During last year’s GERN Annual Meeting at the GEC in Johannesburg, some members advanced a radical idea: What if GERN were to focus at least as much attention on data and analytics for entrepreneurs as we have on data and analytics about entrepreneurs?
In the months since our meeting we have discussed this idea with a number of GERN members—considering how crowdsourcing, the Internet of Things, Blockchain, and other emerging technologies might create new opportunities for gathering and sharing data that would be immediately useful to entrepreneurs working in the most challenging but high-potential places around the world. These are a few of the resources that have guided our discussions:
For our February 2018 GERN Field Report, we are delighted to announce that we will have the opportunity to discuss the topic with Emeka Okafor, curator of TED Global and Maker Faire Africa. Emeka has tracked technology trends and entrepreneurship on the African continent throughout his career. Following Emeka, we are equally pleased to be joined by our GEN Nigeria Team, Olawale Anifowose and Wale Ajiboye. They will offer their perspective on how GEN in-country teams can take the lead in creating new data resources for entrepreneurs.
About the GERN Field reports
Each month, GERN organizes a conference call among its members, observers, and guests on important, underexplored areas of entrepreneurship. Moderated by Phil Auerswald, Chair and Academic Lead at GERN, the one-hour "Field Reports" feature presentations and discussion by leaders from entrepreneurship support organizations including, academic institutions, foundations, research institutes, NGOs and corporations. For a list of past and upcoming Field Reports going back to September 2015, with links to relevant materials, such as papers and PowerPoint presentations, please visit genglobal.org/gern/gern-field-reports.