During Global Entrepreneurship Week 2022, startup communities in 30 cities across more than 20 countries came together to support founders and build networks through Startup Huddle programming.
Since launching in 2018, the GEN program has directly supported thousands of entrepreneurs and forged local and global connections for community members. In 2022 alone, ecosystem builders launched 25 new chapters as catalysts for resilient economies in which entrepreneurs are key players. Today, the community has 65 chapters run by local ecosystem and startup community builders.
Of the 30 cities that hosted Startup Huddle during Global Entrepreneurship Week, eight cities opened their doors to the community for the first time. Many other of this year’s organizers celebrated their third or fourth year of Startup Huddle events.
Cities that tested the Startup Huddle model during GEW included:
- Tarragona, Spain
- Vancouver, Canada
- Chittagong, Bangladesh
- Buxton, Guyana
- Gaborone, Botswana
Startup Huddle Highlights
In Mandurah, Australia organizer Veronica Smith celebrated their fourth year hosting Startup Huddle in Mandurah. Veronica is a key player in Australia’s rapidly growing startup community and will be presenting her journey building the community at the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in Melbourne, Australia.
In Atteridgeville, South Africa, local organizer Pretty Ndlovu has leveraged the GEN brand to build awareness for startups focused on the circular and green Economy in Atteridgeville. “We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for Startup Huddle” she said. “GEW opened the door to national and global stakeholders to contribute to this growing industry. The people in the community already knew how to live sustainably out of necessity, whether they be rural or urban. Now it’s a matter of using what we know as a community to innovate and activate the startup community.”
Europe, Northern Africa and the Caribbean were some of the most active regions hosting Startup Huddle programming during GEW.
In Nigeria, Startup Huddle Lagos hosted their yearly reception for founders who presented in 2022. Lilian Iwelu, the organizer running Startup Huddle in Abuja, Nigeria celebrated their first year after launching the chapter during GEW 2021. Abuja is an important startup community to understand because the city is located in the central region of the country, and is the administrative center of Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory (FCT) - making it one of the most populous, proximate, and entrepreneurial of any in the country. It is deemed by some to be the most ethnically neutral city as well to the largest majority of ethnic parties. Iwelu launched Startup Huddle with the partnership support of a local economic development group called Abuja Enterprise Agency in 2021 and since has integrated the program into the overall program offerings for the founders and business owners they support locally. In 2021 alone, Startup Huddle Abuja had 559 community members participate in programming while supporting 16 founders on their journey to scale businesses both regionally and globally.
Startup Huddle Abuja during GEW 2022
Startup Huddle Serekunda launch event
The Startup Huddle Serekunda chapter opened their doors during GEW in The Hub LTD lobby with the founder of Chopser, Omar Baldeh, at the helm as their first presenter. The event was attended by entrepreneurs in the agri-businesss, fashion, technology, health and logistics sectors along with members of the local business community. Like the team in Abuja, Beran Dondeh is looking forward to celebrating an anniversary during GEW 2023.
A Startup Huddle session in Kathmandu, where women founders regularly take the stage.
In Manta, Ecuador, local organizer Violeta Moren hosted a session focused on immigrant entrepreneurship.
A Startup Huddle session in Manta, Ecuador
In the UK, there are 4 active chapters running regular sessions throughout the country. During GEW, some local Startup Huddle organizers connected with other GEN UK members for the first time.
Participants at Startup Huddle Oxford, in the UK
With the support of USAID and other local support organizers, Startup Huddle Tegucigalpa celebrated their first GEW under the leadership of Josue Reyes.
A Startup Huddle event in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Startup Huddle chapters that participated in GEW 2022 included:
- Abuja, Nigeria
- Atteridgeville, South Africa
- Barbados, Barbados
- Barcelona, Spain
- Buxton, Guyana
- Bogota, Colombia
- Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands
- Chittagong, Bangladesh
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Kiven, Guyana,
- Harare, Zimbabwe
- Lahore, Pakistan
- La Paz, Bolivia
- Manama, Bahrain
- Mandurah, Australia
- Manta, Ecuador,
- Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Oxford, United Kingdom
- Paramaribo, Suriname
- San Salvador, El Salvador
- Tarragona, Spain
- Tegucigalpa, Honduras
- Vancouver, Canada
- Willemstad, Curacao
- Winchester, United Kingdom
To learn more about Startup Huddle, visit www.startuphuddle.co.