No, America didn&'t suffer a breakdown. But according to a &''Startup America&'' campaignあlaunched by the White House to encourage high-growth entrepreneurship in the U.S., it could use a jump-start of entrepreneurial energy. Multiple tech companies will contribute to the campaign but some of the biggest announcements come from IBM, Intel and Techstars, a startup-incubation program.
IBM has announced that it will invest 150$ million in 2011 to fund programs thatあpromote entrepreneurs and new business opportunities in the United States. Intel Capital will commit $200 million of new investment to U.S. companies. Startup accelerator Techstars will launch national startup accelerator network which aims to create 25,000 new jobs by 2015.
Recent research concluded that new companies like high-tech startupsあcreate the greatest number of jobs so it&'s not surprising that the White House wants to encourage startups.
IBM launched an extensive global entrepreneur program in 2010 providing startups with mentoring and access to IBM research, software and customers. This included the IBM smartcamp competition, won by the San Francisco-based Streetline. IBM will spend $150 million in total on the entrepreneur program in the U.S. this year.
I talked to Mike Riegel, vice president of ISV and developer relations at IBM, about the program. He told me about some new additions to IBM&'s entrepreneur program such as establishing centers of excellence on college campuses which produce employees with the skills startups need. IBM あis also launching a あSkills Tour that will visit 15 universities andあbring together students, professors, venture capital and non-profit leaders to discussあthe skills needed for leadership jobs in the 21st century. Three local smartcamp competitions are scheduled in the U.S. in 2011.
Startup accelerator and seed investor TechStars launched the Techstars network to connect independently owned and operated startup accelerator programs from dozens of cities across the United States, from Miami to Seattle and Nashville to New Orleans. The network aims to create 25,000 jobs by 2015 with the involvement ofあ5,000 experienced business leaders and investors as mentors to 6,000 entrepreneurs. Currently there are 16 TechStars Network member organizations across the United States and around the world.
TechStars previously announced an international expansion of its accelerator program from the あfirst location outside the US &8211' あCopenhagen &8211' to Madrid, London and Berlin in 2011.
Next Story: On the GreenBeat: Think&'s electric car gets recalled, Khosla bets against lithium-ion car batteries Previous Story: Users give mobile apps one shot 26% of the time
Print Email Twitter Facebook Google Buzz LinkedIn Digg StumbleUpon Reddit Delicious Google More&8230'
Companies: IBM, Intel, streetline, techstars
People: Mike Riegel
Companies: IBM, Intel, streetline, techstars
People: Mike Riegel
Ciara Byrne is a full time techie and part-time writer. She has worked as a software developer, team lead, engineering manager and mobile standards expert. Ciara is based in Amsterdam and her interests include creative companies, useful technology, torture by piano and cycling in high heels. Follow her on Twitter at @deciara.
Have news to share Launching a startup Email: tips@venturebeat.com
VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters. Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
Comments