Startup Huddle Organizers Meeting

Session Description 

Startup Huddle organizers play a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems by empowering and supporting local entrepreneurs. This exclusive GEC 2025 meetup offers organizers a dynamic and interactive session designed to address common challenges, share proven strategies, and enhance the vital support systems that enable entrepreneurs to succeed.

Participants will gain practical insights to refine their approach, exchange ideas with peers, and contribute to shaping the program’s evolution. This is a valuable opportunity to revisit best practices, explore innovative ways to streamline your role, and collaborate on solutions that make your journey as an organizer more impactful for your community.

Session Recap 

Leveraging the GEN Network Through Startup Huddle

Thank you for joining our session on leveraging the Gen programs to grow your communities. It was truly exciting to finally be together in person, as these meetings are usually held virtually on a monthly basis. We aimed to assess what is working and what isn't, learn from each other, and explore how to utilize upcoming Gen programs to support your community growth. This session specifically focused on Startup Huddle as a key tool for ecosystem and community building within the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN).

Outline

• Startup Huddle as a meetup, not an event, emphasizing its nature as a regular, routine gathering rather than a standalone production.
• The origins of Startup Huddle in the US 1 Million Cups (1MC) model.
• Analogy of Startup Huddle as "going to church for entrepreneurs" or "Alcoholics Anonymous for entrepreneurs".
• The importance of a consistent place and steady frequency (drum beat) for Startup Huddle meetups.
• Discussion on finding free space for hosting Startup Huddles, such as libraries, universities, co-working spaces, banks, or hotels.
• Methods for communication and building a community/list serve, including Eventbrite, WhatsApp groups, and the Gen website.
• Challenges raised by organizers, specifically regarding the number of questions when creating a profile and the lack of direct access to applicant/community data.
• Explanation of the purpose of the Gen profile for connecting people to the broader Gen network and providing an online presence for early-stage founders.
• Ideas for recognizing presenters, such as giving books or Gen pins.
• Connecting Startup Huddle presenters and participants to other Gen programs and resources like Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC), Gen Connect tools (Mentor Connect, Investor Connect, Founder Connect, Ecosystem Connect, Speakers Bureau), and influential mentors.
• Importance of monthly reporting on session frequency and presenters to help collect impact data and build a case for local sponsorship.
• Examples of Startup Huddle implementation and best practices from various locations, including Oxford, Jamaica, Lusikisiki, Honduras, Edinburgh, Barcelona, and Colombia.
• Exploring variations of the model, such as hosting sector-specific huddles or huddles for historically underrepresented groups like women.
• Collaborating with universities, accelerators, and chambers of commerce as partners for space, sponsorship, and reaching specific communities.
• Challenges in reaching rural communities with limited internet access and the process of creating profiles.
• Suggestions for future collaboration, such as cross-country Zoom sessions during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).

Notable Quotes

• "Startup puddle is not an event. Never use the word event. It is a meetup."
• "Think of this as as a church. Think of this as going to church for entrepreneurs."
• "The idea is you're supposed to be building a little mini community, a community of people... I like to have a cup of coffee. I like to sit down with some other members of the community and then some poor soul stands up and you know uh pours their heart out about the challenges they're having to do a business..."
• "When I searched for my name, the first thing that came up was my GEN profile. So for people who are new... and they don't have an online presence yet. The GEN user profile is a fantastic online presence for them."

Key Takeaways

• Consistency is Key: Successful Startup Huddles maintain a steady drum beat with a consistent time and location to build a routine and sense of community, much like the 1 Million Cups model which traditionally meets weekly.
• Leverage Free Spaces: There are many potential venues in the community, such as libraries, universities, or co-working spaces, that would welcome the energy of a Startup Huddle and may provide space and coffee for free.
• Embrace the "Meetup" Mindset: Shift away from organizing Startup Huddle like a standalone event. Frame it as a regular gathering or routine that people can drop into, reducing the organizational burden on leads and making it more sustainable.
• Connect Huddlers to the GEN Network: The GEN profile and participation in Startup Huddle can be the entry point for entrepreneurs to access the broader GEN ecosystem, including potential connections, mentorship, and programs like the Entrepreneurship World Cup.
• Gather and Report Impact Data: Utilize the monthly reporting process to track sessions and presenters. This data is crucial for demonstrating impact to potential local sponsors and foundations, supporting the growth and sustainability of your chapter.

Resources Mentioned

• Eventbrite: Platform used by one chapter for people to sign up and receive reminders for meetups.
• WhatsApp groups: Used by some chapters for communication.
• GEN Website: Platform where chapters should add their sessions and where members can find local activity. It is integrated with a CRM.
• GEN Connect Tools: Includes Mentor Connect, Investor Connect, Founder Connect, Ecosystem Connect, and Speakers Bureau, accessible through the GEN profile.
• Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC): A GEN program mentioned as an entry point for founders, providing access to support and connections within the network.
• No Bad Ideas: Mentioned as another GEN program/session.
• Books: A specific book (author Cardell, book Time to Whatever) was mentioned as being given to presenters in one chapter. Impact reports from GEN were also available.
• GEN Pins: Suggested as a potential item to give presenters for recognition.
• GEN Global Point of Contact: Available for each country to provide information on GEN activities and partners.
• Ashley: GEN's customer service contact for website/user feedback.
• Steven Rodriguez: GEN's Director for Founders, a point of contact for supporting presenters and founders within the network.
• Marc: Mentioned in relation to GEN UK leadership and Startup Huddles in the UK.
• Pretty: Director mentioned for the Startup Huddle community and a channel to other parts of GEN.
• N10 (National Leadership Council): An internal GEN term for national leadership structures being formed in each country.
 

Action Items

• Talk to Ashley and Mark regarding the issue of organizers having more direct access to applicant/community data.
• Connect people to Ashley for website and user feedback, particularly regarding challenges like profile creation questions and robot verification steps.

• Encourage presenters to register  on the GEN platform to present at their nearest Huddle. This creates a world of opportunities for them
• Consider hosting collaborative Zoom sessions during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) to connect your local community with others globally for contrast and compare discussions.