The Global Entrepreneurship Network celebrated the achievements of 16 individuals and organizations at the GEN Compass Awards. These awards recognize excellence in entrepreneurship, policymaking, investor support programs and research – and honor those who are making a difference in helping entrepreneurs start and scale around the world.
“The winners of the Compass awards are bold leaders who have gone to extraordinary lengths in challenging conditions to remove barriers to entrepreneurship and create opportunities in their communities,” said Jonathan Ortmans, President of the Global Entrepreneurship Network. “They are role models locally and for peers around the world.”
The ceremony took place as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Indianapolis, United States.
GEN Country Award
Awarded to GEN’s national leadership who have best advanced GEN’s mission, values, impact, and operations.
Winner: Bangladesh
Finalists:
- Bangladesh
- South Africa
- Indonesia
- Zambia
- Pakistan
Learn more about the GEN Country Award Finalists.
Founder Champion
Awarded to the highest performing or most promising founder active in the GEN community.
Winner: Erika Gutierrez, CEO + founder, Lateral, Peru
Finalists
- Pablo Pérez, CEO and founder, Innspatial, Chile
- Jasmine Tagesson, COO and co-founder, Hormona, United Kingdom
- Ifthakaar Shaik, CEO and co-founder, Vitruvian MD, South Africa
- Idicula Mathew, CEO and co-founder, Hera Health Solutions, United States
- Erika Gutierrez, CEO + founder, Lateral, Peru
Learn more about the Founder Champion Award Finalists.
Founder Catalyst
Awarded to exceptional organizations that have demonstrated dedication and success in connecting, inspiring and empowering startup founders through impactful GEN programming.
Winner: Monsha’at
Finalists:
- Monsha’at
- iNNpulsa Colombia
- Ministry of Economy of El Salvador
- Ministry of SMEs and Startups of Korea
- Voka
Learn more about the Founder Catalyst Award Finalists.
Investor Champion
Awarded to an angel investor, venture capitalist or other member of the GEN Invest community or Global Business Angels Network, who has significantly advanced the interests of investors and the startups they enable.
Winner: Linda Smith, Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association
Finalists:
- Linda Smith, Chair Emeritus of the Angel Capital Association
- Israel Pons, CEO of Angels Nest
- Fadilah Tchoumba, CEO of the African Business Angel Network
- Marcel Dridje, Board Member, European Business Angels Network
- Carlos S. Baradello, Founder of Alaya Capital
Learn more about the Investor Champion Award Finalists.
Capital Catalyst
Awarded to organizations and leaders who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Winner: Wells Fargo
Finalists:
- Wells Fargo
- Nasdaq Foundation
- BGE
- Etsy
- DoorDash
Learn more about the Capital Catalyst Award Finalists.
Policy Champion
Awarded to a GEN Policy community leader who has had the most significant impact in removing barriers to entrepreneurship through policies, programs or regulatory changes. This award is open to ministers, governors, mayors and other political leaders.
Winner: His Excellency Nourredine Ouadah, Minister of Knowledge Economy, Start-ups and Micro-Enterprises and His Excellency Yacine Oualid, Minister of Training and Vocational Education for Algeria
Finalists:
- His Excellency Nourredine Ouadah, Minister of Knowledge Economy, Start-ups and Micro-Enterprises and His Excellency Yacine Oualid, Minister of Training and Vocational Education for Algeria
- His Excellency Dr. Kan Channmeta, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation of Cambodia
- The Honorable Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Minister of Small Business Development for South Africa
- Her Excellency Dr Eiman Al-Mutairi, CEO of the National Competitiveness Center and Vice Minister of Commerce for Saudi Arabia
- The Honorable Márcio França, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprise and Small Business for Brazil
Learn more about the Policy Champion Award Finalists.
Policy Catalyst
Awarded to a GEN Policy community member who has made the most significant contributions to removing barriers to entrepreneurship through advocacy or implementation of new policies and regulations. This award is open to campaigners, advisors, officials, and other policy professionals.
Winner: Innovation for Policy Foundation
Finalists are:
- Right to Start
- Startup Policy Forum
- Innovation for Policy Foundation
- OECD Development Centre
- Startup Coalition
Learn more about the Policy Catalyst Award Finalists.
