Now that the “Road to GES” series and the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) itself have come to a close, we celebrate the GES journey that culminated on November 28-30 in Hyderabad, India. We are thrilled that GES was such a success, and recall all the wonderful places we visited and emerging entrepreneurs we met in the lead-up to GES 2017.

One Indian entrepreneur, Ajaita Shah, is returning from the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit this year with the title of GIST Catalyst Grand Champion — as well as an incredible prize package.

Ripple effects from the gathering of 1,500 budding entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and policymakers in Hyderabad, India, will play out well into the future. Some tech proposals may be wildly successful, and even the failures may inspire young innovators to come back with better ideas.

Around the world, USAID facilitates inclusive economic growth by empowering women to reach their full potential. With programs that support female entrepreneurship, USAID creates a platform for women to become active in creating a prosperous future for their families and communities on a global level.

The U.S. and Indian governments are co-hosting the three-day gathering, where attendees will take part in workshops, master classes and pitch competitions and connect with mentors and potential investors.

You’ve been selected to join a group of global entrepreneurs in  Hyderabad for the preeminent annual entrepreneurship gathering, now what?  Here are several pieces of advice from Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) alumni who all say that it’s imperative for GES attendees to act on the opportunities presented to them while at the summit.

At USAID, we believe that gender equality and women’s empowerment are not just part of development but the core of development. In order to significantly reduce poverty and build vibrant economies, women and girls must have access to education, healthcare, and technology. They must have control of resources, lands, and markets. And they must have equal rights and equal opportunities as breadwinners, peace-builders, and leaders.

Women entrepreneurs have come up with extraordinary innovations that are transforming millions of lives around the world. In this series of blogs, the U.S. Agency for International Develoment (USAID) introduces you to some of the women whose ideas they have supported. These women are having an outsized impact in the developing world — and beyond — proving that when women do better, countries do better.

Seventh and last in the series is Frei Sangil, president and tech director of LAYERTech Software Labs. LAYERTech provides a wide range of software and technological solutions to address issues like disaster preparedness and medical networking.

Women entrepreneurs have come up with extraordinary innovations that are transforming millions of lives around the world. In this series of blogs, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) introduces you to some of the women whose ideas they have supported. These women are having an outsized impact in the developing world — and beyond — proving that when women do better, countries do better.

Would-be entrepreneurs everywhere dream of coming up with an idea that catches fire and maybe even makes the world a better place. The 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, India, will bring lots of dreamers together with potential investors, mentors and innovators who turned visions into thriving businesses. Entrepreneurs taking part will include three young Americans tackling big challenges.

Women entrepreneurs have come up with extraordinary innovations that are transforming millions of lives around the world. In this series of blogs, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) introduces you to some of the women whose ideas they have  supported. These women are having an outsized impact in the developing world — and beyond — proving that when women do better, countries do better.

Fifth in the series is Muthoni Masinde, who created a drought early warning system that integrates indigenous and scientific drought forecasting using a mobile application, a web portal and SMS service. The information helps small-scale farmers in Mozambique, South Africa and Kenya monitor weather conditions.

Women entrepreneurs have come up with extraordinary innovations that are transforming millions of lives around the world. In this series of blogs, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) introduces you to some of the women whose ideas they have supported. These women are having an outsized impact in the developing world — and beyond — proving that when women do better, countries do better.

Fourth in the series is Laura Stachel, co-founder of We Care Solar, which designs portable “solar suitcases” that power lighting and medical devices in low-resource areas without reliable electricity.

The U.S.-India relationship is more crucial now than ever before. The opportunities that a strategic partnership will bring in terms of driving economic growth, job creation, innovation, and entrepreneurship are immense, and have the potential to be a major win for both countries and their citizens. I have said many times over the past several years that the relationship with India is the most important one for the U.S., and could serve as a model for the rest of the world, and I strongly stand by this statement today.

Women entrepreneurs have come up with extraordinary innovations that are transforming millions of lives around the world. In this series of blogs, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) introduces you to some of the women whose ideas they have supported. These women are having an outsized impact in the developing world — and beyond — proving that when women do better, countries do better.

Third in the series is Sasha Kramer, who co-founded SOIL in Haiti. The organization develops social business models around ecological sanitation, a process in which nutrients from human waste return to the soil rather than polluting fresh water resources.

