Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Department of State, in partnership with private and non-governmental organizations, launched the Global Innovation through Science and Technology’s Network (GIST Net) at the fifth Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Morocco.

Harnessing the power of technology for innovation and entrepreneurship, GIST Net is a user-driven platform that provides science and technology entrepreneurs with online resources and mentorship to collaborate, seek funding, and grow their businesses.

This public-private partnership gives science and technology entrepreneurs access to needed resources while providing the latest in news, trends, industry insights and advice. The intellectual and creative contributions of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Founder Institute, Gust, NestGSV, NovoED, Ponscio, Stanford Technology Ventures Program, TechWadi, the U.S. Department of State, and VentureWell (formerly NCIIA) contributed to the development and launch of GIST Net.

GIST Net is a component of the State Department’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology initiative. GIST empowers young innovators through networking, skills building, mentoring, and access to financing to develop startup solutions that address economic and development challenges. Since 2011, GIST has reached more than 2.8 million innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide, and mentored over 4,500 startups that have generated more than $80 million in revenue.

The Global Entrepreneurship Summit hosted this year by the Kingdom of Morocco from November 19-21, 2014, is an annual global conference that brings together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, academics, startup organizers, business people, and government officials. The Summit is the largest event taking place during Global Entrepreneurship Week, and offers a forum to explore ideas and launch new ventures designed to address global challenges through local solutions.