The state of Hawaii is launching Global Entrepreneurship Week across the Islands from Nov. 8 to 14, state officials announced Monday.
A collaborative effort by all four Hawaii counties, the week will include a series of live online events and workshops geared toward local businesses that will be free for attendees. The purpose of Global Entrepreneurship Week, according to officials, is to encourage startups to make their ideas a reality while driving economic growth for small businesses.
The 10 workshops as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week — an international movement powered by the Global Entrepreneurship Network that includes 180 participating countries this year — offer several topics related to small businesses including sustainable tourism, funding resources for entrepreneurs, small business cybersecurity, women in tech, fostering innovation, and the future of young entrepreneurs in Hawaii.
Those interested in learning more information or participating in the week's events can register here.
“The state of Hawaii celebrates our passionate and committed entrepreneurs," said Gov. David Ige in a statement. "Their ingenuity and initiative are creating a more vibrant economy and helping to drive our communities toward a more sustainable future."
Ige proclaimed Nov. 8 to 14 Global Entrepreneurship Week in mid-October as a way to recognize the value of entrepreneurship in job creation, education, innovation and economic growth within Hawaii's local communities, according to officials.
“The pandemic restrictions posed additional challenges to all our businesses this year, so reaching out across the counties to tap into each other’s experience and lessons learned can be especially helpful,” said Lori Fisher, an organizer of the Maui Business Brainstormers, an official coordinator for Global Entrepreneurship Week in Hawaii, in a statement.
The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, are also partner organizations in the launch.
“We are proud to be one of the partner organizations who helped to bring GEW Hawaii together," said Len Higashi, acting executive director of HTDC, in a statement. "We ask entrepreneurs across the state to join us and celebrate starting a business in Hawaii.”
