Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and ‘job creators’ who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.
During one week each November, partner organizations (23,952 in 2010)[1] in 118 countries conduct a broad range of activities, events and competitions (37,561 total in 2010)that are designed to promote some level or form of entrepreneurial activity. At a minimum, the activities connect participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors.
GEW 2011 is scheduled to occur from November 14 – 20, 2011.
The initiative kicked off in 2008, launched by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Carl Schramm, the president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Since then, it has grown to 118 countries and directly engages an average of 5.9 million people each year (the number of individuals involved in 2010 was 7,252,344).
Global Entrepreneurship Week enjoys the participation and support of presidents and prime ministers on every continent, including: President Barack Obama (US); Prime Minister David Cameron (UK); Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Israel); President Anibal Cavaco Silva (Portugal); Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Canada); President John Atta Mills (Ghana); and, numerous ministers focused on advancing economic growth (see ‘VIPs and Celebrities’ below for a list).
Additional questions and feedback on the Global Entrepreneurship site can be addressed to:
