About GEN Costa Rica

The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) has been active in Costa Rica since 2011, when Asociación Yo Emprendedor became the country's official host organization for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW)—known locally as Semana Global del Emprendimiento. Founded to strengthen entrepreneurship in Costa Rica and across Central America, Yo Emprendedor launched the country's inaugural GEW from November 13–20, 2011, bringing together 28 partner organizations, 25 activities, and nearly 900 participants during its first edition.

Since then, GEW Costa Rica has evolved into one of Central America's most active entrepreneurship campaigns, typically convening between 50 and 80 workshops, conferences, competitions, networking events, and training sessions each November. The initiative brings together government agencies, universities, entrepreneur support organizations, corporations, investors, and nonprofit partners to promote innovation, business creation, and entrepreneurial education throughout the country.

Costa Rica's commitment to entrepreneurship has also been reflected at the national policy level. Since 2013, the Government of Costa Rica has repeatedly declared Global Entrepreneurship Week to be in the public interest, recognizing entrepreneurship as a national priority and encouraging broad public-private collaboration across the ecosystem.

GEN has helped connect Costa Rica's entrepreneurship institutions with a global community of policymakers and ecosystem builders. Public institutions—including the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), through its SME division DIGEPYME; the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA); the Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres (INAMU); and the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (PROCOMER)—have actively participated in Global Entrepreneurship Week and other GEN initiatives, helping align national entrepreneurship efforts with international best practices.

GEW has also brought together universities including the University of Costa Rica and Tecnológico de Costa Rica, and numerous entrepreneur support organizations and private-sector partners.

Elevating Costa Rican founders 

Since 2019, GEN has connected Costa Rican entrepreneurs with international investors, mentors, and markets through the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC), the world's largest startup competition. Coordinated nationally by Yo Emprendedor, Costa Rican founders compete alongside entrepreneurs from nearly 200 countries for global visibility, investment opportunities, and entrepreneurial support.

Costa Rican startups have consistently distinguished themselves on the global stage. Costa Rica Insect Company reached the EWC Top 100 in 2019, followed by Smatter in 2020 and Ainnova Tech in both 2021 and 2024. These companies have showcased Costa Rican innovation in sectors ranging from sustainable materials and biotechnology to artificial intelligence for healthcare, reinforcing the country's reputation for science- and technology-based entrepreneurship.