Session Description
How do we ensure entrepreneurial support programs are effective, non-redundant, and well-funded? This workshop will explore new assessment models designed to optimize ecosystem performance, improve ESO efficiency, and influence smarter funding decisions. Participants will deep-dive into GEN’s latest assessment framework, learning how to apply it in their local ecosystems to drive measurable impact and resource allocation improvements.
Purpose & Opportunity
The entrepreneurial ecosystem is rapidly evolving, with new models of support emerging and hybrid organizations blurring traditional lines. Yet, mapping and evaluating these ESOs remains a challenge for policymakers and practitioners alike. The Catalyst Evaluation Framework, developed by GEN, offers a standardized, adaptable approach to assessing ESO performance and impact-enabling smarter resource allocation and more effective ecosystem development.
Workshop Highlights:
Framework Overview: Dive into the Catalyst Evaluation Framework- a global toolkit for categorizing, mapping, and scoring ESOs based on economic impact and program quality.
Expert-led feedback and discussion:
Hear from leading voices in the field:
- Dr. Chris Haley (Startup Genome)
- Chad Renando (GEN Australia)
- Jonathan Potter (OECD)
- Adenike Adeyemi (FATE Foundation)
- Mallory St Claire (ANDE)
- Phumlani Nkontwana (Allan Gray Centre for Africa Entrepreneurship)
ESO Categorization Challenge: Work in teams to classify real-world ESO profiles using Catalyst definitions, surfacing ambiguities and hybrid models.
Framework Deep Dive (Rotating Stations):
- Data & KPIs: Critique and localize key performance indicators.
- Evaluation & Weighting: Debate metric weightings and propose new impact categories.
- Awards & Impact: Design new award categories to address ecosystem gaps.
Group Synthesis: Teams present actionable recommendations for adapting the framework to diverse contexts.
Key Discussion Questions
- How can we ensure clear, consistent categorization of ESOs in a rapidly changing landscape?
- Which performance indicators best capture both economic and qualitative impact in your local context?
- Should social and community impact be weighted alongside economic outcomes in ESO evaluation?
- What new award categories would incentivize ESOs to address critical gaps (e.g., gender equity, rural innovation)?
- How can the Catalyst Framework be adapted to drive measurable improvements in your ecosystem?
Why Attend?
- Gain a practical understanding of GEN’s latest assessment framework.
- Collaborate with global and local experts to test and refine evaluation methods.
- Leave with actionable insights and tools to drive impact and resource efficiency in your ecosystem.
About the GEN Global Assembly
The GEN Global Assembly (GGA) brings together diverse experts and practitioners from around the world to brainstorm strategies and learn skills for strengthening the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. To kick off the GEC, the immersive GGA workshops will provide the tools and insights to help us build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems together around the 2025 themes, including "Improved National Operations and Performance".
About Improved National Operations and Performance
A thriving global entrepreneurial ecosystem needs support organizations that are impactful, data-driven, and scalable. Whether leading GEN in your country, running a entrepreneurial support organization or being part of a national innovation agency, effective leadership requires planning, coalition building, and measured performance to drive operational sustainability and growth.
Session Recap:
Launching the GEN Catalyst Index - Measuring What Matters in Entrepreneurship Support
(AI-generated session recap made available by Google NotebookLM)
Step into the conversation that unveiled a brand-new global initiative aimed at revolutionizing how we understand and support entrepreneurial ecosystems. This session, featuring insights from Jonathan Ortman (Chairman of the GC and President of Gen), Tom, and Dr. Chris Haley (Head of Research at Startup Genome), addressed a critical challenge facing the global entrepreneurship community and launched the Gen Catalyst Index, inviting participants to collaboratively shape its future.
1. Brief Summary
This pivotal session marked the public debut of the Gen Catalyst Index, a new global program from Gen designed to systematically map, evaluate, and celebrate Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) around the world. The initiative is driven by the urgent need to demonstrate the performance and impact of ESOs in the face of declining government funding, where the perceived return on investment has been insufficient. By providing a standardized, data-driven framework for benchmarking and recognition, the Index aims to empower policymakers, funders, and entrepreneurs, ensuring that valuable programs are not only sustained but actively sought after. The session also served as a crucial workshop, gathering feedback from experienced practitioners on the challenges and nuances of measuring ESO effectiveness across diverse contexts, including the diversity of ESOs and entrepreneurs, data collection challenges, and the importance of demonstrating real impact.
2. Outline
- The Challenge: Governments are questioning funding for entrepreneurship support programs because the perceived return on investment is not "good enough". This is despite evidence that young firms are major job creators.
- The Solution: Introduction of the Gen Catalyst Index, described as a globally adaptable research framework to systematically map, assess, and recognize ESOs in any country or region. It aims to provide clarity, opportunity, and data to empower ecosystems.
- Index Methodology: A robust multi-stage process designed for accuracy and inclusivity. Steps include building local interest and securing funding, assembling a local research team, mapping all ESOs in the region, inviting organizations to participate in a detailed survey, analyzing data and scoring ESOs, publishing comprehensive reports, and celebrating high-impact ESOs with awards. Mapping strategies involve aggregating existing databases, outreach, open calls, leveraging AI and third-party platforms. Data collection aims for both quantitative and qualitative information, with specific metrics to be crowdsourced from practitioners.
- Purpose of Awards: To celebrate the "best organizations" making the "greatest impacts", providing valuable recognition and credibility, fostering collaboration, attracting resources, and encouraging continuous improvement.
