With less than 100 Days to Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2018, the Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University is working with campus and community partners to celebrate the 11th Global Entrepreneurship Week, and the four themes announced today for this year’s GEW 2018 celebration, recognizing women, youth and inclusion in entrepreneurship, as well as connecting ecosystems around the world.
GEW story below by Jessica Wray Bradner for the Global Entrepreneurship Network https://genglobal.org/global-entrepreneurship-week/gen-announces-gew-2018-themes
During Global Entrepreneurship Week, which will be held November 12-18, hosts and organizers across 170 countries will mobilize their partners and communities to join the celebration. Each year, nearly 10 million people participate in 39,000 simultaneous events over the course of the week.
GEW headquarters in Washington, D.C. will use the four themes to highlight powerful voices, ambassadors and GEN partner organizations around the world that promote, encourage and support the development of entrepreneurs within each of the four spaces.
GEW WOMEN
As communities and countries increasingly encourage entrepreneurs who create jobs, women can be a catalyst for large-scale economic growth – not just in countries where the basic rights of women are a struggle, but in developed economies as well. Studies have shown that women have lower levels of involvement in high-growth entrepreneurship than men, and research suggests that accelerating the rates of female entrepreneurship could have the same positive effect that the entry of women into the labor force had during the 20th century.
GEW Women celebrates female entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, investors and other startup champions, while offering opportunities to expand their networks, identify resources and share knowledge with other women around the world.
GEW YOUTH
As stronger entrepreneurship ecosystems emerge, young graduates unable to secure a job have more opportunities to leverage their economic freedom and create a job. As they choose to start and scale new businesses, they not only change their lives but also contribute to their communities and countries through job creation and economic renewal.
GEW Youth celebrates and shapes the next generation of innovators through activities and competitions to help them sharpen their skills and connect them to potential co-founders, mentors and even investors. This theme also celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship education and the teaching of innovative skills.
GEW INCLUSION
Entrepreneurship is a positive force that drives innovation, creates wealth and improves lives in communities, cities and countries alike. But not everyone has the same opportunity. Race, age, gender, or where one lives should not be an obstacle to entrepreneurship. Anyone, anywhere should be able to realize their dream and start a business quickly, inexpensively, and without barriers.
GEW Inclusion will highlight the work startup champions are doing around the world to minimize barriers and obstacles for entrepreneurs by maximizing inclusion. Activities, workshops and speaker series held around the world will explore the obstacles entrepreneurs from underserved populations may face, and discovering solutions through access to success stories, training, capital and mentorship.
GEW ECOSYSTEM CONNECT
The Global Entrepreneurship Network and other entrepreneurship support organizations around the world are looking beyond Silicon Valley to facilitate collaboration and partnership between startup ecosystems in promising mid-tier cities. Sharing knowledge and connecting local ecosystem leaders has become increasingly important in building healthy and thriving entrepreneurial communities.
GEW Ecosystem Connect aims to inspire communities to collaborate, and share their networks and markets to help their rising startups thrive. This theme celebrates the shared challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship communities and hubs around the world.
Follow the conversations online by using the official Global Entrepreneurship Week hashtag — #GEW2018 – as well as by using the individual theme tags: #GEWwomen, #GEWyouth, #GEWinclusion and #EcosystemConnect.
About the writer, Jessica Wray Bradner: a former multimedia journalist with a background in print and online media now creating content for the Global Entrepreneurship Network.