http://www.redcross.org/

More than 7 million take part in GEW2009

Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 was a huge success, with activities in all 50 states and 88 countries. Based on the survey sent out in December to all Partners, the U.S. numbers are:

▪ 1,121 Partners
▪ 2,325 Activities
▪ 163,000 Participants

Numbers are still coming in from around the world, but it’s clear that participants topped 7 million globally, with more than 32,000 activities taking place.

Stories are still being collected from the events. What is yours? If you or someone you know was inspired by the Week, or you have photos or thoughts to share about the experience, e-mail stories@unleashingideas.org. These stories will be used for promotional materials for GEW 2010. Here is a sample of what has been said so far:

“The Duke Start-Up Challenge has provided me with incredible access to feedback and
support from venture capital firms, established companies, and business professors. More
importantly, the dynamism of the Start-Up Challenge has inspired me to pursue
entrepreneurship and think big.”
-Samiron Ray, Duke student

“Makes me thrilled that other people are doing this crazy thing I’m doing–putting in long
hours, not getting a lot out of it yet, but hopefully someday …”
-Rebecca Rudaski, Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour participant

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Global Innovation Tournament awards 22 ideas to “Make Saving Money Fun”

The Global Innovation Tournament asked aspiring entrepreneurs to “Make Saving Money Fun” as part of GEW. Close to 1,000 entries came in from 31 countries, with judges watching each one after the Week.

Three hundred clips were selected for global judging, which was narrowed down to 100 semi-finalists and 39 finalists, before deciding on the 22 winners.

For each entry, the judges evaluated innovation and novelty of the idea; how fun it was; creativity of both the approach to the idea and the presentation itself; whether the team implemented the idea in some way and had impact; and how clear and compelling the presentation content was.

These winners received recognition on the tournament Website and a certificate of achievement from the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, who hosted the tournament.

Check out the 22 winning ideas–everything from a device that “captures” energy from walking and uses it to charge a cell phone, to the idea of using desire to convince others to save on electricity bills.

This is the first in a series of stories showing the impact of Official Activities and Featured Events during GEW2009. Stay tuned for more highlights over the next few months.

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GEW2009 was all-a-Twitter

Global Entrepreneurship Week was all over Twitter in November, with the #GEW hashtag used by country campaigns, Global Partners, individual participants, and, of course, the global Twitter account @unleashingideas.

Below are some of the highlights:

Mexico had an opening ceremony that included a panel on the challenge of undertaking to change the world:
@GEWMEXICO: GEW Mexico ha sido inaugurado, con el panel “El reto de emprender para cambiar al mundo” en el auditorio de NAFIN, Ciudad de Mexico.

In the United States, NYSE Euronext and mtvU held the second Mentroing Madness at the New York Stock Exchange with some great entreprneeurs like Blake Mycoskie of TOMS Shoes, Barry Sternlicht of Starwood Capital, Stephen Hanson of B.R. Guest Restaurants and the one and only Snoop Dogg, who gave advice to young entrepreneurs:
@unleashingideas: “Study at what you want to become and be the best at it … you have to put in what you want to come out” @snoopdoog

GEW Turkey even took over CNN for awhile:
@unleashingideas: #GEW is on CNN in Turkey. RIGHT NOW!! http://bit.ly/2JurAw

The startup of a few companies was tracked:
@trace360: Check out new salon 4662 S. Cole-Hair Peace…another new biz started during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

And of course excitement was shared for all the activities taking place across the world:
@unleashingideas: Just added some pictures from #GEW in Bolivia to our Flick account – Unleashingideas. My fav: http://bit.ly/4uAYHe. Too much joy!

@GEWCanada: We’re attempting a Guiness World Record at Toronoto City Hall for the World’s Largest Business Lesson – come join us!

@unleashingidase: Toddlers talking entrepreneurship? Oh yes. Barbados go the kids involved with #GEW http://bit.ly/j3EIN

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Alfa Demmellash rises the tide of GEW in Jersey City

Alfa Demmellash was already a celebrity of sorts before becoming involved with GEW 2009. Demellash co-founded Rising Tide Capital, a nonprofit organization based in Jersey City that assists struggling entrepreneurs and communities to build strong businesses that transform lives, strengthen families and create vibrant, sustainable neighborhoods. Her work there led to a nomination as one of the 2009 CNN Heroes this past summer, and an invitation from President Barack Obama to visit the White House. However, Global Entrepreneurship Week still provided Demmellash with a platform to advance her personal and professional goals.

Read more about how GEW helped Demmellash and her company grow.

Know of an outstanding GEW Partner or want to share your own story? E-mail Paige Ingram at pingram@unleashingideas.org.

Join us for the Sesi Midwest Entrepreneurship Conference, presented by the Eastern Michigan University College of Business on February 12, 2010 from 8:30 am – 2:00 pm at the EMU Student Center. The Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO) is a EMU chapter of the national CEO with the mission of aiding students of all majors in learning the aspects of starting their own business and will be hosting the event (formerly known as the CEO Conference.)

