Global Entrepreneurship and the Successful Growth Strategies of Early-Stage Companies

Entrepreneurs are important drivers of economic and social progress and change. Much of our daily lives is greatly influenced by entrepreneurial companies. Many such companies in their first 10 years launch new ideas or new products that transform society and the way people live, work and play. Recombinant DNA, the desktop computer revolution, the Internet, mobile telephony and social networking are examples of areas where sea changes have occurred in the lives of billions and still occur in all parts of the world. In each of these areas, early-stage companies have been a key stimulus to the discovery, development or broadening of impact surrounding the new idea or new product. The last decade has seen a heightened global interest in early-stage entrepreneurial companies. Increasingly, the examples of successful early-stage companies that are changing society come from around the globe. Countries continue to increase their efforts to develop hot spots to promote the starting and growing of such entrepreneurial companies in their own cities and regions. There is growing venture capital activity in countries such as China and India and other areas of Asia, as well as in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. It is against this backdrop that the research underlying this report was conducted.