When Americans think of tech hubs, they often think of Silicon Valley or Austin, Texas. Increasingly, tech companies are locating in the “Silicon Slopes” of Utah, where eBay boasts a sizeable footprint, including our LEED-certified customer support center and a world-renowned data center. Utah Governor Gary Herbert wants to see more eBay-like development across the state, so he convened some of Utah’s most respected businesses – including eBay – at the Governor’s 11th Annual Economic Summit.
eBay North America’s Hannah (Wu) Elsakr represented eBay at the Summit as a Power Presenter. In her remarks, Hannah described the power of eBay’s platform and how it is creating international business opportunity for small businesses around the globe.
“Using our global footprint and technology innovation, eBay is democratizing commerce for small businesses by dramatically reducing the cost of commerce over distance,” said Hannah. “Our data shows that 97 percent of our US small businesses export. This dynamic is revolutionary when you consider that about one percent of traditional American businesses export.”
The event drew a crowd of about 1,000 businesses and entrepreneurs – many of whom left Hannah’s presentation with a new appreciation for how technology is opening up new markets and opportunities.
"Hannah’s words were inspiring and thought provoking, providing Utah entrepreneurs insights about the future of commerce, including how technology is making it easier to connect small businesses with global markets," said Val Hale, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
So next time you think of tech hubs, remember the Silicon Slopes of Utah and the important role eBay is playing there to build the local tech community and empower entrepreneurs to go global.