Inaugural Dell Founders Club Summit

Back in June, Dell launched the one-of-a-kind Dell Innovators Credit Fund, pledging up to $100M to fuel entrepreneurial growth and success worldwide by opening up easier access to credit via Dell Financial Services and through creating resources and support for entrepreneurs and business owners to help them grow their knowledge and networks.  The first initiative out of the Dell Innovators Credit Fund is the Founders Club, a group of hand-picked founders and CEOs leading fast growing, disruptive companies that are each using technology in innovative ways.

Last weekend we brought the Founders Club members together in Miami for the first annual Founders Club Summit, sponsored by Intel (@intel).The purpose of the event was to gain an understanding of their collective and individual needs, provide them an opportunity to network with the other CEO’s and founders, and to connect them with Dell’s Entrepreneur in Residence Advisory Board members, who play a critical role in ensuring the Dell Innovators Credit Fund initiatives and participating companies are successful.

Some key highlights from the event included:

  • 2.5 days of speaker sessions on a variety of business topics, serious networking, and a few fun surprises!
  • During the wrap-up Sunday morning we opened the floor for candid “asks” from Dell that could immediately and most directly impact Founders Club members’ success and transform their businesses – and we’re already off to the races on following up on these requests.
  • At conclusion of the weekend, the impact of the summit was clear when all hands were raised in response to the question, “Who in this room has forged new connections that are allowing for new business to be created after leaving this weekend?

And the Founders Club is only the beginning!  Over the next quarter, we will be launching many more programs and offering new resources as part of the Dell Innovators Credit Fund and our commitment to do our part to help businesses succeed.  Be sure to check back on the blog over the coming months as we profile a number of our Founders Club members and share their stories of innovation.

For more information, please visit: www.dell.com/entrepreneur

About the Author: Ingrid Vanderveldt