Baku ID (Baku Investment Day) is the main startup & innovation event in Azerbaijan created by SABAH.lab Acceleration Center that aims to drive the ecosystem forward. During this event, you will have the opportunity to see the best startup projects and discuss the future of the innovations ecosystem by gathering both local and international investors, mentors, and experts as well as any contributors to the global ecosystem
Venture Lab IE Business School
Managing Director
TAL CATRAN
Founder
Stanford University
Professor & Associate Department Chair for Professional Programs
I teach several International MBA courses at IE Business School, both core and electives.
Since leaving my position for the last 5 years as Associate Dean of Blended Programs, I am Managing Director of the Venture Lab where we prepare the most promising startup projects from across the University to be investor ready and for our bi-annual Venture Days in Madrid.
Until 2017, I was also responsible for organizing IE Venture Days internationally where IE students, Alumni and key local startups present new venture projects every year. Since 2013, we organized over 15 venture days in international cities every year.
As Visiting Professor, I teach an elective for two weeks in New Venture Acceleration for Media Design students at KEIO University in Japan.
On the startup side, I continue being an angel investor and co-founder of startups, with extensive experience since 2002, having founded 5 startups in Banking CRM, Sports Marketing, Hispanic Advertising Agency, Video Games and Renewable Energy.
On the corporate side, after spending 21 years doing M&A, in 2 investment banks, I am active doing Executive Education and Consulting for large companies looking to innovate through disruptive emerging technologies and acquiring startups as a form of innovation. I develop innovation programs based on creative collaboration agreements with or acquiring startups.
On the research side, I continue my original PhD work researching individuals who struggle with uncertainty, those I call, "Quants" and have teamed up with Dr. Mario Alonso Puig and Prof. Ikhlaq Sidhu from UC Berkeley to study this topic in greater detail:
http://engineeringleadership.net/2013/10/04/get-out-of-your-box-in-madrid/
For years I have done my best to explore and learn about entrepreneurship, marketing, business development and mostly about the people that excel in delivering them. Over time and through hard work, I became a Guru on building accelerators, hubs, start-ups and entire Ecosystems, motivating and inspiring entrepreneurs.
This journey inspired me to start my public speaking and mentoring career ♦Tal Catran – Tech Entrepreneur Lecturer♦, a series of lectures that guide key players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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I've established 14 tech accelerators in the "Start-up Nation" and continue to open 2 new ones a year. This world record have yet to be challenged and entitled me "Accelerators Guru".
o DisrupTech- Governmental program (2020)
o SID-Tech- Governmental program (2019)
o Ga2Tech- Governmental program (2019)
o GatIT- Smart Cities Municipal program (2017)
o TLV Generator (2017)
o iHLS- Defense & HLS accelerator (2016)
o Publicis TEMA Accelerator (2015)
o ACT Entrepreneurship (2014)
o Startup SCE (2013)
o Galilee Accelerator (2013)
o Startup Leadership Program TLV (2012)
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►Mentoring accelerators also in:
■ Moscow (Skolkovo),
■ Riga (Techhub),
■ Lithuania (Techhub)
■ Estonia (startupwiseguys)
Professor & Associate Department Chair for Professional Programs, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
Innovation Agency Azerbaijan
SG Baku Chapter Co-director
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Startup Grind Baku
Chapter Director
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GROW lab Venture Studio
Advisor
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Operation Manager
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