Women entrepreneurs have come up with extraordinary innovations that are transforming millions of lives around the world. In this series of blogs, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) introduce you to some of the women whose ideas they has supported. These women are having an outsized impact in the developing world — and beyond — proving that when women do better, countries do better.

Second in the series is Rama Kayyali, co-founder of Little Thinking Minds, a children’s education company that creates engaging digital Arabic literacy tools to improve language acquisition, fluency and literacy — supplementing classroom learning.

Women entrepreneurs have come up with extraordinary innovations that are transforming millions of lives around the world. In this series of blogs, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) introduces you to some of the women whose ideas they have supported. These women are having an outsized impact in the developing world — and beyond — proving that when women do better, countries do better.

First in the series is Dara Dotz, co-founder of Field Ready, which provides made-in-the-field humanitarian supplies using 3D printing and other technologies.

Women — breadwinners for many families but underrepresented among business owners — are drawing extra attention, as reflected in the summit theme of “Women First, Prosperity for All.”

White House adviser Ivanka Trump is speaking out on the world stage about the importance of changing workplace culture and government policies in ways that will help women and their families and will produce healthier economies.

Medellin, Colombia is a city of opportunity, change, and a willingness to experiment.  As the second largest city in Colombia, Medellin is catching the attention of investors and entrepreneurs from around the world, while Colombia as a whole has proven itself to be a leader in 21st century science and technology innovation.

Aurora is an online platform that collects opportunities available to women who want to start a business, women who already have a business and want to grow it, and established women who want to share their expertise. The site not only connects people but also has the ability to tailor resources to users’ needs.

This visit could not come at a more promising time for the U.S.-India partnership, as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of relations between our two countries and look forward to co-hosting the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad next month. Speaking of the U.S.-India partnership, the Secretary noted in his speech that “together, we have built a sturdy foundation of economic cooperation as we look for more avenues of expansion. The announcement of the first Global Entrepreneurship Summit ever to be hosted in South Asia, to take place in Hyderabad next month, is a clear example of how President Trump and Prime Minister Modi are promoting innovation, expanding job opportunities, and finding new ways to strengthen both of our economies.”

Blockchain is, essentially, a digital ledger of transactions that is shared among many networks, instead of just one provider, and promises to transform how we exchange value and assets and share data. 

Entrepreneurship — an engine of growth, technological innovation, and job creation — continues to be a priority for the United States, both at home in our own market, and abroad, including Spain where we have strong economic ties, and where we see potential for deeper engagement.

With a rich history spanning more than 400 years, Hyderabad, a city once known for its palaces and pearls, is reinventing itself as the entrepreneurship capital of India.

The numbers are in: When countries support women entrepreneurs, economies grow by 12 percent in terms of gross domestic product.That’s a big reason why there is such a push to help women open or expand businesses and why the November 28–30 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, India

 I find it particularly fitting that the United States is co-hosting GES with India this year. In 2017, we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of India’s independence, as well as 70 years of bilateral relations between the United States and India. Since India’s independence in 1947, Americans and Indians have built upon our shared commitment to democracy and universal values to create powerful bonds between our two peoples.

If you ask any previous delegate or attendee they will tell you, attending GES is a unique opportunity. Through targeted skills training, mentorship, master classes, industry meetings, networking, and pitch competitions entrepreneurs and investors alike have made a positive impact resonating far beyond the two days in November. GES 2017 in Hyderabad, India this fall, will highlight the accomplishments and contributions of female entrepreneurs and thought-leaders who have demonstrated an interest in or ability to drive innovation in four industries: energy and infrastructure, healthcare and life sciences, the digital economy and financial technology, as well as media and entertainment.

Economic empowerment of women is a priority for governments, nonprofits and the private sector, and will be the focus of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, India, November 28–30. The United States and India will co-host the summit.

As the Founder and CEO of Safecity, which works to address sexual violence in public spaces, I know first-hand that the journey of an entrepreneur is both challenging and interesting. Sometimes you are lucky to receive opportunities that are life changing — you just may not know it at the time. Last year, I was fortunate to be selected to attend two of the United States’ prestigious programs — The Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership and the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES).