The Global Entrepreneurship Network has announced the finalists for the 2025 GEN Compass Awards, a celebration recognizing outstanding achievements in entrepreneurship, policymaking, investment, research, and entrepreneur support programs. The awards honor those making a difference in helping entrepreneurs start and scale around the world.
Nominees will be celebrated and the winners will be revealed during the Compass Awards Ceremony, taking place at the 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in Indianapolis, USA — a gathering of founders, investors, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders from 200 countries.
The GEN Country Award recognizes GEN’s national leadership who have best advanced GEN’s mission, values, impact, and operations.
The nominees in this category are...
Bangladesh
Represented by Dr. Sabur Khan and KM Hasan Ripon, for their establishment of GEN Bangladesh, the launch of GEN Campus Dhaka – a 10,000 square foot accelerator, and a Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign that impacted more than 100,000 people.
South Africa
Represented by Kizito Okechukwu, for its continent-wide leadership in establishing and hosting GEC+Africa, building and growing GEN’s first startup campus – 22 On Sloane, successful policy advocacy and tireless dedication to founders through both GEN and partner programs.
Indonesia
Represented by Ivan Sandjaja, for building a diversified program profile focused on mainlining entrepreneurship education in secondary schools and colleges. And, for empowering new startup communities with tools that validate business development and empower management through tech-enabled finance, marketing, and operations.
Zambia
Represented by Edwin Zulu, for rallying Zambians behind entrepreneurship—partnering with local leaders to deliver tailored startup support and sustainable program funding while providing entrepreneurs with a platform to grow ideas, scale startups and compete globally.
Pakistan
Represented by Kashif Kahn, for working with key policymakers to remove barriers to entrepreneurship, equipping youth with future-ready skills, expanding opportunities in rural and underserved communities, and for its high-impact national Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign.