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GEC 2025: What the Global Entrepreneurship Congress says about American entrepreneurial leadership
GEC 2025: What the Global Entrepreneurship Congress says about American entrepreneurial leadership

Technical.ly

time20 hours ago

  • Business
  • Technical.ly

GEC 2025: What the Global Entrepreneurship Congress says about American entrepreneurial leadership

Among the greatest of American exports, hip-hop and basketball have gone entirely global. Entrepreneurship too. Back to antiquity, the first businesses were in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The modern corporation is a European invention, and the longest running company is Japanese. But the Americans made it cool. From the 1980s-era 'greed is good' to post-Great Recession social entrepreneurship, the United States put get-rich businesses on magazine covers and humble small business owners on primetime reality TV. Fitting, then, that the Global Entrepreneurship Congress is an American product that has been mostly held abroad. With origins in the early 2000s, this first-of-its-kind globally-minded pro-startup conference was held in 2009 for 200 attendees in Kansas City, with funding from the entrepreneurship-obsessed Kauffman Foundation. Founded by trained economist and policy wonk Jonathan Ortmans, the conference is organized by what is now called the Global Entrepreneurship Network (or GEN, pronounced like the name Jen), which Ortmans leads. This year boasted more than 3,000 attendees. 'Entrepreneurs are the new diplomats of the world.' Jonathan Ortmans, Global Entrepreneurship Network Over the following 15 years, the Congress was held the world over, including Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Last week, GEC was held in the United States for the first time since its start — in Indianapolis, a growing city in a Midwestern state with bipartisan support for business growth and a hook into federal research dollars. 'Entrepreneurs are the new diplomats of the world,' Ortmans said on stage. His opening remarks lamented fading enthusiasm for an interconnected global economy. Elsewhere, he spoke optimistically of what remains bipartisan support for business creation. In the conference's keynote conversation with entrepreneur-turned-celebrity investor Mark Cuban, Ortmans boasted that GEC was held in Moscow in the weeks that followed the Russian invasion of Crimea. Back in March 2014, for the conference-attending entrepreneurs and their supporters from around the world, 'nothing was different.' Whether that sounds like a hardworking ethic or aloof indifference, Ortmans argues entrepreneurs crave stability, clarity and transparency, which benefits everyone else. Alongside Ortmans, Cuban presented as even more optimistic, and idealistic, for Entrepreneur The Diplomat. Cuban gushed about the promise of artificial intelligence to unlock the entrepreneurial spirit around the world, leveling the playing field with just an internet connection. Famously, Silicon Valley notables broke toward supporting Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, but Cuban was a prominent outlier and frequent MAGA critic. He was less directly critical at nonpolitical-striving GEC, and Ortmans encouraged him to widen his lens to consider a global audience in the convention hall that came from at least 130 countries. Tellingly, there was no formal delegation from the American federal government, nor its DOGE-cost-cutting Small Business Administration. (One member of a GEC advisory group politely declined to comment and sensibly encouraged this reporter to focus on the international presence and bipartisan support among state and local American officials.) 'There are plenty of places to talk about politics. If you're an entrepreneur, be an entrepreneur. If your business succeeds, the politicians will come to you,' Cuban advised. 'You want your business to outlast any one politician.' In some sense, it's a hopeful throwback to a more innocent time when a jet-setting elite believed commerce would lead to peace and prosperity. That's the optimistic worldview that led the American government to welcome the Chinese Community Party into the World Trade Organization, and the same that encouraged the German government to rely on the Russian state for its energy security. In recent years, there's been a reversal: Global citizens of international capitals have been humbled into a choice, say more, or say less. During the pandemic, social justice protests demanded that entrepreneurs speak out on a growing list of political issues. Ortmans, Cuban and the spirit of GEN's GEC seem to say something different. As one GEC collaborator has told me: 'Entrepreneurship is my politics.' Informed by the modest, Midwestern style of the Kauffman Foundation, the conference was filled with practical advice for entrepreneurs and local economic development leaders. Common-sense policy discussions happened alongside meet-and-greets between commerce ministers from dozens of countries. Each GEC features a dedicated 'compass room' with a UN-style circular white table with microphones. Its orientation stands in contrast to the Silicon Valley investor-catwalk startup conferences, Austin's hipper-than-thou SXSW and and the sprawling and showy Las Vegas consumer technology shows. Ortmans hopped between sessions and off-site events. He addressed both the launch of a national campaign to center entrepreneurs in next year's anniversary of the American Revolution and at a working session of 'national ecosystem resource providers' — of which Technically is one. 'This is one way back,' Ortmans said of a more pro-growth time. 'Customers matter. Failure doesn't.' Mark Cuban Cuban, who knows something about hip hop and basketball, embodies a brighter optimism than most American elites of late. A thousand of us overflowed conference chairs, and clapped and chuckled at his folksy charm, embodied by the carefully chosen polo-shirt he wore from his Indiana University alma mater,. As ready-for-TV as Cuban is, he still offers practical advice for founders: 'Raising money isn't an accomplishment. It's an obligation.' And in practiced, self-effacement: 'Customers matter. Failure doesn't.' (In contrast, another main-stage panel of Colorado-bred tech startup notables was a snoozefest of self-congratulation from a bygone era.) Cuban advised policymakers and economic development leaders to invest in community, rule of law and lifestyle to attract and retain entrepreneurs: When he chose where to start his businesses, first Indiana and later Texas, 'not one single time did I look at the tax rate first.' Speaking to a crowd with attendees from countries including Iraq, Nigeria and France, he personified his role as the commonsense sage of American-style center-left techno-optimism. Said Cuban: 'An entrepreneur is always an entrepreneur first.'

