly suitable for them?<br />Attendees:<br />Attendees will include the Prime Minister and delegation from the Republic of Latvia, a delegation of business representatives from Latvia, including startups and mature IT businesses, representatives from Stanford University and Bay Area business representatives with an interest in working with Latvia and Silicon Valley.<br />Reception: (15.00-15.30)<br />Seminar attendees will be invited to join the hosts at a networking reception in the courtyard outside Arbuckle Cafeteria. Light refreshments will be served.<br />