Jakob Gaard empowers acceleration and innovation for overseas startups in Silicon Valley with Plug and Play’s international department GOAL. Jakob is a Business Development Engineer holding two M.Sc in International Business and Disruptive Innovation with distinction (magna cum laude), from Boston, Shanghai and San Francisco. He has co-founded three LLC´s and is now working in the cross-field between Venture Capital and innovation. Additionally, Jakob has been a long-time contributor to the Junior Achievement Alumni community worldwide, the world’s largest youth-serving NGO, preparing young people for innovation and entrepreneurship. He has worked on various projects, including Innovative Product Development for The Danish Ministry of Transport, and Strategy Development for Fundingbox in the European Union’s Horizon 2020 initiative.