Global Entrepreneurship Week 2021 is coming up November 8-14 and thousands of organizers world-wide are planning activities to empower entrepreneurs and encourage citizens to become starters – finding new and better ways of doing things.
The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) has a collection of Signature Activities – ready-to-go programs created by GEN and our partners – that you can replicate in your community, either in-person or virtually. Each activity comes with a guide that walks you through the process, from planning to execution.
1. Speed Network the Globe
This activity utilizes a critical skill for entrepreneurs: networking. Participants have the opportunity to network and practice their elevator pitches with multiple people who can potentially help them on their entrepreneurial journey.
Download the Signature Activity Guide.
2. I Am an Entrepreneur Social Media Campaign
This social media campaign gives entrepreneurs a platform to share their "aha" moments with fellow founders across your community and the world. Invite founders to create social media posts, videos, or other multimedia content that tells the story of their journey to success. Use these questions as prompts:
- What made you want to become an entrepreneur?
- Was there a specific "Aha" moment that catapulted your career into entrepreneurship
- When did you realize you were an entrepreneur?
Download the social media Activity Guide.
3. Startup Huddle
If you are looking for ways to foster connections and collaboration for startups in your community, GEW is the perfect time to beta test a local Startup Huddle chapter. At each Startup Huddle event, one or two early-stage founders give six-minute presentations about their company. A 20-minute question and answer session follows as the community provides ideas, connections and feedback for the entrepreneur.
Download the Activity Guide.
4. Startup Nations Policy Dialogue
Gather policymakers and entrepreneurship ecosystem leaders at all levels to discuss innovative policy approaches to empower entrepreneurs. This activity is used to share best practices and stimulate action around the world. Invite entrepreneurs to share tangible examples of barriers slowing the launch or growth of new companies, ask policymakers to share information about government-led interventions for entrepreneur feedback, and invite the entrepreneurship ecosystem to learn about new government policies.
Download the Activity Guide.
5. Startup Nations Policy Hack
This activity engages your entire entrepreneurship ecosystem. Participants are placed onto teams to jointly refine, test, and develop – or “hack”– policy solutions to entrepreneurship barriers. Over a half-day, participants devise policy recommendations and advance them as well-thought-out, viable solutions ready for implementation.
Download the Activity Guide.
If you host one of these Signature Activities, please be sure to add it to the GEW website -- and don't forget to use the hashtags #GEW2021 and #SignatureActivity when you are sharing on social media.
Ideas Bank
Need more event inspiration? We have collected more than 100 ideas from GEW organizers around the world. From pitch competitions to networking events to hack-a-thons, there is something here for everyone. Take a look at our Ideas Bank for an overview of these activities and examples.