Hunting for Silver Linings w/ Mike Ducker, Director of Global for Valhalla Private Capital

Name: Hunting for Silver Linings w/ Mike Ducker, Director of Global for Valhalla Private Capital
Start: 2021-02-25T08:00:00-05:00
End: 2021-02-25T09:00:00-05:00

Feb 25, 2021, 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Grand Rapids

Join Startup Grind Grand Rapids’ Chapter Director Corey Hart and Beneventure Partners Managing Director Yorgo Katsanos as we host an event series featuring check-ins with investors, innovators and ecosystem builders from all corners of the world. Joining us for this event: Mike Ducker: Ecosystem builder in emerging markets & Director of Global for Valhalla Private Capital.

Virtual event

About this event

HUNTING FOR SILVER LININGSThrough our Startup Grind event series Hunting for Silver Linings, we check in with ecosystem builders, investors, and business leaders from around the world.
We dig for deeper context around challenges and opportunities found in markets around the world, as well as mine for insight that can better inform biases about regions, their talent, and potential for investment.
Then, we connect the dots.
OUR HOSTS
Corey Hart | LinkedIn
Chapter Director, Startup Grind
Co-founder & CMO, Telebehavioral Health.US
Yorgo (George) Katsanos
Managing Director, Beneventure Partners
OUR SPECIAL GUESTFebruary 25th, we are pleased to host Mike Ducker: Ecosystem builder in emerging markets & Director of Global for Valhalla Private Capital. Mike will give us some insight on how the epidemic is affecting the startup and entrepreneurial ecosystems within which he serves, as well as provide advice to entrepreneurs.
TOPICS OF INTERESTHow to support and build ecosystems and entrepreneurs
Importance of building social capital for entrepreneurs
Importance of policy for entrepreneurs
How to unlock early-stage capital 
Have a good understanding of different global ecosystems in Asia, Africa, and the middle east.
ABOUT MIKEOver the last 14 years, Mike has been leading, designing, and advising donor-funded entrepreneurship programs in 20 countries. These programs include developing entrepreneur white papers for heads of state, designing programs for donors like USAID, GIZ, the Swiss Government, ADB, AFD, DfID, MCC, and World Bank, developing startup training programs, and building networks of support including investors and mentors. 
He has advised and supported over 50 entrepreneurship support organizations that supported more than 4,400 ventures on both their programming needs and how to become financially sustainable. These programs have supported in facilitating $15 million in new financing and recruiting 1200 new mentors. 
Currently, working part-time to catalyze early-stage investing with Valhalla Global Accelerator. 
Most importantly, he shares lessons with the greater development and entrepreneurial community through different events, workshops, panels, training, and writings in media outlets like TechCrunch, Inc, the Kauffman Foundation USAID market links, and many others. 
His work has been recognized by heads of state and by other government dignitaries. Currently, he's writing a book about catalyzers of local economic growth and he has finished 7 marathons, 2 triathlons, and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro 
THE AGENDA
We spend our time checking in with investors, entrepreneurs, founders, and Startup Grind Chapter Directors from around the globe to get accounts of what's happening in their areas and learn of what their challenges and opportunities are. 
We learn about our guest, their story
We dig into their area & industry of expertise, and their ecosystem
We identify specific challenges & opportunities they are close to
We ask what their outlook is for the next 6, 12 months
Finally, we ask how our network of global Directors, entrepreneurs, and investors can help them