Together We Build: Highlights from Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025

Now in its 18th year, Global Entrepreneurship Week is much more than a celebration. It is a movement actively expanding who participates in entrepreneurship and who benefits from it. During Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025, founders, policymakers, investors, and ecosystem builders opened doors, exchanged ideas, and sparked new collaborations at more than 40,000 events reaching millions across borders and backgrounds.

As events wrap up, stories are still pouring in from around the world. From mentorship hikes in the mountains of Kosovo to events underway at the first-ever Global Entrepreneurship Week in Syria, there are many stories to come. In the meantime, we invite you to explore some of the top headlines so far.

As we highlight these stories, events, and campaigns, we thank our community for the vital role you play in making Global Entrepreneurship Week possible.

DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5

DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS

Global Entrepreneurship Week Invites Millions to Explore the Collective Power of Community, Collaboration, and Shared Ambition

American investor, philanthropist and founder Mark Cuban is among the millions of people and thousands of organizations that have joined forces this week. Watch his message for aspiring entrepreneurs, and learn about the countries to watch this week.

Explore the Global Highlights

What do Denmark, El Salvador, Nigeria, Israel, South Africa, the UK, and the USA all have in common? They are home to some of the biggest moments of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Explore these featured events and activities.

Photo credit: Startup 20

FedEx Supports Global Entrepeneurship Week

For the fourth year, FedEx joins the campaign to highlight founders making a difference and initiatives available to support them around the world. Explore resources like the FedEx Entrepreneur Fund, E-Commerce Learning Lab, E-Commerce Webinars, and Small Business Center.

Learn More

Global Entrepreneurship Week Kicks Off in Denmark with EU SME Assembly and Scale-Up Europe

Hosted by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the EU SME Assembly gathered 600 delegates under the theme "Successful SMEs. Competitive Europe". A high-level conference hosted by GEW Denmark followed, exploring how Europe can better support its scale-ups through smarter innovation, improved access to capital, and stronger cross-border collaboration.

Learn More

More News:

In Bangladesh, the Market of Tradition will welcome more than 50,000 entrepreneurs, startup founders, creators, and youth from 64 districts | Read More
In the United States, the GEN Policy team spotlights a new GEN Atlas entry on INNOVIT, an Italian government innovation hub in San Francisco, as part of a Global Entrepreneurship Week series | Read More
In Niger, Global Entrepreneurship Week opens at the Niamey Congress Palace | Read More
In Paraguay, Global Entrepreneurship Week will focus on AI, youth leadership, sustainable innovation, and access to finance | Learn More
In Pakistan, Global Entrepreneurship Week includes a three-day summit for students, early-stage entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators | Learn More

DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Startup20 Summit Launches Global Entrepeneurship Week in South Africa

GEN's 22 on Sloane, named earlier this year as the Secretariat of the Startup20 Engagement Group under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, kicked off GEW 2025 while hosting the Startup20 Summit. The summit pushed for further integration of startups and entrepreneurs in global economic policy to drive sustainable growth.

Photo credit: Startup20

Market Opening Ceremony at London Stock Exchange Signals Opening Day in the UK

Global Entrepreneurship Week opened with the markets yesterday at the London Stock Exchange. The ceremony came after a group of influential UK entrepreneurs published a joint letter that called on the government to invest in a more dynamic environment for entrepreneurs, setting out the conditions needed to unlock Britain’s full entrepreneurial potential.

Photo credit: GEW UK

15-Year-Old Harrison Nott Wins CoCreate Pitch Europe Grand Prize

On the eve of Global Entrepreneurship Week, 30 finalists shortlisted from thousands of European entrepreneurs pitched to a star-studded panel of judges at CoCreate Pitch in London with GEN and Alibaba.com. Nott's pitch earned him a $200,000 prize package to help further develop and scale his CoolTowel™ product.

