Cisco to Open Entrepreneur Institute in Mexico

Curriculum to Cover Strategic Planning, Finance and Technology for Business Owners

MEXICO CITY.- Cisco® announced today the launch of the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute (Cisco EI) in Mexico to contribute to the development and training of local entrepreneurs in the skills needed to successfully manage growth in small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

The curriculum of the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute is based on Cisco’s iExecutive Education Program (iExec). It covers business and strategic planning, finance, the development of relationships with investors, and the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to achieve better business results.

Mexico’s first institute is scheduled to open in October 2007, with plans for expansion to follow.

“The growth of the Mexican economy depends in large part on the success of SMBs. As of now, 56 percent of our country’s GDP is the result of the efforts of SMBs. Their efficiency and productivity make them a driving force in our country’s ability to compete. Our business courses for entrepreneurs are oriented toward practical ways to help a company meet its business objectives,” said Jaime Carpenter, president and general director of Cisco Mexico.

Cisco plans to establish more institutes of this type throughout the region, in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.

“As Mexico moves to the next level of development and needs to increase its global competitiveness, technology will make a big difference. Being able to teach entrepreneurs the benefits of using technology as a competitive advantage is an important value to which Cisco is committed,” said Daniel Martínez Valle, director of business development for Cisco Latin America.

The Cisco Entrepreneur Institute is affiliated with México sin Brecha Digital (Mexico without a Digital Divide), a nonprofit association whose main goal is to strengthen the ties between ICT business leaders and SMBs, as well as educational institutions in Mexico interested in developing world-class ICT programs. The alliance will allow entrepreneurs and institutes to rely on world-class services.

Participants in Cisco’s Entrepreneur Institute will be able to interact with facilitators in classroom and online sessions. They will have online access to relevant content, as well as the opportunity for online learning. Lectures by professors and business leaders will be available on video.

The institute will establish a network of special guests who will offer guidance to participants in Web-based discussion forums and chat sessions throughout the course. Participants will receive advice on their business plans and growth strategies, and will explore case studies of technology businesses from experienced business leaders and consultants.

The Cisco Entrepreneur Institute will offer graduates continuous access to valuable resources and a community of colleagues with whom to share their challenges and successes and exchange ideas about how to approach important business issues.

Cisco has a long history of involvement in education through the Cisco Networking Academy®. While this academic program teaches technology skills to high school and college students in Mexico, the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute will focus on providing SMBs with direct skills and incentives for development through the strategic use of business, finance and ICT, contributing in this way to the country’s development.