Johannesburg, South Africa, 17 November 2025 - Global Entrepreneurship Week officially launched in South Africa at the Startup20 Summit and Awards hosted at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg. GEN Campus 22 on Sloane acted as the Secretariat of the Startup20 Engagement Group under South Africa’s G20 Presidency.
Hosted under the theme “Championing Resilience, Innovation, and Sustainable Growth,” the gathering brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers from across the globe to chart the future of inclusive startup policy and celebrate enterprises driving sustainable growth. The awards are a culmination of the last seven months of celebrating enterprises that embody resilience, innovation, and sustainability, driving transformation in South Africa and across the G20 economies.
"The integrated approach of our G20 work groups has enabled us to shape global entrepreneurship policies that benefit all," said Vuyani Jarana, Chairperson of Startup20 South Africa. Through Startup20, we are fostering a space for entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow together. As a testament to our commitment to ensuring that startups and MSMEs contribute meaningfully to policy, we have registered Startup20 NPC and Startup20 International—both designed to ensure startups can collaborate effectively and that future SU20 chairs do not need to reinvent the wheel.
Minister Stella Ndabeni, Minister of Small Business Development, added:
"Today is not the end of the journey, it is the beginning. We take pride that the G20 is taking place on African soil. Let’s coordinate the work that is done by the startups, like those that came before us. Our predecessors challenged the status quo; they understood the importance of unity and purpose.
"The next revolution can never be led by politicians alone; it requires an ecosystem to shape policymakers and entrepreneurs. When entrepreneurs can collaborate and challenge the status quo is when we stand by the principles of the constitution, fair trade, and levelling the playing field. The reforms that need to be made to enable entrepreneurs to have an environment where they trade fairly. We are recognizing potential that can change our ecosystem, building societies that are inclusive. A system building bridges between policy and innovators."
The Summit’s outcomes, including the Startup20 Communiqué, will inform the G20 Leaders’ Declaration, ensuring that the needs of startups and MSMEs remain central to global economic policy discussions.
Watch the Day 1 Livestream
Watch the Day 2 Livestream
To learn more about Global Entrepreneurship Week and to find an event near you, visit www.gew.co.