Photo credit: Alibaba.com

Global Entrepreneurship Week Sudan: A Legacy of Hope That Sustains an Ecosystem in Crisis

As part of a Global Entrepreneurship Week series, GEN joins the Inter-American Development Bank and Latin American Group of Intelligent Ecosystems (GEIAL), to spotlight organizations whose work is transforming entrepreneurship in Latin American cities

Photo credit: GEIAL

More News:

In Bangladesh, Daffodil University launches Global Entrepreneurship Week | Read More
In Israel, Global Entrepreneurship Week launches at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange | Read More
In Japan, the GEN Policy team spotlights a new GEN Atlas entry on the X-HUB Tokyo Outbound Program, as part of a #GEW2025 series. | Read More
In the Netherlands, the Vital Voices Global Fellowship, supported by FedEx, brought together 25 women social entrepreneurs and 26 women public leaders | Read More
In Uganda, more than 50 Global Entrepreneurship Week partners are working to fuel 10x growth | Read More
In the United States, Shenandoah Valley celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week amidst a surge in entrepreneurial energy | Read More

DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS

Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Opens GEW2025: Founders and Ecosystem Leaders Offer Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Following an opening ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Digital Finance at the residence of Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka shared advice and insights that demonstrate the role that community, courage, and support play in building a company.

Photo credit: Global Entrepreneurship Week Sri Lanka

Startup Huddle Chapters Across 21 Cities Celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week

From Barranquilla, Colombia, to Halifax, Canada, to Dubai, UAE, to Karachi, Pakistan, Startup Huddle chapters around the world are marking Global Entrepreneurship Week with events that build local ecosystems, one entrepreneur at a time.

Photo credit: Startup Huddle Pretoria

ESOs Celebrated for Ecosystem Governance Breakthroughs from Latin America

Six entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs) across the region have been recognized by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Latin American Group of Intelligent Ecosystems for their commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation through work focused on coordination, governance, and strengthening the conditions for entrepreneurship to flourish.

Photo credit: GEIAL

Global Entrepreneurship Week Series Highlights International Soft-Landing Pad Programs

During Global Entrepreneurship Week, the GEN Policy team is spotlighting international soft-landing pad programs featured in the GEN Atlas, a tool for policymakers, advisors, and opinion leaders to learn about policy models, entrepreneurship strategies, and designs of public-sector support programs.

Global Entrepreneurship Week Series Highlights International Soft-Landing Pad Programs

More News:

In Algeria, Global Entrepreneurship Week organizers issue a national call to action | Read More
In Bangladesh, GEN Bangladesh awards innovators for solving real-world problems | Read More
In Cameroon, an 'entrepreneurship caravan' ignites a new generation of young entrepreneurs | Read More
In Denmark, Scale-Up Europe opens Global Entrepreneurship Week at Copenhagen City Hall | Read More
In Mexico, entrepreneurs hone business skills with the Ovante education program, supported by FedEx | Read More
In the United States, Global Entrepreneurship Week brings free events to boost innovation in Puerto Rico | Read More

DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS

Bangladesh Innovation Movement Ignited by Global Entrepreneurship Week

More than 80,000 women and youth have taken part in activities across the country's 64 districts, making GEW 2025 one of the country’s most dynamic celebrations of entrepreneurship. Highlights include the expansion of GEN Bangladesh’s flagship programs, a historic MoU with National University, and the annual Market of Tradition — expected to draw more than 50,000 entrepreneurs, youth creators, and innovators this Sunday.

Brazil and Ethiopia Top Global Entrepreneurship Week Events Leaderboard...For Now

With Global Entrepreneurship Week halfway over, events are still pouring into the official calendar. At the time of this newsletter, Brazil and Ethiopia report more than 5,700 events — a remarkable showing for these national campaigns. Jordan (1500+ events), Algeria (800+ events), and the United States (600+ events) round out the top five countries on the leaderboard.

