Program

7:30 am

Registration Opens

8:00 am – 8:45 am

Press Conference

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Business Matchmaking & Exhibit

9:00 am – 9:40 am

Grand Opening & Welcome remarks

Main Moderator: Magnus Aronsson, Managing Director ESBRI

- Urban Lundberg, Chairman of the Board, SACC-USA
– Bertil Törsäter, Regional Development Director, Region Västra Götaland
– Patrik Andersson, CEO, Business Region Göteborg

9:40 am – 10:00 am

Keynote Speaker
"Accessing & Navigating Business Opportunities in the 50 United States of America"

- Matthew Barzun, Ambassador of the United States to Sweden

10:00 am – 10:45 am

Keynote Dialogue
"How did the Financial Crisis Change the Market Conditions and How have we Moved Forward"

Introduction by: Anna Hallberg, Vice President & CFO, Almi Företagspartner

Speakers:
– Doreen Mogavero, Founder & President, Mogavero, Lee & Co Inc.
– Cecilia Skingsley, Head of fixed income & fx research, Swedbank large corporates & institutions

10:45 am – 12:45pm

Business Matchmaking & Lunch

12:45 pm – 1:30 pm

Keynote
"News from the Swedish Automotive Industry"

Speakers:
– Jan Åke Jonsson, CEO, Saab Automobile AB
– Victor Muller, CEO and Founder, Spyker Cars 
– Lennart Stegland, President, Volvo Cars Special Vehicles

1:30pm – 2:00 pm

Keynote Speaker
"Bringing Swedish Green Tech to the U.S."

- Doug Domenech, Secretary of Natural Resources, Commonwealth of Virginia

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Panel Discussion
"Global Mobility for Global Business; New Swedish Entrepreneurship by 70.000 Swedish Immigrants"

Moderator: Maroun Aoun, President IFS
Panelists:
– Andreas Hatzigeorgiou, Project Manager, Swedish Foreign Ministry
– Sara Wallin, President, Almi Väst
– Pierre Elzouki, CEO, Raviteq AB

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

Panel Discussion
"Entrepreneurs using New Tools & Strategies for Smart Business Development"

Moderator: Runar Sögaard, Founder, Next Level Consulting
Panelists:
– Annica Fornäs, Vice President, Human Resources, Saab AB Business Area Electronic Defence Systems
– Bengt Wallentin, CEO, eBuilder
– Stephen Spoonamore, CEO, ABS Materials

3:45 pm – 4:45 pm

Business Matchmaking & Exhibit

6:30 pm

Banquet Dinner / Fashion Show Entertainment
Location: Valand, Kungsportsavenyn/Vasagatan, Gothenburg

Fashion Show sponsored by City of Borås

Dinner speaker: Cynthia de Lorenzi, Founder, Success in the City
"How to use Networks to Build Your Business Success"
 

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Business Matchmaking & Exhibit

9:00 am – 9:45 am

Banquet Hall

Keynote
"Sustainable Transport Systems"

- Malin Höij Noren, Head of Automotive Sweden
- John Boesel, President and CEO, CALSTART
 

9:45 am – 10:15 am

Banguet Hall

Company Pitch Session – High tech/cleantech

An interactive "Dragon Den’s" format for Swedish entrepreneurs to present their business plans for U.S. venture capitalists

Moderator: Gregory Carson, Principle, OceanBridge Capital LLC / Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Panelists: 
– Damien Callaghan, Investment Director, Intel Capital
– Pär-Jörgen Pärson, Northzone 

10:15 am – 11:00 am

Boot Camp for Doing Business in the U.S.       (Parallel sessions)

Track 1: "Financing, Venture Cap, & Government Procurement"

- Urban Smedeby, co-Founder, Bridgewater Capital
– Steven Young, Engagement Manager, Winvale Group

Track 2: "U.S. Business Law to Succeed & Avoid Mistakes" – Focus on providing practical legal information and essential tips for entering the US market

Moderator: Charlotte Danielsson, Infinity Law

- Hampus Thofte, Senior Associate, Mannheimer Swartling
– Peter Peyser, Managing Principal, Blank Rome Govenment Relations LLC
– James F Pedersen, Partner, Dorsey & Whitney

Track 3: "How to Sell to Americans – U.S. Business Culture"
Preparing your business for cross-cultural success in the US.

Moderator: Lena Malmberg, Partner, LM Broking AB
- Harlan Jacobs, President, Genesis Business Centers
– Don McKeny, President, Mardon International Healthcare Services
– Mike Miller, Director, CFO 911 Solutions

11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Business Matchmaking & Lunch

1:00 pm – 1:45pm

Keynote
"Waste Recycling & Biofuels Production"

- Anders Rydåker, CEO, District Heating Minneapolis 
– Christer Forsgren, Head of Technology & Environmental Science, Stena Metall

1:45 pm – 2:15 pm

Company Pitch Sessions

An interactive "Dragon Den’s" format for Swedish entrepreneurs to present their business plans for U.S. venture capitalists

Moderator: Gregory Carson, Principle, OceanBridge Capital LLC / Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Panelists:
- Björn Österlund, SEB Venture
– Nigel Pitchford, DFJ Esprit

2:15pm – 3:00 pm

Boot Camp for Doing Business in the U.S.       (Parallel sessions)

Track 1: "Financing, Venture Cap, & Government Procurement" – M&A, Government Trade Assistance, and Preparing Your Company

- Beth Topolovsky, Founder, Stinson Partners
– Jeffrey Phillips, International Trade Representative Europe & Russia, Minnesota Trade Office
– Raymond Skoglund, Managing Director, McNamee, Lawrence & Co

Track 2: "U.S. Business Law to Succees and Avoid Mistakes" - Complying With U.S Laws and Regulations:  How Simple Steps Can Help Avoid Complex Legal Problems

Moderator: Beata Krakus, Associate, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale P.C.
– Michael J. Schewel, Partner, McGuire Woods
– Bradley J. Olson, Counsel, Dickstein Shapiro
– James E. McDonald, of McLuskey & McDonald, P.A and Stratford Energy Group 

Track 3: "How to Sell to Americans – U.S. Business Culture"

Moderator: Mark Podemski, Vice President, Rockford Area Economic Development
– Britt-Marie Bäcke, Founder, Wineentertainment LLC
– Ola Östlund, Owner, OCIM Inc.
– Jeff Borling, Director, Business development, APEX get business

3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

Keynote
"Energy Efficient Buildings & Sustainable Community Planning"

- Anna Forsberg, Green Business Director, Skanska AB
– Dr. Thomas Lagö, Green Valley Development

3:45 pm – 4:00 pm

Closing Remarks

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Business Matchmaking & Exhibit

7:00 pm

Kick-off Networking Reception for Industry Specific Programs, place TBA:

Program 1: Waste Recycling & Biofuels production

Program 2: Energy Efficient Buildings & Sustainable Community Planning

Program 3: Sustainable Transport Systems

Program 4: Venture, Innovation & Entrepreneurship