Global Entrepreneurship

Global interdependence is hardly a new idea, nor is the importance of an international perspective. People, information, products, and ideas flow across borders at an unprecedented rate. While Kauffman Foundation grant dollars remain in Kansas City and the United States, our reach extends beyond their own national boundaries to engage in a worldwide dialogue to enhance the conduct of global affairs. In this internationally integrated environment a growing number of countries look to the United States and the Kauffman Foundation to understand how to best emulate our entrepreneurial economy. 

Initiatives

  • Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world's largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.

  •  Kansas City is showed its support for Global Entrepreneurship Week and local entrepreneurs. The Week, November 12-18, 2012 offered a worldwide series of events in more than 125 countries to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship and encourage young people to become more innovative and entrepreneurial. In Kansas City, the Week included events for entrepreneurs at every age and stage of business.

  • Immigration and the American Economy thumbnailHigh-skilled immigrants have provided one of America's greatest competitive advantages. Their education and skills, their hunger to share in the American dream, their knowledge of world markets, their entrepreneurial drive, and hundreds of thousands of jobs created as a result all have fueled growth in the American economy. Yet their contributions have not been well-documented.

    To fill the void, the Kauffman Foundation has funded a series of studies based on an initial report by Duke University researcher Vivek Wadhwa called America's New Immigrant Entrepreneurs.

  • The Kauffman Global Scholars Program fosters international entrepreneurship by immersing top young entrepreneurs from around the world in America's entrepreneurial culture.

     

Highlights

  • Winners of the 2012 Startup Open were announced during Global Entrepreneurship Week in mid-November. Judges evaluated the finalists on the GEW 50 list, and selected the winners based upon each startup's concept, growth projections and knowledge of its industry.

    Meet the Winners  

  • Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community shared Instagram photos depicting the 2012 celebration of #GEWKC. Check out the action in pictures, share yours and pass them on.

    See the Pics  

  • The Kauffman Foundation has funded a series of studies to examine the economic contributions of skilled legal immigrants in the United States, the obstacles they face with the U.S. immigration system, and what the implications are for the United States.

Featured Resources