Spark Coalition Aims to Ignite Global Entrepreneurship

An emerging collection of organizations is answering President Barack Obama’s call to advance entrepreneurship and economic growth around the world–and it is putting out a call for like-minded organizations to help generate more than one billion dollars in private investment for emerging entrepreneurs by the end of 2017.

The Spark coalition is taking part in the White House’s Emerging Global Entrepreneurs event today along with world-renowned founders like Mark Cuban and Tony Elumelu alongside up-and-coming innovators from the United States, Colombia, Israel, Lebanon, Nigeria and more.

Global Entrepreneurship Network, Entrepreneurs’ Organization and the Tony Elumelu Foundation are leading the charge to build the coalition and increase communication, coordination, and collaboration across efforts to support entrepreneurs around the world.

“We have seen an explosion of support programs to help people launch new startups over the past few years,” said Jonathan Ortmans, president of Global Entrepreneurship Network and one of the Spark coalition co-chairs. “Through better coordination and collaboration, we can help build a global entrepreneurship ecosystem that accelerates the next generation of scalable new business creation.”

In November 2014, the Administration announced the Spark initiative and outlined the commitments of some of the most active and effective U.S. government programs helping entrepreneurs start and scale new firms.

The coalition was formed shortly after that.

Spark is asking for commitments from organizations and individuals active willing to “start the spark” by collaborating and contributing resources, networks, data and ideas to multiply efforts and produce tangible value.

The first two organizations to join the coalition as community partners are the Global Accelerator Network, a collection of 75 startup accelerators from six continents, and Gust, an online platform that connects early stage companies with investors and support organizations that can help them grow.

To join Spark, visit www.startthespark.org.

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.