GEN’s Startup Nations Awards Presented to Global Leaders for Advancing Entrepreneurship Policies

The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) honored four individuals at the Startup Nations Summit for their leadership in implementing innovative public policies and programs to help entrepreneurs start and scale new businesses in their countries and around the world.

The winners were: Dr. Hugo Kantis of Argentina for the Startup Nations Award for Groundbreaking Policy Thinking; María José Vengoechea of Colombia for Local Policy Leadership; Pichet Durongkaveroj of Thailand for National Policy Leadership; and Maria Contreras-Sweet of the United States for the Startup Nations Award for Global Policy Leadership.

“As governments become more sophisticated in engaging with startup communities, the work being done by these leaders serve as examples on how to build and strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems everywhere,” said Jonathan Ortmans, president of the Global Entrepreneurship Network.

Groundbreaking Policy Thinking Award

Dr. Hugo Kantis

Argentina
Director, Entrepreneurship Development Program (PRODEM)

Dr. Kantis was recognized for devoting his career to narrowing the knowledge and talent gaps to foster high-impact entrepreneurship ecosystems in the Latin American region. He has led a multi-pronged effort to shift the policy mindset of a whole continent from a focus on microenterprises toward the more ambitious aim of promoting dynamic entrepreneurship from a systemic perspective. His achievements elevated the concept of evidence-based policymaking.

Local Policy Leadership Award

María José Vengoechea
Colombia
Executive President, Barranquilla Chamber of Commerce

Vengoechea saw an opportunity for developing organic high-growth entrepreneurship in her city, and under her leadership, the Barranquilla Chamber of Commerce became the main ally of the city’s efforts for entrepreneurs. The Chamber worked on closing existing gaps within the entrepreneurial pipeline in the city, such as attracting acceleration talent and expanding financing sources. It is expected that by the end of 2016, the region will have at least 200 new startups with high-growth potential.

National Policy Leadership Award

Pichet Durongkaveroj
Thailand
Minister of Science and Technology, Government of Thailand

Dr. Pichet is spearheading the Startup Thailand national program, which encompasses several policy dimensions from raising entrepreneurial awareness, transforming universities across the country into entrepreneurial universities, developing support schemes for startups, and enacting new regulations to strengthen the startup ecosystem. Dr. Pichet’s policy contributions include in various capacities of policy formulation, development, and management in the areas of education, ICT and innovation.

Global Policy Leadership Award

Maria Contreras-Sweet
United States
Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration

Contreras-Sweet launched an annual Ministerial as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress to gather ministers responsible for startup policies for a high-level discussion on how best to support entrepreneurs. The Ministerial will next be held in Johannesburg, South Africa in March 2017. As the head of the SBA, Contreras-Sweet oversees the world’s largest seed fund and the largest middle market fund of funds, as well as a $120 billion loan portfolio.

The awards were presented at the Summit in Cork, Ireland, which gathered policymakers, advisors and startup community leaders from more than 70 countries to explore innovative regulatory changes and policy ideas to help enable high impact entrepreneurship. Read the full release here.

About Global Entrepreneurship Network

The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN)  operates a platform of projects and programs in 170 countries aimed at making it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business. By fostering deeper cross border collaboration through initiatives engaging entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurial support organizations, GEN works to fuel healthier start and scale ecosystems that create jobs, educate individuals, accelerate innovation and strengthen economic growth. For details on the programs and initiatives that make up GEN, visit genglobal.org and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.