IBM launches global Support program for entrepreneurs in China

The IBM Global Support Program aims to provide Chinese start-ups with software, training, and other IBM resources to create interactive opportunities for entrepreneurs and business leaders and venture capitalists to expand their industry channels. At the same time, the project will help to promote the globalization of Chinese start-ups and help them to highlight the future of technology under IBM's "intelligent earth" concept.

"October 28, 2011, Shanghai" Today, IBM (NYSE:IBM) announced the Global Entrepreneurship Support program, "IBM Entrepreneur Global Support Program" officially released in China. The project aims to provide Chinese start-ups with software, training and other IBM resources, and to promote the expansion of its industry channels, so that IBM and these enterprises work together in the medical, telecommunications and other rapid growth areas to build a "wisdom of the Earth." As one of the key elements of IBM's global Support program, the IBM Smartcamp final was unveiled at the same time, with five domestic start-ups emerging with strong support from IBM and the industry. They will then be invited to participate in the Smartcamp Global finals and compete with winners of major cities in the world for IBM's global Entrepreneur of the Year.

"As one of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies, China has a solid foundation and great potential in the field of innovation and technology," said Ms Claudia, managing director of the venture capital Group, vice president of IBM Enterprise strategy. IBM's global Support program means IBM and Chinese start-ups are working together to open up new markets and create vast business opportunities in key areas such as cloud computing and Business Analytics. With the implementation of the project in China, we will build a resource-rich practical platform for new ventures and promotional opportunities for the vast number of investors, so that wonderful ideas and cutting-edge technology to the world, to maximize its commercial value. ”

"We are pleased to see that IBM has launched its global Support program for entrepreneurs in China and that several Chinese companies have joined the program," said Wang Xizheng, deputy director of the China Ministry of Industry and Information technology. With its leading international vision and rich industry experience, I believe that IBM can help China's entrepreneurial enterprises to grow rapidly, to establish a sound financial and technical ecosystem. ”

IBM: Nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs

According to the Economic Cooperation Organization (OEC), small and medium-sized enterprises have been the source of power to drive economic growth. At present, the output value of small and medium-sized enterprises accounted for nearly 65% of global GDP, the number of which accounted for more than 90% of all enterprises. However, these companies are also facing particularly fierce competition: they will not only occupy a place in the local market, but also compete with large enterprises in the increasingly globalized business market.

The IBM Global Entrepreneurship Initiative is a valuable market opportunity and resource support for small and medium-sized enterprises to cope with the challenges. Any private IT company operating for less than five years complies with the selection criteria of the IBM entrepreneur Global Support program. Start-ups involved in the project can obtain free software from IBM and, with the assistance of a dedicated project management team, develop product development through a global network of 40 IBM Innovation centers. At the same time, IBM will provide the participating enterprises with opportunities for in-depth interaction with IBM executives, venture capitalists, governments, academics and other industry leaders, so that they receive key guidance and support from these industry experts.

IBM hopes to foster a new generation of entrepreneurs through the IBM Global Entrepreneurship Initiative and build a "smarter planet" ecosystem with businesses of all sizes, working together to tackle the global health, energy and environment challenges. At the same time, partnering with entrepreneurs around the world helps drive global innovation and growth, and it plays a pivotal role in IBM's ability to deliver value to global customers.

China: The fire of innovation lights the Earth of wisdom

China's total venture capital has reached $8 billion trillion in the first half of 2011, according to CHINGKO Research Center data. China's venture capital has grown faster than the rest of the world, according to Lux Research, an independent institute.

The launch of the IBM Global Support Program in China confirms IBM's full confidence in the Chinese market and its determination to support start-ups. It will further enhance China's image as a leader in emerging markets by investing in rich resources to support the growing growth of Chinese entrepreneurs, supporting them to market their products and strengthening their business relationships with all partners. For Chinese start-ups, they are able to use the IBM entrepreneur Global Support program to apply information technology to the physical infrastructure, open up new markets for China's IT industry, and meet current venture development trends, and they can effectively shorten the innovation cycle, With the world's entrepreneurs and experts to establish a solid link, and thus more quickly enter the global market, become a global enterprise.

As part of a global support program for IBM entrepreneurs, IBM is working in depth with the Kauffman Partner Program (Kauffman Fellows) to support start-ups involved in the program to help develop relationships with China's venture capital sector. The Kauffman Foundation (Kauffman Foundation) has established 250 funding relationships in 40 countries and is the main force to promote the development of China's venture capital ecosystem. In addition, the project is also supported by the Shanghai local Social welfare Science and Technology Enterprise service organization. Wang Zhen, deputy director of Shanghai Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Center, said: "Shanghai Science and Technology pioneering center has been committed to the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, incubation technology enterprises, the cultivation of technology entrepreneurs-this coincides with the concept of IBM." We hope to work with IBM to create a good entrepreneurial environment for science and technology enterprises and entrepreneurs to provide a full range, the whole process of integrated services to promote the commercialization of High-tech achievements, industrialization and internationalization. ”

Smartcamp: Provide innovative communication platform

As an important part of the IBM Entrepreneur Global Support program, the IBM Smartcamp competition has launched the best start-up in the world's major cities over the past year, providing opportunities for deep interaction with risk investors, academics and other industry leaders. In the in-depth discussion of the contest, these industry-insight veterans will provide key industry support, advise and guide their product development, company operations, marketing and so on for the characteristics of the award-winning enterprise, thus contributing to the rapid growth of the market. In addition, the full use of in-depth communication opportunities, the award-winning enterprises may be in the future with venture capital companies, industry partners and other in-depth cooperation.

This time, in the IBM Smartcamp competition held in Shanghai, five start-ups in 30 shortlisted enterprises stand out, the laurel:

Shanghai Tu Information Technology Co., Ltd. (PALMAP): Create an open platform for indoor maps and POI data, providing complete, accurate and real-time location information to end users Alpha Outlook: Leveraging Business Analytics and intelligent algorithms to provide social media business intelligence and monitoring solutions Open billion Pte Ltd (Kai Square): An intelligent platform system for innovative monitoring and monitoring (Megaconnect): Using the tablet-based Lily Sanlitun been system to provide China Unicom medical platform to serve the Chinese market Nanjing Green Technology (4+1): To provide health, fitness and other information sharing social networking services platform
The five companies will be invited to the next round of the IBM Smartcamp Global Finals, competing with the winners of the Smartcamp competition in London, Bangalore, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Barcelona, Austin and New York this year for IBM's global Entrepreneur of the Year.

"The participants in the Smartcamp competition are good representatives of the next generation of entrepreneurs," said Mr. Mauricio, Director of development cooperation at IBM's Emerging markets division. With the strong support of IBM and the industry, these entrepreneurs will vigorously create new business opportunities and boost economic growth. Here, we would like to congratulate all the finalists and the winning companies in the 2011 China Smartcamp final. We believe that the ' fire of innovation can start a prairie ' and sincerely hope that these enterprises can use their innovative technology, together with us to create the wisdom of the Earth. ”