Once again, Global Entrepreneurship Week delivered an impressively wide range of activities and events around the world. More than 33,000 activities inspired 7.3 million people in 123 countries to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors. Through Startup Weekend events and other activities targeted at the creation of new firms, GEW provided a boost for countless startups—helping some take their first steps while encouraging others to grow and take the next step. Business competitions offered a proving ground for many to test the viability of their ideas. Thousands of events and activities reached out to the next generation of entrepreneurs, inspiring students and young adults and forcing them to consider—for at least one week—the possibility and potential of a new path for their lives. As has been the case in years past, a handful of impactful and innovative activities headlined Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011. In simple terms, these activities and competitions can be split into two types—those focused on accelerating entrepreneurship among those already in the trenches, and those focused on reaching out and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs.
87.1% said GEW had a strong, positive impact on participants considering entrepreneurship as a good future path 79.4% said GEW had a strong, positive impact on participants acquiring the skills and confidence necessary to start their own ventures 77.7% said GEW improved public and media perception of entrepreneurship in their country 78.1% said GEW had a strong, positive impact on participants taking the next step toward starting a venture Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011 Impact Report