Launch of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Algeria | 2011
GEN organized Algeria’s first Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign in 2011. Led by Fatiha Rachedi, the campaign was supported by the North African Partnership for Economic Opportunity (NAPEO), a U.S. government initiative. Thanks to the mobilization of GEW partners, which included the main actors of the ecosystem as well as significant government institutions such as the Ministry of Industry and Mines and the Ministry of Labour, GEW helped initiate the entrepreneurial movement in Algeria. In 2013, GEW in Algeria became a national movement when it reached 48 wilayas. The next year, the team organized the largest number of activities in the world.
Hundreds of activities are organized across Algeria each November, showcasing local entrepreneurs, offering practical training and workshops, and encouraging collaboration between entrepreneurs and the various players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. These events offer participants an opportunity to learn from experts in the field, share experiences and find potential partners. In addition, GEW in Algeria is a platform for forging links between entrepreneurs and potential investors. Pitch sessions enable entrepreneurs to present their businesses to a panel of investors and gain initial financing. GEW in Algeria has led to many entrepreneurial successes.
Launch of GEN Algeria | 2016
At the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in 2014, the visionary idea of establishing official GEN affiliates took shape, aiming to extend the spirit of GEW beyond a single week, making it a year-round platform for innovation and entrepreneurship. Building from Algeria’s community of founders developed through GEW, Ms. Rachedi and a team of entrepreneurs and researchers officially launched GEN Algeria in 2016 with a mission to:
- Raise entrepreneurial spirit through events that highlight entrepreneurs
- Provide training, advice and support services to young business founders and people with disabilities
- Train and support women as they start and scale businesses
- Development new startup training and support tools, and
- Convene stakeholders and suggest ways the government can improve the business environment.
GEN Algeria works throughout the year to promote entrepreneurship in Algeria. It collaborates with local and international partners to provide resources and support programs for entrepreneurs and startups. GEN Algeria also organizes regular events, such as meet ups with successful entrepreneurs and networking sessions, to encourage the exchange of experience and knowledge. In all, GEN Algeria’s programs have reached more than 622,000 beneficiaries, including 6,700 young people and students who have benefited from specific entrepreneurship training.
GEN Algeria’s Women Entrepreneurship Program (WEP) plays a key role in promoting entrepreneurship in Algeria, training and supporting women entrepreneurs and providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to create and develop their own businesses. The organization contributes to the country's economic development by encouraging innovation, job creation and business growth.
Through the Entrepreneurship Leadership and Innovation Program (ELIP), GEN Algeria supported over 500 innovative ideas, contributed to the maturation of 250 startups and helped create 20 promising startups. It led to five new patents and received over 500 media mentions. For the project, GEN Algeria mobilized 1,500 volunteers, experts, trainers, coaches and mentors, who devoted their time and energy to helping young entrepreneurs realize their goals.
GEN’s leadership team in Algeria has received awards at every Global Entrepreneurship Congress since 2014. This recognition is a testament to the considerable impact that GEN has had on the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Algeria.
Partnership with the Ministry of Startups | 2021
Following an official visit by GEN founder, Jonathan Ortmans, Algeria’s Ministry of Knowlege Economy, Startups and SMEs stepped in to serve as the main GEW partner beginning in 2021. Through its accelerator, Algeria Venture, the Ministry has played a pivotal role in organizing the last three GEWs, facilitating a diverse array of events nationwide. This collaboration has elevated the scope of GEW and expanded its impact by raising awareness of significant initiatives such as the Entrepreneurship World Cup and Startup Huddle in Oran. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to fostering an innovative and dynamic entrepreneurial environment across Algeria. In 2023, GEW Algeria brought together more than 257 partners and offered more than 3,700 activities in over 58 Algerian provinces.