Iranian-owned Networking Company Makes Connections
in California's High-tech World

Professional Networking a Reality for Iranian-American Technology Professionals

By Kathryn Schmidt
Washington File Special Correspondent
Http://usinfo.state.gov/persian/

To the multitude of smart, educated, young Iranian professionals who have immigrated to the United States, California is the place to be. Rich in high-tech companies and jobs, California is home to more than 1.1 million Iranians today, more than 300,000 of those working in the technology industry.

When Susan Akbarpour arrived Silicon Valley, California from Iran six years ago, she immediately identified the need for a network that would unite the high-tech Iranian community. Akbarpour, a journalist, and her brother Cyrus Akbarpour, a technology guru, put their heads together. SiliconIran was born.

SiliconIran has become the premiere business and technology information source for Iranians working in the high-tech industry in the United States. The network provides a three-pronged approach to uniting Iranians who have come to the U.S. with the high-tech know-how, and even strong language skills, but lack the networking capabilities that their American colleagues enjoy.

With its magazine, website and twice-yearly conferences, SiliconIran provides a service in almost every medium available. Akbarpour says SiliconIran's corporate, start-up and individual members are all able to take advantage of these three synergistic tools to educate themselves, and communicate with like-minded professionals.

SiliconIran, the magazine, is published quarterly and circulated to its 7,200 individual members, and 400 corporate members. Its total circulation is more than 10,000 with predictions that it will grow to 30,000 in coming years. While it is sold in mainstream bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders Books in the US and Canada, the public can access the magazine online. The company sends hundreds of free copies to Iran.

"We are like a Fortune magazine for high-tech Iranian-Americans," Akbarpour explains. Readers find a wealth of information on technology news, high-tech start-ups, entrepreneurs and executives, new ideas and inventions, market analyses and investment opportunities, trade policies and legal advice and employment opportunities. And, while "there is no political spin to the magazine, we do talk about policies that affect the high-tech business," says Akbarpour.

The website, www.siliconiran.com is also a veritable clearinghouse of information for Iranian-Americans. Members can recruit employees, search for employment or investment opportunities, find mentors, and advertise online. SiliconIran also provides networking opportunities for its members including setting up one-on-one meetings for interested parties, distributing press releases, and providing general promotion and publicity for individual members or companies.

For an Iranian technology professional new to the country, the abundance of career advice and information found at siliconiran.com can be a powerful tool. Browsers can learn how to write an effective resume, cover letter and thank you note, post a resume, and get real-time advice from career counselors - all at no cost.

The two well-attended annual conferences organized by SiliconIran provide participants with educational and networking opportunities. The Iranian Technology Forum (ITF) brings together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, engineers, legal advisers, venture capitalists, investment bankers, and executives of all backgrounds to discuss subjects including the economy and technology.

The SiliconIran Entrepreneurship workshop and Awards Ceremony is a business-oriented forum with educational seminars for participants, and an awards ceremony to recognize Iranian-Americans who are considered entrepreneurial heroes.

While SiliconIran focuses primarily on Iranian-Americans working in the high-tech field, Akbarpour says the "network is 'going international,' reaching out to people in Singapore, France, Canada, even people in Iran are beginning to benefit from the network by reading about their peers in the U.S.," notes Akbarpour.

SiliconIran even awarded an Iranian entrepreneur, Mahmood Nazarri in the last award ceremony who came from Iran to receive the award. Nazarri, System Group Co. President & Co-Founder, was awarded for his distinguished entrepreneurship and accomplishments.

In spite of U.S. sanctions against Iran, Akbarpour says that young, educated professionals in Iran benefit from the free flow of information via the Internet. "At first, the Iranian government had placed restrictions on its citizens using the Internet, but after two years, they realized their efforts were futile, and lifted the restrictions." Since that time Akbarpour says, she gets "about 10 emails a day from people in Iran looking for business plans, information and jobs."

"With 73 percent of Iranians under the age of 30, there are many people in Iran thirsty for information," says Akbarpour. "We have seen a 34 percent increase in Internet use in Iran each year for the past three years," she says. "Iran has a very young population that needs to be connected to the world."

Akbarpour says that the "Internet is the best momentum to get young Iranians connected with the outside world. That is why we have been seeing political and cultural reforms in Iran recently," Akbarpour explains. As these young, educated professionals network with peers outside their country they are able to educate themselves on opportunities and new trends in the high-tech industry. "Exchanging information with Iranians lifts obstacles for those in Iran," Akbarpour says.

Akbarpour's first foray into publishing was Iran Today, an English-Farsi publication. The knowledge she gained from that first venture was invaluable as she and her brother developed SiliconIran. One of her first decisions was to publish only in English. "I wanted to reinforce with my fellow Iranians that knowing English is very important. I wanted to give a motivation for learning the language so that people would know the value of learning this international language."

As SiliconIran enters its third year, Akbarpour is optimistic about the future and what it holds for Iranians, both in the U.S. and at home. "Iranians are survival people. Those coming here will adapt to the culture, and be successful," she explains. With the help of SiliconIran, young Iranian technology professionals will do just that.

About SiliconIran
SiliconIran is the premiere business and technology information source providing news, analysis, and opinions on the high-tech industry for global Iran. Through the establishment of a high tech magazine (print & online), developing an interactive website, planning of technology forums and exhibitions, and by building the most extensive databank of Iranian high-tech professionals worldwide, SiliconIran, Inc. is the center for high-tech information exchange. For more information about SiliconIran, go to www.siliconiran.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Laurie Falconer
Falconer & Associates
650-967-4877
laurie@falconer-associates.com

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