- Implementation Support: A comprehensive toolkit including a step-by-step plan, funding materials, survey templates, and reporting tools will be provided, along with ongoing support from the Gen Global team and network.
- Workshop Questions: Participants were asked to discuss three main questions:
- Is the Gen Catalyst Index worthwhile? Does the premise (need more data for policymakers) hold true, or does impact depend on funders being rational beings who look at data?
- How should Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) be categorized? Does it make sense to group all types, or are some fundamentally distinct for measurement? What categories are missing from the initial list (noted as tech-heavy)?
- What data are ESOs currently collecting or would like to collect? How valuable and feasible is this data collection?
- Discussion Feedback & Challenges Raised by Attendees:
- Agreement on the principle that central measurement is good, but caution needed on who and what is measured. Acknowledging the value chain and partnerships is crucial.
- Importance of identifying and addressing gaps in support and ensuring metrics don't exclude or penalize organizations serving communities not currently represented or easily measured.
- The framework must accommodate the different stages of ESOs and ecosystems, and the diverse types of entrepreneurs supported (early-stage vs. mature, high-tech vs. Main Street, existing businesses needing new ideas).
- Need to respect and integrate with existing local or national mapping efforts.
- Significant challenges around stakeholder incentives to provide data consistently.
- The value proposition for ESOs and entrepreneurs in sharing data is critical; they need clear benefits like analysis, insights, benchmarking, or potentially accreditation.
- Difficulty in achieving consensus on definitions of ESOs and their work across diverse contexts.
- Balancing global standards with regional/local dynamics and the challenge of making the framework both inclusive and exclusive.
- Concerns that the initial focus may miss a large portion of entrepreneurial activity, particularly Main Street businesses and those in emerging markets not pursuing high-tech, equity-based models.
- The difficulty of comparing vastly different types of ESOs (e.g., accelerator vs. chamber of commerce vs. co-working space) and defining success or "high quality" across this spectrum.
- Danger of inadvertently penalizing smaller organizations or those serving disadvantaged populations if metrics focus solely on standard outcomes like startups/scaleups.
- The importance of focusing on impact (long-term change), which is harder to measure than outcomes, and the challenge of longitudinal data collection.
- Acknowledging the role of philanthropy and foundations interested in economic mobility, and the challenge of aligning their funding cycles with the need for longitudinal data.
- Suggesting co-designing the framework with ESOs and possibly involving neutral, academic organizations to build trust.
- Framing the initiative around accreditation could provide value, particularly for university-based ESOs.
- Offering data insights or benchmarks back to entrepreneurs as an incentive for participation can be effective.
3. Notable Quotes
- "...we're not going to continue to fund these programs. The return on investment has not been good enough for us."
- "I hate giving data to ESOs... because it offers no value to me."
- "there's a danger with this exercise of penalizing the smaller organizations, the organizations that are working with the more disadvantaged people..."
4. Key Takeaways
- The Urgency is Real: Demonstrating the tangible impact of ESOs is critical for securing and sustaining funding from governments and other stakeholders who demand a clear return on investment.
- One Size Doesn't Fit All: While standardization is needed, the vast diversity of ESOs, entrepreneurial types (tech vs. Main Street), ecosystem stages, and local contexts presents significant challenges for categorization, measurement, and comparability. Metrics and the framework must be adaptable and inclusive.
- Value Proposition is Paramount: For the Gen Catalyst Index to succeed, it must offer clear, compelling value back to the ESOs and the entrepreneurs who are asked to provide data. Incentives like data insights, benchmarking, recognition, access to resources, or potentially accreditation are crucial.
- Measurement Must Go Deeper: Beyond simple outcomes (like startups/scaleups), the framework should strive to capture meaningful impact, acknowledging the diverse ways ESOs create value, including supporting those who don't launch ventures, fostering ambition, improving job quality, and addressing inequality or disadvantage, without inadvertently penalizing organizations serving harder-to-reach communities.
- Collaboration and Trust Building are Essential: Integrating with existing mapping efforts, involving local stakeholders in co-design, and considering the role of neutral third parties or philanthropic funders can enhance the framework's effectiveness, trust, and reach across diverse global contexts.
5. Resources Mentioned
- Gen Catalyst Index Toolkit: Comprehensive materials for local implementation.
- Email for Interest: tom@tomjenglobal.org.
- Center for Entrepreneurs: Work by Dr. Chris Haley informed the initial ESO list.
- Startup Genome: Dr. Chris Haley's organization.
- World Bank: Partnered with Chris Haley on an ESO review in Romania.
- Kenya Innovation Agency: Policy organization that validated a local ESO framework.
- Make Startups: Organization mentioned by an attendee.
- Egyptian Entrepreneurship Index: A local initiative shared as an example.
6. Action Items
- Individuals interested in leading the Gen Catalyst Index project in their country or region were encouraged to register their interest by emailing Tom at tom@tomjenglobal.org.
- Participants were asked to discuss the key questions posed during the workshop.
- Specific attendees were designated as "raptors" to make notes during table discussions.
This session ignited a vital conversation about the future of entrepreneurship support measurement. The Gen Catalyst Index represents a significant step towards creating a more transparent, effective, and impactful global ecosystem. Listen to the full session to dive deeper into the challenges discussed and the collective vision for demonstrating the true power of entrepreneurship worldwide.