Ecosystem Champion
Awarded to an individual with outstanding commitment and achievement to drive their local ecosystem's positive, long-term and inclusive growth through programs and education to advance innovation and support startups.
Winner: Maria Meyers, Founder of SourceLink
Finalists:
- Ryan Johnson, Manager of the Business and IP Centre Oxfordshire and local organizer for Startup Huddle Oxford
- Cardelle Ferguson, General Manager of Barbados Youth Business Trust and local organizer for Startup Huddle Barbados
- Lilian Iwelu, local organizer for Startup Huddle Abuja
- Dave Moskovitz, Chair, GEN New Zealand
- Maria Meyers, Founder, SourceLink
Learn more about the Ecosystem Champion Award Finalists.
Ecosystem Catalyst
Awarded to an organization with outstanding commitment and achievement to drive their local ecosystem's positive, long-term and inclusive growth through programs and education to advance innovation and support startups.
Winner: African Bank
Finalists:
- African Bank
- FedEx
- Habitat Turkiye
- GEN New Zealand
- NC IDEA Foundation
Learn more about the Ecosystem Calalyst Award Finalists.
Research Champion
Awarded to a GEN Research community member that has produced actionable research resulting in better-informed policies or programs advancing entrepreneurship.
Winner: Erik Stam, Professor at Utrecht University and Stellenbosch University
Finalists:
- Erik Stam, Professor at Utrecht University and Stellenbosch University
- David Audretsch, Ameritech Chair of Economic Development at Indiana University
- Sameeksha Desai, Director of the Manufacturing Policy Initiative at Indiana University
- David Hsu, Richard A. Sapp Professor at the Wharton School
- Scott Shane, A. Malachi Mixon III Professor at Case Western Reserve University
Learn more about the Research Champion Award Finalists.
Research Partnership
Awarded to organizations that, through collaboration, have provided actionable research leading to better-informed policies, improved entrepreneurship programs, or ecosystem development.
Winner: Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies
Finalists:
- Johns Hopkins University
- Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies
- Inter-American Development Bank
- AfriLabs
- Startup Genome
Learn more about the Research Partnership Award Finalists.
Global Entrepreneurship Week Champion
Awarded to the organization that ran the best national Global Entrepreneurship Week Campaign in 2024 based on overall reach, diversity, creativity, visibility and impact.
Winner: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany, and RKW Competence Center
Finalists:
- Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany, and RKW Competence Center
- Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship
- Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka
- Daffodil International University in Bangladesh
- Shanghai Technology Entrepreneurship Foundation for Graduates
Learn more about the Global Entrepreneurship Week Champion Award Finalists.
Global Entrepreneurship Week Catalyst
Awarded to host organizations that generate a significant number of events, partners and participants through their national Global Entrepreneurship Week campaigns.
Winner: SEBRAE
Finalists:
SEBRAE
Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship
GEN Algeria
Bermuda Economic Development Corporation
GEN Pakistan
Learn more about the Global Entrepreneurship Week Catalyst Award Finalists.
Barrier Breaker
Awarded to an individual or organization with outstanding commitment and achievement in creating pathways to entrepreneurship that empower non-traditional audiences and under-represented communities.
Winner: Kauffman Foundation
Finalists:
- Kauffman Foundation
- Michelle Samuel, founder of SLUDTERA Inc.
- Hello Alice
- Antares
- FedEx
Learn more about the Barrier Breaker Award Finalists.
GEN Rookie
Awarded to an individual or organization new to the Global Entrepreneurship Network for their contributions to advancing entrepreneurship through a GEN program.
Winner: Gloria Viscasillas, Executive Director, Echar Pa'Lante
Finalists:
- Seun Richards, GEN Ambassador in Canada
- Gloria Viscasillas, Executive Director, Echar Pa'Lante
- Phumlani Nkontwana, Founding Director, Allan Gray Centre for Africa Entrepreneurship
- Viviana Angulo, WeInvest
- Kendra Byers, Business Engagement Manager at Bright Red Triangle, and local organizer for Startup Huddle Edinburgh
Learn more about the GEN Rookie Award Finalists.
One Global Ecosystem Award
Awarded to the individual, organization or community that has had the largest impact reaching across national borders and connecting stakeholders to help entrepreneurs start and scale.
Recipient: The State of Indiana
For more information and to view the awards criteria, please visit www.genglobal.org/compassawards.