Global Entrepreneurship Week 2015 Tops 160 Country Mark, Kauffman Foundation Announces

Celebration from November 16-22 will feature themes on investors, youth and cities

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) October 21, 2015

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation announces that the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) will be its largest celebration of entrepreneurship yet, with events in 160 countries. From November 16-22, roughly 10 million people will take part in the eighth annual celebration, recognizing and supporting entrepreneurs from around the world.

This year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week features several themes meant to provide innovators the tools, resources and advice to launch new businesses. Throughout the week, GEW partners around the world will help entrepreneurs of all levels start and scale new ventures through events, activities and competitions that introduce participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors. While the activities will vary greatly in size and scope, many will touch on trends in the following areas:

• Investors: On Nov. 17, GEW will highlight the role that early-stage investors play in developing robust entrepreneurial ecosystems through partner events that enhance the connections between business angels, venture capitalists and individual investors with entrepreneurs and policymakers.
• Youth: On Nov. 19, GEW will spotlight partner activities, such as the DECA Idea Challenge, to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and help them acquire and sharpen the skills needed to launch and grow a startup. .
• Cities: On Nov. 20, GEW will explore the efforts by policymakers around the world to support the development of local entrepreneurs, ensuring they have access to the resources necessary to help them launch startups. The first-ever Startup Nations Awards will recognize local and national policymakers alike, as well as ground-breaking intellectual work in the field.

"As more and more countries turn to their entrepreneurs to drive innovation and economic growth, they need to focus on developing their local and national startup ecosystems,” said Jonathan Ortmans, president of Global Entrepreneurship Week. “GEW provides a jolt of energy that strengthens those connections and helps foster an entrepreneurial culture necessary for sustained growth.”

Featured events in 2015 include:

• Startup Open, a global competition to identify and recognize new and promising startups. It is open to any entrepreneur who has just started or is about to start a new venture.
• Startup Nations Summit: Startup-savvy policymakers and program leaders gather in Monterrey, Mexico to explore policy ideas and programs to help accelerate new and young firm formation.
• One in a Million: The Kauffman Foundation’s inaugural pitch competition, providing startup owners who have previously presented at a 1 Million Cups program around the country, the chance to pitch their ideas to seasoned entrepreneurs. Five finalists will compete in a live-streamed event on Nov. 18 for a grand prize of $10,000.

Launched in 2008 by the Kauffman Foundation, Global Entrepreneurship Week has quickly grown to include more than 25,000 events, activities and competitions. To learn more about all of the Global Entrepreneurship Week events and see a list of participating countries and supporting organizations, visit http://www.gew.co.

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About the Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that aims to foster economic independence by advancing educational achievement and entrepreneurial success. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo., and has approximately $2 billion in assets. For more information, visit http://www.kauffman.org.

About Global Entrepreneurship Week

During one week each November, thousands of events and competitions around the world inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors. Since it launched in 2008, Global Entrepreneurship Week has expanded to 160 countries—building and strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems around the world. Powered by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and sponsored by Dell, the initiative is supported by dozens of world leaders and a network of roughly 10,000 partner organizations. For more information, visit http://www.gew.co and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/10/prweb13034494.htm