Rainforest Rev: Aspen Institute and Innovation

THE BIG PICTURE Get to Know the Aspen Institute Aspen Institute Two books that really shape our thinking as we build out the Center for Urban Innovation at the Aspen Institute are Victor Hwang’s “The Rainforest,” which explains that innovation is a result of networks and relationships — it’s not a top-down process, and “Searching for Necessity” by a design consultancy called TomorrowToday, which identifies amazing community based innovation work across the country. Read more here. Innovation That Matters 1776 The “secret sauce” of ecosystem development lies in the creation of effective networks that bring together broad arrays of stakeholders within an industry; facilitate open exchange of ideas; and bridge cultural gaps between different groups to promote effective collaboration. Read more here. Startup Balance: Finding the Harmony Between Work and Life Kauffman Foundation This book illustrates the reality of surviving the entrepreneurial life while trying to find the harmony between the people that love and support them and the dreams they are trying to accomplish. Read more here. Beyond capitalism and socialism: could a new economic approach save the planet? The Guardian To avoid social, environmental and economic collapse, the world needs to move beyond the standard choices of capitalism or socialism. That’s the conclusion of a new report released Wednesday by US think tank Capital Institute. Read more here. THE LATEST NEWS Behind China’s Billion-Dollar Startups: Alumni of Alibaba, Tencent The Wall Street Journal A growing number of entrepreneurs who got their start at China’s three leading Internet firms—Alibaba, Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Baidu Inc. —and are now trying their luck at their own ventures. Read more here. The Fintech Revolution The Economist From payments to wealth management, from peer-to-peer lending to crowdfunding, a new generation of startups is taking aim at the heart of the industry—and a pot of revenues that Goldman Sachs estimates is worth $4.7 trillion. Read more here. In Europe, Fake Jobs Can Have Real Benefits The New York Times The fake companies with imagined sales are all part of an elaborate training network that effectively operates as a parallel economic universe. They are used to combat the alarming rise in long-term unemployment while keeping unemployed workers stay current with their job skills. Read more here.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Wold Cup Tech Challenge June 4th, 2015 at Microsoft in Silicon Valley Don’t miss the 2nd Annual World Cup Tech Challenge–tickets are 25% off with code WCT25! This year, 25 startups representing 18 countries are competing for the Cup. Get tickets now and secure a front-row seat to the most exciting startup competition of the year. You’ll be able to meet entrepreneurs from all over the world, as well as Silicon Valley VCs and investors; you’ll also have the chance to learn from and be inspired by our keynote speakers, who hail from Singularity University Labs, Google for Entrepreneurs, and Blackbox. Visit http://www.worldcuptech.com/ to get tickets, meet the competing companies (and vote for your favorite), and check out the judges and panelists.

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