Essence of Running a Business

The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT is hosting the "2014 Legatum Conference: Elements of Entrepreneurship" on May 10, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, scholars, and business leaders from developing countries. The event, open to the MIT community and the public, will take place at MIT and promises to be a stimulating day of discussions on various aspects of entrepreneurship in different regions.

Among the distinguished speakers at the conference is Julie Meyer, founder of Ariadne Capital and Entrepreneur Country. Meyer will present at the conference, sharing her insights and experiences in the entrepreneurial world.

Santiago Pinto, a serial entrepreneur and investor, will also join the lineup of accomplished entrepreneurs. Pinto's presence at the conference will undoubtedly add valuable perspectives to the discussions.

Franklin Chang Diaz PhD '77, a physicist, astronaut, and entrepreneur, will join the panel to discuss technology ventures. His unique background in science, space exploration, and business is sure to provide an interesting and informative discourse.

Enrique Bay, a graduate of MIT, will discuss obstacles and opportunities in Mexico since graduating from the institution. Bay's business is in early stage development, and his insights into the challenges and possibilities of entrepreneurship in Mexico will be enlightening.

The panels at the conference will focus on agribusiness in Africa, technology ventures in Latin America, energy production in Asia, and entrepreneurial growth in the Arabian Gulf region. David Auerbach, an MIT Sloan graduate and co-founder of Sanergy, will speak about advancing agri-business in Africa. Sara Menker of Gro Intelligence, an agricultural data analytics company, will be a panelist, bringing her expertise in the field to the discussions. Christine Kenna, a principal at IGNIA, will also be a panelist, sharing her experiences in entrepreneurship in Latin America.

The panelists have launched or funded ventures in more than 15 countries and have faced numerous obstacles such as policy hurdles, poor infrastructure, lack of talent, and funding issues. Habib Haddad, founder and CEO of Wamda, and Jeff Hoffman, founder of Priceline.com, uBid.com, and ColorJar, will also be present to share their experiences and insights.

For those interested in attending, registration and more information for the conference can be found on the Legatum Conference site. This promises to be an enriching event for all who are passionate about entrepreneurship and its role in global development.