THE
FRONTLINE
September 2020
01 ECOSYSTEM SPOTLIGHT
Najla Al-Midfa
CEO, Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa)


"Diversity is important to us, and we pride ourselves on the fact that 50 percent of the ventures we have supported have been women-led."
Najla Al-Midfa is the CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), a government-supported entity with a mandate to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sharjah and support entrepreneurs as they build and grow innovative startups that contribute positively to the region’s economy. Najla discusses why innovation, ambition and entrepreneurship are inherent in Sharjah's DNA, the impacts of COVID-19 on MENA's startup ecosystem and Sheraa's bold response to the pandemic. 
02 MEMBER NEWS
SK HYNIX MAKES WORLD'S FIRST SSD WITH 128 LAYERS

SK hynix launches the world’s first 128-layer flash-based consumer SSD. The heavily stacked memory chips will boast better performance and a longer lifespan for a lower price. PC Gamer
FORD UNVEILS NEW ELECTRIC TRUCK FACTORY

Ford is breaking ground on a factory that will build its groundbreaking first electric F-150. The facility, located in Dearborn, MI, will be dedicated to manufacturing the battery-powered model. Fox Business
ELC HOSTS VIRTUAL "HACK FOR PINK" HACKATHON

ELC is organizing a virtual hackathon focused on developing 
a technology solution that promotes or enhances global awareness about breast cancer. It will feature participants from all over the world, from students to IT professionals. ELC
EVONIK LAUNCHES ITS OWN GAA PRODUCT

Evonik introduced its own guanidinoacetic acid product (GAA) called GuanAMINO. The product supplies creatine in the best way to animals, improving their performance and ensuring optimal nutrient utilization. Feedstuffs
03 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Scott Kirsner
CEO & Co-Founder, Innovation Leader
"My prediction for next year is that a lot of innovation will move back into the startup world, where there isn’t as much fear of failure or bureaucratic “braking functions.” Smart companies will acknowledge that and create mechanisms to track, invest in and buy startups."
Scott Kirsner is CEO and Co-Founder of Innovation Leader, a Boston-based media and events company that focuses on helping innovators in large companies deliver results. In this interview, Scott explains the data behind his company's recent survey on the changing role of the innovation leader, the new dynamics between corporate and startup engagement models and his predictions for corporate innovation in 2021. 
04 OUR TEAM
MEET THE TEAM: CHRIS CUSACK

Chris Cusack is a Principal at Silicon Foundry. Previously, he was a seed-stage investor at Village Capital and worked with the Cleveland Cavaliers on initiatives related to startup engagement and local economic development. He shares his thoughts on what makes for great corporate innovation, the Passion Economy, the golden age of newsletters and more. READ MORE
THE DECENTRALIZATION IMPERATIVE

COVID-19 has upended the traditional corporate model and necessitated significant shifts in management structures. In this piece, Steve Gotz and Elsa Givan make the case for embracing ambiguity to create decentralized corporations that are both open to risk and resilience.
READ MORE
COVID-19: REENTRY

COVID-19 was an exogenous shock to the status quo that has already fundamentally altered the trajectory of global economies and catalyzed innovation that will have far-reaching implications. In a recent report by Silicon Foundry, we look at how the pandemic has driven new consumer behaviors and accelerated the adoption of technologies that will reshape industries and change how we consume, move, spend, work and live - and the key startups pushing these industries forward. READ MORE
05 EVENTS & NEWS
Fintech South 2020 
October 5th – 9th

A virtual summit gathering 2,500+ fintech leaders from around the world for a full week of content and experiences designed to help business leaders drive business success and thrive in the next normal. Register here
UNMET Arizona Fall 2020
October 12th – 25th

Co-hosted by Arizona Commerce Authority and Stout Street Capital, this is a virtual conference designed to meet the unmet need for venture capital investments in early-stage companies, specifically those located in underserved regions across North America. Register here
NVCA: Exploring M&A Deal Terms, Trends and Stories Pre and Post COVID-19
October 15th 

A virtual discussion to explore the deal terms and trends that existed prior to the pandemic, a review of what has (and hasn’t) changed over the last six months and examples of the hot topics that deal parties are dealing with in negotiations and after a deal closes. Register here
Impact 2020
October 20th-23rd

An event exclusively for corporate innovation, strategy, design and R&D leaders where attendees can source the executive braintrust of their peers to explore the best practices in making constructive and innovative change during uniquely challenging times. Register here
 
IPO Frenzy This Week Nets Billions for Venture Capital Backers Bloomberg
It’s Go Time for Digital Transformation BCG
Three Ways to De-risk Corporate-startup Innovation Sifted
Venture Capital Firms to Include "Diversity Riders" In Term Sheets Axios
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