More information: http://www.cob.emich.edu/include/templatesubpage.cfm?ID=1018&preview=0

Free Registration: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producerevent/94572

It’s baaaaaack! Yes, the Ford Lake Frozen Leap is back and this year we’re really excited about raising more money for AHA. Last year we raised a little over $4,000 and with your help, we’re shooting for $8,000 this year. When: Saturday, Feb. 13 from 11-3pm. 11-12pm: Registration (Sign in, hand in money raised) 12-2pm

http://www.frozenleap.com/

Who?
• Entrepreneurs of all ages
• Business mentors and presenters with startup expertise

What?
The Incuba8 Business Setup Conference will be comprised of seminars to help walk new startups through the legal setup and basic financial statements. Attendees will be provided with free resources and outlines, and advice. Takeaways for Incuba8’s Business Setup Conference are:

• Setting up your organizational structure
• Process for filing
• How to License
• Setting up your accounting
• Legally protecting yourself and your concept
• Wordmarks, Trademarks, Logos, Patents

^{January 22, 2010}

^{9:00 – 9:45 – Introduction and Group Formation}

^{10:00 – 11:00 – Which Organizational Structure is Best for your Startup? Defining options and mapping step-by-step how to create your legal structure.}

^{11:00 – 11:20 – Groups}

^{11:30 – 12:30 – Setting Up Your Operating Agreement and Maintaining your Organization}

^{12:30 – 12:50 – Groups}

^{1:00 – 2:00 – Lunch Break}

^{2:10 – 3:10 – Finding and Using the Best Intellectual Capital Strategy to Protect Your Idea}

^{3:10 – 3:30 – Groups}

^{3:40 – 4:40 – Accounting & Tax Setup Optimization}

^{4:40 – 5:00 – Groups}

^{January 23, 2010}

^{9:00 – 10:00 – Breakout Session 1}

• ^{Navigating Trademarks}
• ^{Hiring Your First Employees}

^{10:00 – 10:20 – Groups}

^{10:30 – 11:30 – Breakout Session 2}

• ^{Navigating Patents}
• ^{Creative Funding Ideas}

^{11:30 – 11:50 – Groups}

^{12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch Break}

^{1:10 – 2:10 – Breakout Session 3}

• ^{Licensing Your Technology OR Contracts}
• ^{Create Your Website Using Wordpress}

^{2:10 – 2:30 – Groups}

^{2:40 – 3:40 – Breakout Session 4}

• ^{Creative Commons}
• ^{Leveraging Your Resources}

^{3:40 – 4:00 – Groups}

^{4:00 – 4:30 – Closing and Wrap-Up}

http://incuba8.com/jan-22-23-incuba8-business-setup-conference/

ACE is all about entrepreneurs. As such, the planning committee is very entrepreneurial and likes to keep abreast of the latest tools in the business community. In that spirit, ACE ’10 is trying something new, quite possibly the first time ever in the history of the world: a business idea pitch competition using Twitter! The judges are anyone and everyone with access to Twitter – so get your friends and business partners engaged.

Rules:

1. 1. If you don’t already have a Twitter account, please go to Twitter to set one up.
   2. Tweet your business idea (115 characters max – assuming your username is not more than 10 characters – with #ACEbizIdea at the end) by 5:00 pm EST on 1/13/2010, and you’ll be entered in the contest.
   3. We will RT (retweet) your plan as it comes in. (Or as humanly close as we can get to that time, during business hours.)
   4. Others will vote for your plan by RT’ing or by marking it as a favorite. Voting will close at 5pm on 1/15/2010, so the sooner you get your plan in, the more chances you’ll have to be seen
   5. Follow @ACEevent on Twitter.
   6. Vote on business plans as they’re Tweeted, either by:
      • Marking them as a favorite, or
      • RT’ing them
   7. Only one vote per account for each business idea will be counted. You are welcome to vote for multiple business plans; but you can only cast one vote per plan!
   8. Voting must be complete by 5pm on 1/15/2010.

http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001ZxTRMtTNNkgZm9Ks4alGfuwCgiZyfEx4i5M8zqP8iGlUDIl4WCy37-GHaE-BmcVEP8TYYYsKHPq9tv-5sU3MKjx0aeTmkRJQnyPaJNeaGR_Rh-Sr1_0o0VYNh0w87e5-3mDg_5cVq4a-pb8T2lbIW-zfyPmAfote

Do you know a 20-something who is someone to watch?

Crain’s is looking for young professionals who are making their mark in the region.

We will publish our 2010 class of 20 in their 20s in the March 29 issue.

These entrepreneurs and creative thinkers may not have made millions, but they’re living proof that there is work under way by young people to counter the region’s brain drain.

Nominations must be received by January 8.

The survey must be completed online; however, you may preview a PDF of the survey by clicking here.

Contact Michelle Darwish at (313) 446-1621 or mdarwish@crain.com with questions about the process.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091105/NOMINATE/911059992