This is the fourth year for an event that celebrates entrepreneurship around the world and for the first time it also will be recognized in Kalamazoo.
Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators, those who launch startups and drive economic growth. This year it takes place from Nov.12 -18 in 123 different countries. In 2011, more than 7.5 million people participated in 33,000 activities around the world.
In Kalamazoo, the week will include five events, one hosted each day from Nov. 12 to Nov. 16:
• Mentor Mixer - Opportunity for entrepreneurs to engage with mentors in the community. Nov. 12 at The Bureau Co-working Space, 321 S Kalamazoo Mall.
• Startup Tour - Walking tour through downtown Kalamazoo of new companies. Nov, 13 at The Bureau Co-working Space, 321 S. Kalamazoo Mall.
• Founders Breakfast - Opportunity for entrepreneurs and community leaders to discuss the Kalamazoo startup community. Nov. 14 at a venue to be determined.
• Pitch Practice - Five companies will have the opportunity to practice their pitches and receive feedback from successful entrepreneurs and investors. Nov. 15 at a venue to be determined.
• Entrepreneurship Awards - Awards in five categories will be given out for local startups. Nov. 16 at a venue to be determined.
"While the Startup Zoo is generally focused on technology companies, we’re really excited to bring together entrepreneurs from all industries for this special week of networking and mentoring," says Ryan Goins, co-founder of the Startup Zoo, which is dedicated to building and supporting a community of technology entrepreneurs in Kalamazoo. "Kalamazoo is a city built around entrepreneurship, and when the community is able to connect -- especially across industries, amazing things happen."
Goins says Startup Zoo has gotten good support from MI-SBTDC, the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center and many local companies and entrepreneurs, "so reaching out to their respective networks was a natural step in uniting the entrepreneurial community this week."
To get involved in GEW Kalamazoo and register for events, please visit the Startup Zoo
website or follow Startup Zoo on Twitter (@startupzoo) and on
Facebook.
Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Ryan Goins, Startup Zoo
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.