Global Entrepreneurship Week to Recognize 50 New Start-Ups

(Photos8.com)

Startup Open has launched its search for the 50 most promising new start-ups around the world as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2011. Winners of the competition will be announced on 15 October 2011, with those companies then competing for the top honors.

The competition, now in its second year, is open to entrepreneurs who have a “start-up moment” between 22 November 2010 and 20 November 2011, the dates respectively of GEW 2010 and GEW 2011. A start-up moment is defined as any action related to launching a new business, such as incorporating a company, opening the doors for business, completing a first sale, or securing outside funding.

Applicants in the Startup Open competition will be judged on concept, growth projections, and knowledge of their industry. Companies winning the top honors will be selected from the top 50 awardees and announced on 14 November at GEW 2011. Applications are due by 15 September 2011.

The Startup Open 2010 grand prize winner — Olivier Ceberio, founder of Resolute Marine Energy (RME) in Boston, Massachusetts — received a trip to Richard Branson’s privately owned Necker Island. There, Ceberio took part in networking sessions with Branson and other entrepreneurs.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a worldwide celebration each November that connects local activities into a global network encouraging business formation. The event, started by the Kauffman Foundation, involved in 2010 more than 7.2 million people taking part in 37,500 activities, in 104 countries. The next GEW runs 14-20 November 2011.

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