Why Gen Digital (GEN) is a Top Value Stock for the Long-Term
Why Gen Digital (GEN) is a Top Value Stock for the Long-Term

Yahoo

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Why Gen Digital (GEN) is a Top Value Stock for the Long-Term

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Achieving those goals is made easier with the Zacks Style Scores, a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on popular investing methodologies, namely value, growth, and momentum. The Style Scores can help you narrow down which stocks are better for your portfolio and which ones can beat the market over the long-term. Different than growth or momentum investors, value-focused investors are all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under what their true value is before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks. Gen Digital is one of the leading providers of cyber security solutions. The company is known for some of the popular brands in security and utilities, including Norton Anti-Virus, Norton Internet Security and Norton System Works. GEN boasts a Value Style Score of B and VGM Score of A, and holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) rating. Shares of Gen Digital are trading at a forward earnings multiple of 11.7X, as well as a PEG Ratio of 1.1, a Price/Cash Flow ratio of 10.5X, and a Price/Sales ratio of 4.5X. Many value investors pay close attention to a company's earnings as well. For GEN, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $2.43 per share for 2026. Per share GEN boasts an average earnings surprise of 0.9%. GEN should be on investors' short lists because of its impressive earnings and valuation fundamentals, a good Zacks Rank, and strong Value and VGM Style Scores. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Gen Digital Inc. (GEN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

If You'd Invested In Gen Digital 5 Years Ago, Here's the Gain You'd Have
If You'd Invested In Gen Digital 5 Years Ago, Here's the Gain You'd Have

