Dr. Nancy Robert

In October, MOBI was invited to participate in the World Bank's first Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) Forum. The World Bank describes GDLN as "a global partnership of learning centers that use advanced information and communication technologies to connect people working in development around the world." At its June 2000 inception, eleven countries were GDLN founding Affiliates. The GDLN Forum highlighted the network's tremendous growth that now includes 70 countries worldwide.

View GDLN Video Clip - Day 2

The interactive Forum brought together Affiliates, partners, educators, and global community network sponsors from around the world with over 130 participants representing 70 countries. James D. Wolfensohn, the GDLN founder and former World Bank President, encouraged Forum participants to experience this global gathering as "a moment for dreaming."

The GDLN Forum was designed to foster new personal relationships, to explore business opportunities to share content and learning processes, and to capture emerging ideas about ways to use the GDLN to promote innovative global growth opportunities. MOBI representative, Dr. Nancy Robert and MOBI'S SBA partner, Glynis Long, facilitated discussions about MOBI's entrepreneurship training content with representatives in countries spanning Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America.

Glynis Long, Director of Small Business Administration International Programs (seated second from left) works with GDLN participants to dream about the future of GDLN.

There was great interest in MOBI's e-learning and classroom training. As more countries launch micro-loan initiatives MOBI's content is recognized as a way to provide support for individuals seeking entrepreneurial funding opportunities.

The Young American Business Trust (YABT) Holds Reception for GDLN Participants
By Katherine Powers, MOBI's Washington D.C. based Intern.

The Young American Business Trust (YABT) held a reception for GDLN participants at the Organization of American States on October 12, with Katherine Powers representing MOBI. YABT works with young people around the world in establishing a sense of entrepreneurship as well as gathering various national associations within each country to form a support system in order to ensure that entrepreneurship accomplishments are allowed to continue.

The YABT goal is to train, allowing for the people themselves to then take responsibility for creating change within their own country. Synergies between MOBI and YABT are found in the belief that establishing a sense of entrepreneurship is a way to spur global economic development, particularly in developing countries. The chance for MOBI to work with YABT in establishing this global system of entrepreneurs would likely have a lasting and significant impact on the growth of small businesses and people's lives around the world.

The MOBI team is now exploring opportunities to work with YABT and the GDLN Affiliates. Both YABT and GDLN provide challenging opportunities to the dissemination of entrepreneurship training around the globe. To meet this challenge MOBI is working with the World Bank and SBA to understand how to address global dissemination challenges such as language translation and training launch initiatives.
 

The most frequently asked question by start-up entrepreneurs is: Where can I get the money to start my business? The answer to that big problem lies in first knowing how much will be needed and then knowing where to go for it. To determine how much, summarize up all of your starting costs and then add the working capital required for one year as determined by a one-year cash flow projection. A free, easy cash flow format is available on the non-profit website www.myownbusiness.org. Here are some money sources:

• Personal savings should be considered the primary source. If you haven't started already, start now. Frugality is the cornerstone for starting a business.

• Friends and family. A relatively easy and cheap source with usually reasonable payback terms.

• Personal credit cards can provide readily available unsecured money. But it's an expensive source of funds.

• The Small Business Administration's loan guarantee programs: The SBA is offering guarantee programs that will turn a banker's scowl upside down. Contact your closest SBA office or go to www.sba.gov.

• Business relationships and vendors can offer all kinds of inexpensive financing and working capital. This includes landlords offering tenant improvements, vendors participating with advertising allowances and extended credit terms, and leasing rather than purchasing your furniture, signs and equipment,.