Ambitious plans are being drawn up by Bournemouth University (BU) to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020 in even bigger style.

Talks are already underway with Brazil and India for a larger programme after the success of this year’s inaugural events.

Organiser Dr Sukanya Ayatakshi-Endow, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship from BU’s Faculty of Management, said the 2020 events “promise to have far greater impact and global presence.”

In November BU joined 10m people in more than 170 countries to mark Global Entrepreneurship Week.

It held two ‘mega events’ on the same day on the Talbot Campus:

• A facilitated Q&A with women entrepreneurs across the world highlighting excellence in female entrepreneurship which was live streamed across the internet.
• BH SOUP Loves Social Enterprises with four social enterprise projects given the chance to pitch for a pot of cash from community crowdfunders

The Q&A featured 17 women:

• Ivi Felix, Ana Lucia Barbosa and Clarice Seixas from Brazil.
• Gill Donnell MBE, Founder of Successful Women in Business.
• Mairead Taylor and Lucy Kitcher from NatWest.
• Sarah Ali Choudhury, the Forbes’ Curry Queen.
• Andrea Gamson, BU alumnus and Founder of Social Starters.
• Su Johnston of Crowdfunder.
• Tracey Howes, social media guru.
• Dr Felicity Jones, BCP councillor.
• Helen Battersby, Director of Global Business Leaders,
• Mei Pan, Founder of Yobu.
• Julie Johns MBE, Safe Space Consultancy.
• Jiselle Steele and Lisa Teller-Brunton from Social Starters.
• Bev Hepting, Message Maestro, who was online from Belarus.

Dr Sukanya Ayatakshi-Endow and Sarah Ali Choudhury.

Sukanya said: “The event was in support of our commitment to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, and in partnership with BU Social Entrepreneurs Forum (BUSEF).

“It was a ground shaking afternoon of powerful conversations around barriers to women in entrepreneurship; the obstacles of external finance; the balance of life and business ambitions.

“We streamed the event live across the internet and it was a truly global event.”

The BH SOUP Loves Social Enterprises was held in partnership with BU Social Entrepreneurs Forum.

Dr Sukanya Ayatakshi-Endow.

It brought together social entrepreneurs and members of the community for a evening of music, food and serious micro granting crowdfunding.

The event not only raised money but, with BU’s support, the organisers were able to provide all the pitch participants with financial support at the end of the evening.

Sukanya said: “Both our events generated so much interest and are still trending.”

Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020 is held from November 16 to 22.

It 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.