Entrepreneurs in Costa Rica looking to improve business tactics and operations will soon have the option of learning how to do so from the experts. Cisco Sytems Inc., a leading global supplier of Internet networking equipment, communications technology and network management, has announced it will create an Entrepreneur Institute in San José to teach small to medium sized businesses and entrepreneurs how to improve business functions and information technologies.
According to Cisco, the first training centers will study the business models of, and be located at, ITS InfoCom and Parque Tec, two international Internet technology companies that work with Cisco and have facilities in San José. The training center at the Parque Tec location is scheduled to open doors to entrepreneurs on Feb. 15, while the ITS InfoCom location will being training on Feb. 20. Cisco aims to train 500 Tico entrepreneurs during the institute´s first year.
“The launch of the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute in Costa Rica reinforces our commitment to promote an entrepreneurial culture in the country and aid in the development of new projects that boost national development,” said Marcelo Lebendiker, the president Parque Tec. “We know Costa Ricans have the talent and vision to do business, but we need more initiatives like The Cisco Entrepreneur Institute, which provides support and training for entrepreneurs, to strengthen their knowledge and to develop their successful ideas.”
Cisco said the institute will cater workshops and classes to educate owners, managers and partners who are creating or expanding their business operations. The courses will cover three levels of corporate development, and will include “Starting a Business,” for less experienced entrepreneurs, “Growing a Business” for established companies looking to expand and “iExec Business Essentials,” to help companies develop Internet strategies and applications to transform organizations and maximize efficiency.
According to Cisco, the courses were designed by Stanford and Cornell Universities, with assistance from the company My Own Business Inc. Classes will be offered in Spanish.
In the most recent Fortune 500 rankings, Cisco Systems was ranked as the 57th highest earning company in the world, earning $39.5 billion in revenue in 2009, and making over $8 billion in profits.
