On November 6, 2014 the Public Journalism Club (Armenia) and Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) will launch the first stage of the Exchange of Entrepreneurs project in Armenia designed to bring together entrepreneurs from Armenia and Turkey. The exchange, which takes place within the framework of the programme ‘Support to the Armenia-Turkey Normalisation Process’ funded by the European Union, will include several events, visits and discussions in Yerevan and Gyumri. 

Participants of the exchange include over 60 startup entrepreneurs from Armenia and Turkey selected through an open call as well as investors, established entrepreneurs and other Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) experts from Armenia, Turkey and the U.S.

On November 6 (16:00-18:00) a Round Table discussion titled “Getting to Know ICT in Armenia and Turkey and Exploring Collaboration Opportunities” will be held at the VIP auditorium of Elite Plaza Business Hotel (Yerevan, Khorenatsi 15). Government representatives, donors, entrepreneurs, investors and other ICT experts from Armenia and Turkey will attend the discussion as speakers and guests. A Google Product Manager and a Silicon Valley based angel investor will also join the exchange.

Throughout November 6-7 the startup entrepreneurs and delegates from Turkey and the U.S will visit ICT organizations and centers of excellence including the Armenian National Engineering Laboratories, Microsoft Innovation Center, PixArt, TUMO and others.

The highlight of the  exchange is the Armenia-Turkey Startup Weekend, which will kick off on November 7 in Yerevan (from 17:00 to 20:00 at the Green Show Room of Elite Plaza Business Centre) and continue on  November 8-9 at Gyumri’s TechnoPark (Gyumri, Khrimyan Hayrik 7). 

Participants of the Armenia-Turkey Startup Weekend will have a chance to network and create long lasting contacts with investors and established entrepreneurs from the Silicon Valley and Google as well as investors, experts and entrepreneurs  from Turkey and Armenia.

The Startup Weekend will be held alongside the Hakathon{Yan}2014 and USAID supported Entrepreneurship Workshop. These three events have been combined under the common title of InnoWeekend.

The results of jury deliberation will be made public at the closing ceremony of the InnoWeekend.  

The second stage of the Exchange of Entrepreneurs Project will take place in Istanbul in  December 2014.