Company’s founder earns trip to Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Rio de Janeiro

WASHINGTON, DC – Nov. 12, 2012 – Dropifi’s web messaging platform that seeks to supersede the traditional “contact us” form has earned the Ghanaian tech startup the grand prize of 2012 Startup Open, a competition for startups with high-growth potential featured as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2012. Dropifi was selected today out of 50 companies announced last month as the “GEW 50,” the best and brightest new startups around the globe.

“Each year, thousands of new startups come to life through their experiences in Global Entrepreneurship Week which officially starts today in 130 countries,” said Jonathan Ortmans, president of Global Entrepreneurship Week. “By winning the Startup Open, Dropifi is at the top of that list and has a very promising future.”

Dropifi traces its beginnings back to a Startup Weekend event in Accra, Ghana during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011. It replaces “contact us” buttons with a smart widget that allows companies to better analyze and organize incoming messages. The widget allows companies to learn more about the people sending the message and whether the messages’ content trends positive or negative. This gives companies critical insight to respond more effectively to existing and potential customers.

As the grand prize winners, Dropifi’s co-founder, David Osei, receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Rio de Janeiro to serve as an official delegate to one of the world’s largest startup community gatherings, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in March 2013. In addition to the trip, Dropifi will be featured in a Kauffman Foundation animated ‘sketchbook’ video.

Also announced today were four winners of the mentorship experience prize. Each of these winners will receive one year of mentoring from successful entrepreneurs, including Redbox founding member Michael DeLazzer, courtesy of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. They are:

• Charlie Contacts (USA): mobile app that arms users with important information about contacts before any meeting, conference or phone call
• Folloyu (Israel): mobile app that enables website users to maintain online activity on a company’s website and transfer their session to another device without abandoning the website
• MEFIVER (USA): proprietary denim manufacturing process that aims to revolutionize the industry while minimizing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainable practices
• Placeknow.com (Poland): pictorial map of the world that provides users with location information and pictures posted by individuals to offer a more authentic view

In its third year, the Startup Open competition was open to entrepreneurs who had a “startup moment” between GEW 2011 and GEW 2012 (Nov. 22, 2011 to Nov. 18, 2012). A startup moment is anything that can be interpreted as the company is “open for business,” such as the business becoming incorporated, completing a first sale or securing outside funding.

A panel of judges selected the winners on the basis of concept, growth projections and knowledge of their industry. Nearly 400 applications from 56 countries were evaluated in the first round of judging which resulted in the GEW 50. The GEW 50 represent a range of industry sectors and 17 countries.

Startup Open is organized by Global Entrepreneurship Week and supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Startup Digest and Startup Weekend.

Today’s announcement coincides with the beginning of GEW, an initiative to spur new ideas, ingenuity and firm creation through local, national and global activities. The week-long celebration takes place in 130 countries with more than 7 million participants at 35,000 events, activities and competitions.

For more information on the 2012 Startup Open winners, visit www.startupopen.com. To learn more about what is happening around the world during the GEW 2012, visit www.unleashingideas.org.

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About Global Entrepreneurship Week

During one week each November, thousands of events and competitions around the world inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors. In four years, Global Entrepreneurship Week has expanded to 130 countries — empowering nearly 20 million people through 95,000 activities. Powered by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and sponsored by Dell, the initiative is supported by dozens of world leaders and a growing network of 24,000 partner organizations. For more information, visit t www.unleashingideas.org, and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.

About the Kauffman Foundationn

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. Through its research and other initiatives, the Kauffman Foundation aims to open young people’s eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship, promote entrepreneurship education, raise awareness of entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and find alternative pathways for the commercialization of new knowledge and technologies. In addition, the Foundation focuses on initiatives in the Kansas City region to advance students’ math and science skills, and improve the educational achievement of urban students, including the Ewing Marion Kauffman School, a college preparatory charter school for middle and high school students. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo., and has approximately $2 billion in assets. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org, and follow the Foundation on www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 15, 2012 – In the search to find some of the best and brightest new startups around the world, Global Entrepreneurship Week today announced the “GEW 50” —a list of the 50 most innovative new companies competing in the Startup Open, a competition that recognizes startups with high-growth potential. These elite ventures will now vie for the grand prize—an all-expenses-paid trip to Rio de Janeiro to serve as an official delegate to one of the world’s largest gatherings of startup champions, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, in March 2013.

Selected out of a field of nearly 400 applicants, the GEW 50 represent a range of industry sectors—from cleantech and life sciences to agriculture and transportation—and hail from 17 countries. The 50 were judged on concept, growth projections and knowledge of their industry. Each of the competing startups was required to have a “startup moment” between GEW 2011 and GEW 2012 (Nov. 22, 2011 to Nov. 18, 2012). A “startup moment” is anything that can be interpreted as the company is “open for business,” such as becoming incorporated, completing a first sale or securing outside funding.

