Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) at a glance:
- 3 cities
- 19 events
- 1400+ attendees across founder workshops and speakers
From the US to the UK, 1400+ attendees showed up for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2023. This Northeastern University showcase represents our commitment to innovation and collaboration. The week featured a diverse array of events, including a hackathon for the Oakland community, the 2023 Women Who Empower Summit, IDEA’s NEXPO—the largest showcase of Northeastern’s entrepreneurship ecosystem—and a unique improv pitching event.
Boston
Demo Day kicked off the week in Boston, where 280 attendees met 20+ student entrepreneurs and heard them pitch their startup ideas for $10,000 in prizes. This was followed by Pitch Karaoke, where 10 small teams tested their public speaking and improvisation chops to pitch a made-up company from slides they had never seen before. Students expressed their excitement about the opportunity to utilize creative concepts in a business setting. The winning team shared gratitude for the chance to do something outside of their typical classroom experience.
The Interdisciplinary IDEA’s Northeastern Entrepreneurship Exposition (NEXPO) provided an intersection of innovation and collaboration, highlighting over 35 ventures and organizations from Northeastern’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Over 370 students and community members attended.
The Women Who Empower Summit featured inspiring creators, innovators, and change-makers. The week also included a series of workshops, discussions, and networking events, emphasizing Northeastern’s commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among students and the broader community.
London
In London, Northeastern’s Young Entrepreneurs experienced a true founder’s journey during GEW. In just one week, the team built a real-life business through workshops, including major speaker events by Joe Seddon of Zero Gravity and Tom Molnar of Gail’s Bakery.
The outcome was the “GreenPocket London” app, streamlining eco-conscious grocery shopping by addressing overspending and simplifying sustainable choices. The team later participated in the London Enactus event, advancing the GreenPocket London app for the international social entrepreneurship competition.
The team acknowledges the valuable contributions of participating students and collaboration with Women’s Interdisciplinary Society of Entrepreneurship London, Husky Startup Challenge London, and Fintech Society during the week. The London campus’ events were marked by efficient collaboration, innovation, and tangible entrepreneurial experiences.
Oakland
Northeastern University’s Oakland campus celebrated Global Entrepreneurship Week with the “Experiential Entrepreneurship Start Summit: Hackathon for the Benefit of the Oakland Community.” Students from diverse majors collaborated to solve real-world problems in 24 hours, focusing on health, wellness, sustainability, and cybersecurity. Under the guidance of faculty and industry experts, students created practical solutions like a gamified trash collection app, nutrition-tracking app, an interactive campus map, and a cybersecurity site. Emphasizing hands-on learning and soft skills development, the event involved intensive teamwork and technology use. Team Sage won with their historical interactive map. Other notable projects included a game addressing illegal dumping and a millennial-focused cybersecurity website. The hackathon highlighted practical experience in entrepreneurship and innovation.