Tell City, IN — The Perry County Development Corporation (PCDC) is bringing fresh, globally-tested strategies home after joining thousands of innovation leaders at the 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in Indianapolis, June 2–5. The event, which saw entrepreneurs and leaders from nearly 200 nations compete for global honors like the “Best Country Award,” featured a keynote from investor Mark Cuban alongside a dense agenda of over 150 sessions led by global thought leaders, venture capitalists, and policy experts.
The congress served as a critical nexus for ideas shaping the future of business, launching major global initiatives such as the Global AI Impact Accelerator and focusing heavily on new economic development strategies, including “Soft Landing” programs to attract international startups. Policy discussions centered on adapting education and workforce systems for the new economy. Mark Cuban challenged attendees to embrace the technological shift of Artificial Intelligence, stating, “There’s going to be two types of companies in this world: those who are great at AI and everybody else, and everybody else is going to go out of business.”
The event underscored Indiana’s growing stature as a tech hub, with the state achieving a record $1.05 billion in venture investment in 2024 and launching new initiatives like the Indiana-Africa Innovation Network during the congress. This backdrop of local innovation amplified the success of regional leaders.
“The energy at GEC was palpable, but the most powerful moments were seeing leaders from our own region validated on that global stage,” said Shiraz Mukarram, Marketing & Special Initiatives Manager for PCDC, who represented the organization at the conference. “Watching Scott Massey of Anu earn a top spot in the EWC National Finals, and hearing Taylor Price of CDFI Friendly Evansville detail her work, proves Southwest Indiana has a powerful role to play. Our job is to harness that momentum and ensure Perry County is part of that success story.”
The event provided PCDC with direct access to national best practices and replicable models for fostering local growth, from building inclusive capital systems to preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“Investing in opportunities like GEC keeps us at the forefront of innovation and ensures our strategies remain competitive,” said Erin Emerson, President and CEO of the Perry County Development Corporation. “As our team becomes more connected to regional and global networks, we remain focused on turning bold ideas into meaningful local impact.”
To learn more about the Perry County Development Corporation, visit pickperry.com.
Media Contact:
Erin Emerson
Perry County Development Corporation (PCDC)
812-547-8377
erin@pickperry.com
Photo Credit: Shiraz Mukarram, Perry County Development Corporation (PCDC)