Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW)

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Global Entrepreneurship Week is a large international campaign to celebrate and empower entrepreneurs in every country and community around the world.
What are the main aims and objectives?

GEW exists to encourage entrepreneurs worldwide, inspiring people to explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. It aims to expose people to the benefits of entrepreneurship through various creative activities and events held globally during one week each November. Overall, GEW serves as a catalyst to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and promote policies that support startup growth and innovation across the world.

How does the program work?

GEW operates as a coordinated, worldwide initiative that brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, and ecosystem supporters across the globe. This annual event spans one week and is designed to celebrate entrepreneurship while fostering a supportive environment for aspiring and established business owners alike.

The foundation of GEW's operation lies in its decentralized yet interconnected structure. Each participating country designates a host organization responsible for spearheading the national campaign. These host organizations play a crucial role in building local networks of partners, supporters, and participants, ensuring that the initiative is tailored to the specific needs and contexts of their respective countries. This approach allows for a balance between global coordination and local relevance, making GEW both far-reaching and deeply impactful.

During the designated week, a diverse array of events and activities unfold simultaneously across participating nations. These can include workshops, seminars, networking sessions, pitch competitions, and mentorship opportunities. The events cover a wide range of topics relevant to entrepreneurship, such as business planning, funding strategies, marketing techniques, and sector-specific challenges. By offering this variety, GEW caters to entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey and from various industries, ensuring broad appeal and relevance.

A key aspect of GEW's functioning is its emphasis on collaboration and connection. The initiative serves as a platform for bringing together different stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to connect with potential investors, mentors, and collaborators. Meanwhile, policymakers and researchers can engage directly with the entrepreneurial community, gaining insights that can inform supportive policies and further research.

GEW also leverages digital platforms and media to amplify its reach and impact. Online events, social media campaigns, and digital resources complement physical gatherings, allowing for broader participation and knowledge sharing. This multi-faceted approach ensures that the benefits of GEW extend beyond the confines of the week itself, contributing to ongoing conversations and initiatives in the entrepreneurial space.

What is the overall cost?

Due to the decentralized nature of GEW it is not possible to put an accurate figure on overall cost.

How was it implemented?

GEW emerged as a result of the convergence of two earlier initiatives: Enterprise Week UK and Entrepreneurship Week USA. The event was officially launched in 2008, marking the beginning of what would become a major international celebration of entrepreneurship.

The creation of GEW can be traced back to the efforts of two key organizations. The first is the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in the mid-1960s by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, this foundation has been instrumental in advancing entrepreneurship and improving education. The Kauffman Foundation's mission to create "a society of economically independent individuals who are engaged citizens, contributing to the improvement of their communities" aligns closely with the goals of GEW.

The second organization involved in GEW's creation was Enterprise UK, which had been running Enterprise Week in the United Kingdom since 2004. Enterprise Week UK was a campaign designed to connect youth, women, homeworkers, and people from ethnic minorities to entrepreneurial opportunities. It was founded by a coalition of British business organizations, including the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Directors, and the Federation of Small Businesses.

The combination of these two initiatives - Entrepreneurship Week USA and Enterprise Week UK - led to the formation of Global Entrepreneurship Week in 2008. 

What impact has been measured?

The first Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign in 2008 included participation from 77 countries. It now reaches annually:

  • 200 countries
  • 40,000 events
  • 10 million people

A survey of participants in 2023 found that:

  • 54% of respondents started a business in the last year in whole or part because participation in Global Entrepreneurship Week events
  • 57% credit Global Entrepreneurship Week events for increasing their knowledge and/or skills to start and grow a business/social impact venture
  • 46% of respondents with a new or established business experienced growth in the last year
What lessons can be learned?

Several important lessons can be learned from GEW:

  1. Global collaboration is crucial: GEW demonstrates the power of connecting entrepreneurs, innovators, and ecosystem supporters across the globe. It shows that building connections across the global ecosystem is essential, especially in times of increasing skepticism towards globalization.
  2. Inclusivity leads to growth: The initiative emphasizes that creating a more inclusive economic environment that unleashes the potential of all communities contributes to higher levels of growth and a more robust economy overall.
  3. Ecosystem-building approach is effective: The success of GEW demonstrates that an ecosystem-building framework is valuable not just for entrepreneurship specifically, but for inclusive economic development more broadly.
  4. Holistic support is necessary: The initiative highlights that entrepreneurs need support beyond just financial capital, including technical assistance, mentoring, and resources for overall wellbeing.
  5. Trust-building is fundamental: GEW's success underscores the importance of building long-term relationships and trust with communities of entrepreneurs to effectively support them.
  6. Cross-sector partnerships are vital: GEW demonstrates the value of establishing partnerships among governments, economic development organizations, community-based nonprofits, philanthropies, and other stakeholders.
  7. Adaptability to local contexts: While GEW is a global initiative, its success lies in its ability to adapt to local needs and contexts in each participating country.

CURATED BY

Tom Hancock

Research Associate
Global Entrepreneurship Network
United Kingdom