As part of Startup Nations' vision to encourage a community of startup-savvy policy leaders, the 2016 Startup Nations Awards celebrate the accomplishments of startup champions from around the world -- those leaders who have applied their knowledge of startup and scale-ups to shape innovative public sector-driven programs and policies.
The three awards, Groundbreaking Policy Thinking, Local Policy Leadership, and National Policy Leadership, recognize the astounding work and progress individuals have made to ignite and support their entrepreneurial ecosystems, and solve challenges to make it easier for new firms to start and grow.
The winners will be announced at the Startup Nations Summit Gala on Saturday, Nov. 19, in Cork, Ireland.
Learn more about the five finalists for the Startup Nations Award for Groundbreaking Policy Thinking:
- Ms. Efka Heder
Croatia
Director, South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning - Dr. Hugo Kantis
Argentina
Director, Entrepreneurship Development Program - Mr. Caleb Carr
New Zealand
President, Students for Intellectual Property Rights - Dr. Zoltan Acs
United States
Founder, Global Entrepreneurship Development Institute - Mr. Yung-ku Ha
South Korea
Chairman, Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs
Learn more about the four finalists for the Startup Nations Award for Local Policy Leadership:
- María José Vengoechea
Colombia
Executive President, Barranquilla Chamber of Commerce - Tri Rismaharini
Indonesia
Mayor of Surabaya - Heather Stafford
United States
Assistant Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Business Oregon - Petros Kokkalis
Greece
Municipal Councilor, City of Piraeus
Learn more about the seven finalists for the Startup Nations Award for National Policy Leadership:
- Dr. Harald Mahrer
Austria
State Secretary for Science, Research and Economy - João Pedro Vasconcelos
Portugal
Secretary of State of Industry - Adan Mohamed
Kenya
Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives - Bagrat Yengibaryan
Armenia
Director, Enterprise Incubator Foundation - Pichet Durongkaveroj
Thailand
Minister of Science and Technology - Ileana A. Rogel
El Salvador
Executive Director, National Commission for Micro and Small Enterprises at the Ministry of Economy - Nguyen Quan
Vietnam
Former Minister of Science and Technology