Photo credit: Global Entrepreneurship Week Ethiopia

Learn More

Wells Fargo Supports Global Entrepreneurship Week

Wells Fargo joins the campaign for the first time to spotlight the collective power of community, collaboration, and shared ambition. Explore innovative initiatives such as the Equitable Access Program, practical resources for small business owners, along with informative blogs and tips for new entrepreneurs.

Learn More

Entrepreneurs and Ecosystem Leaders in Hamburg Share Advice for Aspiring Founders

As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Germany, student entrepreneurship organization START Hamburg called on its leadership and founder community to share advice and insights that demonstrate the role that community, courage, and support play in building a company.

UK Chancellor Welcomes 10th ScaleUp Report That Identifies Record 44,598 ScaleUps

A decade after its debut during Global Entrepreneurship Week, the UK’s flagship ScaleUp Annual Review returns for its 10th edition, revealing a record 44,595 scaleups — up from 26,985 in 2013 — and a further 20,980 scaling businesses powering growth in every nation and region of the country.

Learn More

FedEx Offers E-Commerce Learning Lab Webinars

GEN and FedEx invite busy entrepreneurs to participate in the free upcoming Master E-Commerce Webinar Series through the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab, a collaboration with Accion Opportunity Fund. Register for the December, January, and February sessions or check out the recordings of past webinars.

Expore FedEx Resources

Global Entrepreneurship Week Attracts International Media Coverage

Global Entrepreneurship Week has sparked stories of innovation, resilience, and impact in communities around the world. Explore how local and national media are covering the campaign and the entrepreneurs inspiring change.

Photo credit: Global Entrepreneurship Week Ethiopia

Global Policymakers Rally Behind Global Entrepreneurship Week During GEW 2025

Policymakers are aligning efforts to translate entrepreneurial potential into tangible economic development. Their messages during Global Entrepreneurship Week underscore that the spirit of entrepreneurship is not only vital for economic resilience but also a crucial driver for inclusive growth and social cohesion worldwide.

Photo credit: Ministry of SMEs and Startups, South Korea

Global AI Accelerator from GEN and PayPal Equips Founders With New Skills at Startup20 Summit

GEN and PayPal hosted a Global AI Impact Accelerator as one of the practical learning components of the Startup20 (SU20) Summit during Global Entrepreneurship Week. SU20 is an official G20 engagement group run by GEN's 22 on Sloane campus. Additional dates for the program will soon be announced for the UK and Germany.

Youth Business International Launches Breakthrough Policy Paper

As the world celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week, Youth Business International (YBI) launched a major new policy paper calling for urgent global action to ensure that artificial intelligence serves all young entrepreneurs—especially those in underserved communities—by providing inclusive access, skills development, and supportive ecosystems to unlock AI’s full potential for entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Young Ecuadorian Entrepreneurs Receive FedEx Global Possibilities Award

During Global Entrepreneurship Week, top JA student companies from across the Americas gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the 2025 JA Americas Company of the Year Competition. Seven companies were recognized for their achievements, including Ecuador-based Lula Pak JA, which received the FedEx Global Possibilities Award for its reusable ecological bags made from durable, waterproof fabric.

Read International Media Coverage

Photo credit: Global Entrepreneurship Week Ethiopia

GEN's Startup State newsletter surpasses its 100th issue – read it for the latest briefing from our Policy team | Read More
In Algeria, Global Entrepreneurship Week launched under the high patronage of the Prime Minister | Read More
In Ethiopia, panelists look a the government's role in building a vibrant public sector | Read More
In Germany, Global Entrepreneurship Week and Female Entrepreneurship Week coincide at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences | Read More
In Latvia, more than 300 companies participate in Entrepreneur Experience Days | Read More
In Niger, Global Entrepreneurship Week launches from Niamey | Read More
In the United States, Toast awards $150,000 to restaurant changemakers | Read More
In Zambia, Global Entrepreneurship Week launched in partnership with the Ministry of Technology + Science | Read More

Together We Build: Highlights from Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025