Session Description
This annual meeting of the Startup Nations policymaker community brings together government officials, advisors and policy experts to hear the latest innovative public policies for entrepreneurship-led growth.
The annual meeting features high-tempo presentations on innovative policies and research insights; panel or group discussions on common challenges; input into the GEN Policy strategy for the year ahead; speed networking among members, and more.
Non-governmental delegates are welcome to observe.
If you are a government policymaker and wish to apply to join Startup Nations, please visit https://www.genglobal.org/policy/sn/about.
Discussions include:
- Maintaining momentum: Keeping entrepreneurship a priority amidst political change
Dom Hallas, executive director, Startup Coalition - Portugal's startup revolution
Antonio Dias Martins, executive director, Startup Portugal - US entrepreneurship policymaking in the Trump era
Victor H. Hwang, founder and CEO, Right to Start - The EU Scaleup Strategy
Bindi Karia, Ambassador, European Innovation Council - Country updates from various Startup Nations members
Session Recap
(AI-generated session recap made available by Google NotebookLM)
Explore the transformative insights from the Global Entrepreneurship Network’s (GEN) Startup Nations Annual Meeting, where global leaders from government, international organizations, and advocacy groups came together to shape the future of entrepreneurship policy. This session focused on how nations can foster thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems through data, policy innovation, and inclusive collaboration.
1. Brief Summary
The Startup Nations Annual Meeting served as a platform for policymakers and ecosystem leaders to share strategies and best practices in supporting startups and SMEs. Hosted by GEN, the session emphasized the importance of cross-border collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and the role of ecosystem actors in shaping responsive entrepreneurship policies. Discussions covered maintaining momentum through political transitions, effective policy experimentation, and designing inclusive, data-driven ecosystems.
2. Outline
Welcome and Introduction
GEN’s role in connecting governments and ecosystem players.
Importance of inclusive policymaking—bringing all stakeholders to the table.
Purpose of Startup Nations: A peer group for global entrepreneurship policy advisors.
Navigating Political Change
UK’s strategies for maintaining policy focus amid government transitions.
Building bipartisan relationships and leveraging founders to support initiatives.
Embedding entrepreneurship policy within civil service structures.
Portugal’s Startup Strategy
Rapid ecosystem growth and comparison with SMEs.
Role of Startup Portugal as a public-private nonprofit entity.
Use of a strategic board to co-create policy with ecosystem stakeholders.
Importance of credibility, unity, and rigorous data in policy influence.
International Organization Insights
Startup Genome: Apex Nations report benchmarking startup ecosystems.
OECD: Launch of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Diagnostics tool and 2022 SME policy recommendations.
OECD Development Center: Startup Asia report on developing economies.
Country Spotlights
Brazil: New Ministry of Entrepreneurship, financial access, and youth/women-focused policies.
EU: European Innovation Council and new Startup & Scaleup Strategy.
Oman: Business simplification, Future Fund Oman, and corporate access for startups.
Sri Lanka: Policy consistency, digital public infrastructure, and venture ecosystem reform.
Chile: Long-term policy consistency, development bank, and public procurement for innovation.
Nigeria: SMEDAN’s efforts on finance democratization and SME councils.
Using Data for Policy and Experimentation
Government efforts in data science, open data access, and AI for policy innovation.
Policy experiments for science commercialization and deep tech.
US Entrepreneurship Policy Outlook
Rise of entrepreneurship in US political discourse.
Federal and state-level alignment, with bipartisan appeal around job creation and innovation.
Focus areas: tax reform, deregulation, private sector leadership, AI, and quantum tech.
3. Notable Quotes
“Governments were leading the ecosystem work, but we learned from Brad Feld—you need everybody around the table.” – Jonathan Ortmans, GEN
“Engage early and consistently throughout the process.” – Dom Hollis, Startup Coalition
“We need a real capacity to turn startup ecosystem pain points into actionable government proposals.” – Antonio Dias Martins, Startup Portugal
“Urgency is key—as AI risks widening existing divides.” – Olette, UNCTAD
“Entrepreneurship is part of the DNA, but recognizing it as a policy priority is relatively recent—and growing.” – Victor Hwang, Right to Start
4. Key Takeaways
Collaboration is Critical: Effective policy depends on joint action by government, founders, investors, and ecosystem builders.
Early Engagement Pays Off: Building relationships with future political leaders and ecosystem stakeholders sustains momentum.
Data Must Drive Policy: Although politics can sometimes override evidence, robust data is essential for credible, effective policy.
Messaging Matters: Tailoring the narrative around entrepreneurship to different political values builds wider support.
Innovative Models Work: From unified ecosystem agencies to government-backed funds of funds, creative policy design is delivering results.
Invest in Local AI Ecosystems: Nations must support talent and startups—not just infrastructure—to ensure AI benefits reach local economies.
5. Resources Mentioned
GEN Atlas – Comprehensive database of global entrepreneurship policies and case studies.
Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) – Benchmarking of city-level startup ecosystems.
Apex Nations Report – Comparative ranking of national ecosystems.
OECD Reports and Tools – Including SME Policy Recommendations and Ecosystem Diagnostics.
Startup Asia Report – Framework for evaluating startup policy in developing countries.
UNCTAD Report on AI & Entrepreneurship – Forthcoming insights on AI in the Global South.
IGL Science Commercialization Handbook – 100+ experimental ideas for deep tech and university collaboration.
European Innovation Council (EIC) Reports – On investment outcomes and the EU's new strategy.
6. Action Items
Join the Startup Nations community to collaborate with global peers.
Explore the GEN Atlas and contribute local policy case studies.
Attend upcoming workshops and report launches by organizations like OECD, Startup Genome, and UNCTAD.
Use these global insights to drive national strategies, inform local experimentation, and build stronger, inclusive entrepreneurship policies.
