Leading members of the Armenian diaspora and those interested in technology companies and startups in Armenia convene today at the at Synopsys in Mountain View, according to

The daylong gathering provides an opportunity to network, share ideas and identify investment opportunities in Armenia with CEOs, venture capitalists, academics, and entrepreneurs. The Forum is organized within the framework of the ArmTech Congress and held under the high patronage of the Prime Minister of Armenia.

Between 2008 and 2013 Armenia saw 22% growth in its technology sector year-over-year, and continues to foster startups and talent through education initiatives as well as recently adopted legislation designed to make launching and growing a startup, incubator, accelerator, or research organization much easier.

Sponsors of the event include Microsoft, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM, the Union of Information and Technology Enterprises, the Union of Employers of Information and Communication Technologies, and PicsArt, a photo app company with 65 million active users founded by two Armenian entrepreneurs. Organizers include the Government of the Republic of Armenia, ArmTech Congress, CEED, World Bank Group, Synopsys, and the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF).

The four panel discussions at the Forum will address critical issues including:

• The IT Industry in Armenia Recent Developments and Success Stories
• Building an Ecosystem for Global Startups and Connecting to Global Markets
• Challenges and Opportunities of Investing in Armenia
• The Role of Education in Unlocking Startup Talent

“This year the forum will focus on the progress and successes of our organizations and startups, especially in the U.S. market,” said Bagrat Yengibaryan Ph.D., Director of the EIF. “We’re going to discuss the importance of education and explore the challenges for the further development of the IT sector in Armenia,” he continued.

“The goal of the Forum is to let the world know Armenia is open for business,” said Peter Righi, CEED Global Director. “Armenia is no longer just an outsourcing market. It’s a growing hub of innovation with world-class IT talent and it’s critical to show what the Armenian government and private sector has done to grow the sector and prepare companies to plug in to the global marketplace. Today gives us the venue to showcase some of the talented people at the forefront of this trend.”