MSU Extension 4-H Youth Entrepreneurship

How will your organization celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 12-18, 2018? What is Global Entrepreneurship Week? This short YouTube video explains it quite well. Since 2007, Global Entrepreneurship Week activities have taken place in 167 countries and all 50 states in the United States. More than 2,500 partner organizations in the United States held events last year with more than 818,000 participants nationally. This year, primary and secondary schools, universities, non-profits, government entities and businesses can all easily become partners during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Here are just a few ideas partner organizations can implement to help connect, share and build a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem through inspiration and innovation during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Contests and competitions. Compensation is not a necessity of creating an entrepreneurial contest or competition, although it is desirable. The opportunity to be creative, challenged and recognized is often the only prizes needed to inspire innovation. Contests and competitions can come in many formats, sizes and places. From the traditional business plan and idea pitch contests to theme-based contests, such as Create a Game Day, Solve a Social Issue or Making Money with Music, contests and competitions encourage participants to think outside the box to generate new products, services and solutions.

Meet the entrepreneurs. Provide opportunities for future entrepreneurs to interact with existing entrepreneurs and local business leaders. This can be done by organizing a 4-H alumni entrepreneur luncheon, a speed networking event, a panel discussion a field trip to the place of business or even have the business owner make a classroom visit. Existing entrepreneurs can provide real life applications, share how they got started, their lessons learned, what resources and connections they recommend and offer their insights into what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur.

Business gatherings. Organize a local business expo, entrepreneurship career day, innovation fair, inventor’s showcase or artisan market. These events can provide opportunities for young entrepreneurs to display their products and services to the people in attendance. These will not only give new entrepreneurs opportunities to sell their work but also provide networking opportunities and instill a sense of community.

Workshops and seminars. Host or offer an educational seminar to help pre-start up, start up or growth businesses learn business skills. Topics can address newer trends such as “greening” your business and crowdfunding to entrepreneurial basics like developing a business plan. Workshops can be taught by local experts in the community; consider contacting successful entrepreneurs, financial institutions, business resource service providers, colleges and universities. In Michigan, you can easily find a local expert on entrepreneurship through Michigan State University Extension.

Startup crawl. Collaborate with local startups and co-working spaces to organize a startup crawl. Set up tour times for participants to learn about local startups and businesses in the community, as well as learn about the different accelerator, incubator or co-working spaces in the area—and what resources they have to offer “budding businesses.” 

This idea and many more are listed on the Global Entrepreneurship Week Event Ideas page.

Mark your calendars, sponsor or organize an event! Register or find an upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Week event. Together, we can spread the entrepreneurial spirit across our nation and the globe. But remember, celebrating and connecting entrepreneurs can occur anytime.