Yahoo

time07-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

If You'd Invested In Gen Digital 5 Years Ago, Here's the Gain You'd Have

Gen Digital (NASDAQ:GEN), the leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, has been a publicly traded company since June 1989. Known for its brands like Norton, Avast, LifeLock, Avira, AVG, ReputationDefender and CCleaner, the company is a key provider of antivirus and identity protection to millions of users globally. Read Next: Try This: Here's a closer look at the Gen Digital performance over the past five years, major drivers behind the company's growth and how much you'd have now if you had invested in the stock five years ago. Next, check out the best-performing stocks in the S&P 500 over the past 20 years. Gen Digital, previously known as NortonLifeLock, has built a name for itself in the software industry. Over the years, the company has expanded its offerings beyond antivirus protection by also providing identity protection and digital threat solutions. These services cater to over 500 million users in more than 150 countries worldwide. One of the major revenue drivers of Gen Digital is from subscriptions to its various software offerings. Unlike businesses that rely on one-time software sales, Gen Digital's customers pay for ongoing protection, ensuring a steady income stream. Gen Digital's growth has been modest. To fuel its growth and diversify its offerings, the company announced in December 2024 its plan to acquire the fintech business MoneyLion Inc. (NYSE:ML). 'By bringing MoneyLion into the Gen family, we're not only helping people protect what they already have, we're extending our capabilities to enable people to better manage and grow their financial wealth,' said Vincent Pilette, CEO of Gen Digital. Find Out: Gen Digital has had moderate growth over the last five years. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, the demand for online security solutions surged. At the time, Gen Digital's share price stood at around $18. As lockdowns happened in many countries, the broader stock market tanked. However, companies offering cybersecurity solutions — like GEN — soared. Over the past five years, shares of Gen Digital stock rose over 40%. While the GEN stock price has gone up, overall growth has slowed due to the fierce competition from its rivals like Check Point Software Technologies (NASDAQ:CHKP) and Cloudflare (NASDAQ:NET). Despite the stiff competition, however, Gen Digital has continued to generate consistent revenue. If you invested in Gen Digital in March 2020 and held it until today, how much would you have gained? GEN stock price in March 2020: $18 GEN stock price in March 2025: $28 Stock price growth: 56% Here's a breakdown of how much you'd have if you invested these amounts in Gen Digital five years ago: Initial Investment Final Value Total Gain $1,000 $1,560 $560 $3,000 $4,680 $1,680 $5,000 $7,800 $2,800 $10,000 $15,600 $5,600 While the growth isn't as explosive as some growth tech stocks, it's significantly higher than the average 10% return of the S&P 500. You'd have gained a solid return if you invested in Gen Digital in 2020. Plus, Gen Digital pays dividends, which — especially reinvested — would increase your earnings. After growing more than 50% over the past five years, the question remains: Is Gen Digital worth a buy now? The company has a considerable market share in the cybersecurity space. With digital threats becoming more sophisticated, the demand for cybersecurity and identity protection services will likely continue to rise. Gen Digital has positioned itself well with its suite of security offerings catering to both individuals and businesses. Yahoo Finance analyst recommendations are split between buy and hold — of 10 analysts, five recommend holding, but four give it a 'buy' rating, and one gives it a 'strong buy.' While the company has generally performed well over the years, its growth has slowed down compared to its rivals. So, whether Gen Digital stock is a buy or not depends on your financial goals and risk tolerance. If you're looking for a cybersecurity stock with long-term growth potential, Gen Digital could be worth considering. Editor's Note: GOBankingRates is a Gen Digital company. This content is not provided by Gen Digital. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Gen Digital. More From GOBankingRates 5 Types of Vehicles Retirees Should Stay Away From Buying How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State? 4 Things You Should Do if You Want To Retire Early 4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 2025 This article originally appeared on If You'd Invested In Gen Digital 5 Years Ago, Here's the Gain You'd Have

Gen Digital (NasdaqGS:GEN) Declines 10% As President Trump's Tariff Announcement Hits Tech Stocks
Gen Digital (NasdaqGS:GEN) Declines 10% As President Trump's Tariff Announcement Hits Tech Stocks

Yahoo

time05-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Gen Digital (NasdaqGS:GEN) Declines 10% As President Trump's Tariff Announcement Hits Tech Stocks

Gen Digital experienced a significant decline of 10% over the past week, coinciding with a turbulent period for the broader market as the Nasdaq entered a bear market. The steep drop in the company's share price may relate to the overall market downturn caused by escalating global trade tensions, as evidenced by President Trump's tariff announcement that sent shockwaves through various sectors. Major indices faced declines with tech-heavy stocks being particularly hard hit. This general market sell-off reflects the broader investor sentiment towards economic uncertainty, potentially influencing Gen Digital's recent performance. We've identified 4 weaknesses for Gen Digital that you should be aware of. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. Over the past five years, Gen Digital's total shareholder return, including both share price and dividends, reached 36.92%. This period has seen the company's performance mark several pivotal developments. The integration of MoneyLion and AI technologies highlights efforts to enhance their cyber safety platform and diversify market reach. Significant among the company's strategic moves was the issuance of US$950 million in senior notes in early 2025 to manage existing debt, a testament to Gen Digital's solid financial strategy aimed at optimizing capital structure. Product development, such as the introduction of AI-powered Norton Genie Scam Protection, demonstrates Gen Digital's commitment to addressing evolving cyber threats, potentially bolstering both customer retention and market competitiveness. Concurrently, the company's endeavors in mergers and acquisitions signal a continued pursuit of growth opportunities. Moreover, alongside its financial maneuvers, including dividends and a substantial share buyback program, these initiatives play a crucial role in shaping Gen Digital's sustained shareholder returns. Explore historical data to track Gen Digital's performance over time in our past results report. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqGS:GEN. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Sign in to access your portfolio

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