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 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 Founder Champion Award recognizes the highest performing or most promising founder active in the GEN community.
The nominees are...
Pablo Pérez, CEO and founder, Innspatial, Chile
A rising force in Latin America’s tech scene, he's turning personal wins into community momentum. The two-time Entrepreneurship World Cup finalist is now launching Chile’s first Startup Huddle chapter -- growing his local startup ecosystem, one entrepreneur at a time.
Jasmine Tagesson, COO and co-founder, Hormona, United Kingdom
For leading women’s healthcare into the digital age. Through innovative apps, wellness tests, and research, Hormona is advancing an often underfunded and overlooked field, improving how women everywhere understand and manage their health.
Ifthakaar Shaik, CEO and co-founder, Vitruvian MD, South Africa
For building cutting-edge, accessible AI for reproductive health while mentoring young founders to navigate Africa’s fragmented markets with heart, brilliance, and bold vision.
Idicula Mathew, CEO and co-founder, Hera Health Solutions, United States
A bold force in health tech, Idicula has led his company from startup to global disruptor —securing major funding and expanding its breakthrough drug delivery platform across human therapeutics, animal health, and vaccine delivery with global partners.
Erika Gutierrez, CEO + founder, Lateral, Peru
This super-connector is scaling her edtech startup—and lifting others as she rises. She’s helping GEN founders break into new markets, build powerful networks, and access capital, all while leading one of Peru’s top startups in the reskilling revolution.