Global Entrepreneurship Network Names 2015 GEW Awards Finalists

The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) today announced the finalists for its annual GEW Awards, recognizing organizations around the world for their contributions toward promoting an entrepreneurial culture. The winners will be named at the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Milan, Italy, on March 18, 2015.

Since their inception in 2009, the GEW Awards have recognized the efforts of host organizations running Global Entrepreneurship Week campaigns with the greatest impact each November. Host organizations are responsible for carrying out their national campaigns and coordinating the efforts of 11,101 partners that conduct activities in celebration of GEW.

During November 2014, 8.3 million people participated in 28,363 events and competitions in 149 countries as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The award finalists are listed in alphabetical order by country below.

Country of the Year: 

The Country of the Year Award recognizes the host that runs the best overall Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign.

• PNB-NAPEO (Algeria)
• Entrepreneurship Foundation for Graduates (China)
• Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany)
• Global Entrepreneurship Week Poland (Poland)
• Center for Entrepreneurship (Russia)

Compass Award:

The Compass Award recognizes the host that best exemplifies and advances the Global Entrepreneurship Week brand throughout the year.

• PNB-NAPEO (Algeria)
• Futurpreneur Canada (Canada)
• Entrepreneurship Foundation for Graduates (China)
• Fundacion Emprender (Ecuador)
• Impulsa and Endeavor Mexico (Mexico)

Hosts’ Choice Award:

The Host of the Year Award recognizes the most inspirational Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign as voted by fellow hosts.

• Ngwana Enterprises (Botswana)
• Middle East Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Egypt)
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Center (Georgia)
• Hellenic Associations of Young Entrepreneurs and Industry Disruptors – Game Changers (Greece)
• IEEE Sudan Entrepreneurship Center (Sudan)
• ELIF Business Solution Ltd. (Zambia)

Rookie of the Year Award:

The Rookie of the Year Award recognizes the host that ran the best new campaign. This can be in a new country that has never before had a Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign or a new host organization that elevated a previously existing national campaign.

• ENYA (Australia)
• Tenmou (Bahrain)
• Ngwana Enterprises (Botswana)
• Samriddhi, The Prosperity Foundation (Nepal)
• MoneyTree Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (Singapore)
• American Chamber of Commerce (Tajikistan)

Research + Policy Award:

The Research + Policy Award recognizes the host that best engaged policymakers and increased awareness of the need for better data and quality research in the field of entrepreneurship.

• Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany)
• Ciputra Foundation (Indonesia)
• Korea Entrepreneurship Association (Korea)
• Alternate Solutions (Pakistan)
• Fundación Paraguaya (Paraguay)
• Shaqadoon (Somalia)

Buzz Builder Award:

The Buzz Builder Award recognizes the host that best embraced new and traditional media to grow their Global Entrepreneurship Week campaign.

• Futurpreneur Canada (Canada)
• Think Ireland Inc. (Ireland)
• Innovation Centre Kosovo (Kosovo)
• Stichtung Global Entrepreneurship Week (Netherlands)
• Youth Business International (United Kingdom)

Champion Catalyzer Award – Events:

The Champion Catalyzer Award for Events is given to the host whose country reported the most Global Entrepreneurship Week events.

• PNB-NAPEO (Algeria)
• Endeavor Brazil (Brazil)
• Global Entrepreneurship Week Poland (Poland)
• Youth Business International (United Kingdom)
• GEW/USA (United States)

Champion Catalyzer Award – Partners:

The Champion Catalyzer Award for Partners is given to the host that built the largest network of partners in support of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

• PNB-NAPEO (Algeria)
• Endeavor Brazil (Brazil)
• Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany)
• Global Entrepreneurship Week Poland (Poland)
• GEW/USA (United States)

Champion Catalyzer Award – Most Events per Capita:

The Champion Catalyzer Award for Most Events per Capita is given to the host whose country reported the most Global Entrepreneurship Week events per capita.

• Barbados Youth Business Trust (Barbados)
• Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (Bermuda)
• The Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cape Verde (Cape Verde)
• Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (St. Kitts & Nevis)
• Youth Business St. Vincent and the Grenadines (St. Vincent & the Grenadines)

Champion Catalyzer Award – Most Partners per Capita:

The Champion Catalyzer Award for Partners per Capita is given to the host who built the largest network of partners (per capita) in support of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

• Barbados Youth Business Trust (Barbados)
• Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (Bermuda)
• Global Entrepreneurship Week Poland (Poland)
• St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (St. Lucia)
• Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (St. Kitts & Nevis)

About Global Entrepreneurship Network

The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN)  operates a platform of projects and programs in 170 countries aimed at making it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business. By fostering deeper cross border collaboration through initiatives engaging entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurial support organizations, GEN works to fuel healthier start and scale ecosystems that create jobs, educate individuals, accelerate innovation and strengthen economic growth. For details on the programs and initiatives that make up GEN, visit genglobal.org and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.