LOS ANGELES, April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — In developed and emerging economies alike, policy makers and practitioners recognize the undeniable significance of technology-based entrepreneurship as a major driver of innovation and its ability to impact humanity worldwide – on both economic and social fronts. Larta Institute, an innovation hub based in the U.S., reports on the breadth and impact of their work in this field in their 2012 Larta Institute Annual Report: Impact through Innovation (www.Larta.org/2012AR). The report reflects a number of trends in the space and highlights Larta's unique Network-Centric approach to entrepreneurial assistance and the activities, programs, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders involved in growing a successful "innovation network."
While the benefits of an innovation-based economy are widely accepted, in 2012, Larta experienced an increase in the readiness of governments and support organizations in emerging economies to act – to implement programs, activities and international partnerships that can transfer best practices to those supporting entrepreneurship in their country. In 2012, Larta developed concrete commercialization programs with partners in Serbia and Colombia and penned additional partnership agreements with organizations in Romania, Singapore and South Africa.
Larta also saw more and more influential industry players embrace open innovation on higher and higher levels, allowing Larta to raise the level of industry engagement with Larta entrepreneurs in 2012. Driven by the desire of industry executives to seek solutions from outside innovators, Larta hosted its first virtual Industry Partnering Salons in 2012, where key players across technology sectors presented their company's technology sourcing needs and specific partnering opportunities. 11 new industry representatives also joined Larta's Industry Advisory Board of 60+ senior executives and technology scouts, many from Fortune 1000 companies, who regularly provide market based feedback to Larta-mentored entrepreneurs.
Throughout 2012, Larta Institute served 347 tech-based entrepreneurs with one-on-one mentorship, hosted 88 participants at 3 Commercialization Training Workshops in the U.S. and Kazakhstan, established 5 new global innovation partnerships, made 785 strategic connections and saw its entrepreneurs raise over $79 million.
Larta invites readers to explore the 2012 Larta Institute Annual Report: Impact through Innovation at www.Larta.org/2012AR to learn more about how Larta accelerates the transition of innovative technologies to the marketplace where they can help the human condition and stimulate economic opportunity.
About Larta Institute
Larta (www.Larta.org) is a private non-profit organization dedicated to helping regions and entrepreneurs around the world maximize the commercial potential of high-impact innovations to solve pressing social issues, enhance economic opportunities and better people's lives. Since 1993, Larta has assisted 3,200+ entrepreneurs raise $1.5 billion and develop strategic relationships with our extensive global network of experts, entrepreneurs, investors, and Fortune 1000 companies.
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