Global Entrepreneurship Week: Building together for tomorrow

Every year, Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) invites us to pause and reflect on the ecosystem we are collectively building. It’s easy to get caught up in programmes, reports, and events, but GEW challenges us to ask a deeper question: Are we truly creating a world where entrepreneurs can thrive?

This year’s theme, Together We Build, couldn’t be more timely. The momentum leading up to GEW in both Cape Town and Johannesburg showed just how much building has already begun.It all started in Cape Town from 8 to 10 November, where energy around technology and entrepreneurship ignited dynamic conversations.

The AI-Driven Hackathon and AI Forum led by our organisation, set the stage for discussions that were practical, forward-thinking, and grounded in real-world impact. AI is not just another buzzword; it is a transformative force that can reshape startups through task automation, enhanced customer experiences, and innovation in healthcare, education, and logistics.

For the teams (made up of tech startup, tech students and IT enthusiasts) that participated in the AI Driven hackathon, focused on social and business challenges, showed how AI promises to create opportunities to operate on the scale of larger organisations.Yet, this dialogue was balanced and critical.

Industry leaders that led the panel discussion voiced important concerns about national security, responsible AI adoption, and the need for tools tailored to Africa’s unique cultural and linguistic landscape. The core message was clear: technology only matters if it is created for and works for the people who need it most.

When the hackathon winners were announced, it was more than just a celebration; it was a glimpse into what happens when young innovators are given space, support, and permission to think boldly.Our participation in the ecosystem continued in Johannesburg at the Startup20 Summit and Awards on 13 and 14 November.

If Cape Town was about experimentation and innovation, Johannesburg was about policy, structure, and vision for the future. At Gallagher Estate, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers united to strategise and build a more inclusive startup landscape across the G20.

SU20 chairperson Vuyani Jarana articulated the pivotal moment: “Today marks not an end, but the beginning of implementation.” This was no ceremonial statement; it signalled a shift from drafting ideas to putting concrete structures in place. The announcements of Startup20 International and Startup South Africa demonstrated a long-term commitment to continuity and coordination, answering a key request from founders.

Echoing the spirit of GEW’s theme, Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said: “The next revolution cannot be led by politicians alone; it requires an ecosystem.” This reminder underscores that regardless of how many summits or reports we produce, genuine progress happens when entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and enablers collaborate and make decisions together.

Thus, the awards ceremony on 14 November evening became more than just recognition. It symbolised the handover into Global Entrepreneurship Week, officially launched by the President of The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), Jonathan Ortmans, a seamless transition where policy, celebration, and global dialogue give way to a week centered on founders.

GEW runs from 17 to 23 November, and its essence has always been about forging connections that endure beyond the week itself. This year’s theme feels especially poignant because founders have made one thing unmistakably clear: access matters.In recent weeks, countless conversations with early-stage entrepreneurs attending major summits, tech festivals, and policy discussions for the first time have revealed a vital insight: their excitement wasn’t about recognition, it was about inclusion.

This highlights a persistent imbalance. Investors and decision-makers often gather in exclusive spaces inaccessible to many entrepreneurs, yet those same entrepreneurs are expected to scale, pitch, and compete in these very spheres. Building together requires tearing down walls, not creating separate ones.

This brings me back to an analogy I often use to describe the dichotomy between investors and SMEs seeking funding: there is no lack of funds, the real challenge is the meeting point, which remains undefined.

I often compare it to startups and SMEs waiting at the taxi rank while funders are waiting to receive them at the airport. The meeting point needs to be accessible to all.The work witnessed in Cape Town, the SU20 Summit, and now during GEW reminds us that the future of entrepreneurship in South Africa and across Africa is not solely about events or announcements. It’s about everyday access to practical tools, thoughtful policy, and environments where founders can show up fully and authentically, not selectively.

Together We Build is not just a slogan. It is a call to action. It demands that we create spaces where entrepreneurs belong, ensure AI tools address local realities, craft policy that keeps pace with growth, and encourage investors to meet founders where they are. GEW may last only a week, but building lasts all year long. The work continues well after the posters are taken down. If the past few weeks are any indication, we are moving forward — steadily, collaboratively, and with a clearer understanding of what “building together” truly means.

Perhaps the greatest legacy of this GEW is this: the ecosystem is learning not only to show up for entrepreneurs, but to show up with them. And together, we build.

Bernadette Bule and Boitumelo Kodisang – 22 On Sloane

*** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL.

BUSINESS REPORT