Between 2011 and 2015, as Senior Innovation Manager with CRDF Global, Ovidiu designed and implemented The GIST Initiative, a global enterprise that builds dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems in 135 countries across all the continents. Ovidiu and his team architected a global entrepreneurship support organization that built an online global community of 250k entrepreneurs, trained more than 3k entrepreneurs, vetted and mentored fast growing tech entrepreneurs who raised $32M+ in funding and generated 2,000 jobs and $300M in annual revenue.
Today, The GIST Initiative is the signature entrepreneurship program of the US Department of State supporting entrepreneurs in more than 135 countries, a living example of “Entrepreneurship Diplomacy in action”. The initiative was recognized by both Secretary Clinton and Secretary Kerry.
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The GIST Initiative has trained more than 3,000 startups and connected more than 80,000 young technology entrepreneurs during the past year.
Testimonials from the Network
GIST provided tremendous exposure and I don’t think that I would be here today if it weren’t for GIST’s help.
I have received much more media attention since participating with the GIST iniative…and I developed a new business since I applied what I learned during the Marrakech workshop!!
Since I got selected by GIST, a lot of investors started to believe in my idea, and this, thanks to the feedbacks that I had from GIST Mentors. Since that day, we haven’t stopped working, remodeling our startup and moving forward, the feedbacks were very helpful and precious and we are thankful for that event.
“It was an honor to be part of this life-changing initiative as one of the mentors. Everyone with passion for entrepreneurship should be part of the GIST Ecosystem in any role they can possibly play. Big applause to Ovi and his dedicated team for pulling this together. You don’t know how much a program like this means to the countries you have worked with. Thanks for opening up the door of opportunities to young entrepreneurs.”
“When I started my company, I didn’t have the kind of support that the GIST Initiative provides. Having a program like GIST that connects entrepreneurs with a support community, gives in-depth mentorship, and offers practical insights would have helped me immensely.”
Priceline.com, GIST Global Advisory Board Member