The Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu will officially launch the South Africa’s Global Entrepreneurship Week on the 12th of November 2018.
The Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is a celebration of innovators and job creators who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. These activities range from large-scale competitions and events to intimate network gatherings, which connect participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors – introducing them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities.
GEW is more than just an awareness campaign, it is a platform for connection and collaboration, engaging all players in the entrepreneurship spectrum and strengthening ecosystems around the world. The initiative is supported by dozens of world leaders and a network of more than 15,000 partner organizations. Over 20million people participate in GEW activities globally. GEN Africa encourages various ecosystem partners to host events in their communities and cities and seek partnerships from big and small businesses to support their activities.
The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) in partnership with GEN Africa and various other private and public sector partners, will launch the 2018 GEW activities on Monday 12th November 2018 at the 22 on Sloane start-up campus. The event aims to attract start-ups, accelerator support network and policymakers. A combined total of around 4000 – 5000 delegates are expected to attend the week-long celebration. The schedule for the week is as follows:
Monday 12 November – Launch and Policy day
Tuesday 13 November – Manufacturing and Agro-processing day
Wednesday 14 November – Tech day
Thursday 15 November – Youth and Social Entrepreneurship day
Friday 16 November – Funding day
Minister Zulu said that “In the first 11 years of celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week, we learned a great deal about the potential of entrepreneurs and the ability of our societies to work together and create great value. Through broad support from the government of South Africa and the rest of the African continent, as well as private sector leaders, we hope to shape a community of promising entrepreneurs and connect them to the resources they need to succeed”. The Minister will also participate in other GEW events in various cities and townships across the country.
The GEW South Africa will also see pitching sessions of over 300 tech start-ups, in which 100 will be selected for residency at the 22 on Sloane start-up campus in January 2019.