“These new startups serve as models and inspirations to aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide who hope to unleash their ideas and start new companies,” said Jonathan Ortmans, president of Global Entrepreneurship Week. “Young companies need encouragement and recognition at the earliest stages. They are emerging heroes who will eventually generate jobs and economic growth for their communities.”

The 50 will now go through a second round of judging to select the overall winners, which will be announced on Monday, Nov. 12, the opening day of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

In addition to the trip to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Rio, the grand prize winner will also be featured in a Kauffman Foundation animated “sketchbook” video. Other winners will receive one year of mentoring from successful entrepreneurs, including Redbox founding member Michael DeLazzer, courtesy of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

The 17 countries represented by the GEW 50 are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, Ghana, Israel, Liberia, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Slovakia and the United States.

For a complete list of the GEW 50, visit startupopen.com/gew50.

Startup Open is organized by Global Entrepreneurship Week and supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Startup Digest and Startup Weekend.

About Global Entrepreneurship Week

During one week each November, thousands of events and competitions around the world inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors. In four years, Global Entrepreneurship Week has expanded to 125 countries—empowering nearly 20 million people through 95,000 activities. Powered by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and sponsored by Dell, the initiative is supported by dozens of world leaders and a growing network of 24,000 partner organizations. For more information, visit unleashingideas.org, and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.

About the Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a founding sponsor of Global Entrepreneurship Week. It is a private, nonpartisan foundation that works with partners to advance entrepreneurship in America and improve the education of children and youth. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo. For more information, visit kauffman.org, and follow the Foundation on twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and facebook.com/kauffmanfdn.

Since the application process for Startup Open is almost here we decided to catch up with GEW 50 winners from last year’s Startup Open competition, to see how their businesses have progressed over the last year.

Angela Newman; Founder & CEO Knock out! Smart Panties

Startup Company: Award winning Knock out! Smart Panties bring high tech fabrics to the world of lingerie. Made with soft, breathable, doctor recommended cotton, the patented NoTrace wicking and odor absorbing technology makes moisture and odor disappear.

Updates since Startup Open 2011:

• NoTrace for Men: T-shirts and boxers with all over wicking and odor absorption
• Knock out! – Winner of Harvard Global New Venture Award – 2012 (First woman owned business to win!)
• The official panty of the Race to End Women’s Cancers- Cancers below the belt
• Significant growth- over 300 retail locations in North America

Learn more about Knock out! Smart panties here.

Bill Cunningham; OneMorePallet

Startup Company: OneMorePallet provides great deals for small shippers by securing excess capacity in LTL carriers and letting the shippers set their own price.

Updates since Startup Open 2011:

• We have launched, shipped and are expanding regionally in the Midwest
• Made our first shipments this summer 2012
• Raised $150K in seed capital
• Accepted into UpTech, the Northern Kentucky Accelerator

Learn more about OneMorePallet here.

Be sure to check our blog as we will be featuring more 2011 GEW Top 50 success stories in the coming weeks!

The winner of the Startup Open will win the opportunity to go the 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. However, winners of the GEW Top 50 have found that Startup Open can give your business the jump-start it needs for success; register your Startup here.

In 2011 startups from over 60 countries competed in the second annual Startup Open competition that takes place as part of GEW. While 50 were selected as promising companies and names to the GEW 50 list, two companies stood above the rest. Fenugreen, a company that makes FreshPaper that organically keeps fruits and veggies fresh for 2-4 times longer, took the top prize receiving an all expenses paid trip to Liverpool for the 2012 GEC to meet Richard Branson and tell the story of their company to over 300 International delegates.

Read about Fenugreen’s experience at the GEC.

Dynamo Micropower took the runner up position with their company that applies recent advances in turbine technology to commercialized small, ultra portable generators. For their prize Dynamo Micropower received an all expenses paid trip to Florida to start a year’s worth of mentoring with Mike DeLazzer, Founder of Redbox. Below is an update on how each company is growing from their experiences.

Read about Dynamo Micropower’s experience.

Recently we had the chance to follow up with Kavita Shukla, creator of Frenugreen FreshPaper, and last year’s winner of Startup Open 2011, a featured event of Global Entrepreneurship Week. As part of her prize, she and her partner Swaroop Samant, had the opportunity to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Conference (GEC) held in Liverpool this past March.

“We had no idea the magnitude of the GEC. We didn’t know exactly what to expect, but when we arrived, we were stunned at how many different countries were represented at the Congress” Shukla recounts.

The Global Entrepreneurship Congress is the largest gathering of startup champions from around the world. The Congress allows these brilliant entrepreneurs to meet and network with each other, offering attendees a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Congress cultivates the strengthening of networks, thus allowing Shukla and Samant to strengthen their international presence as business owners.

“We ship across the globe almost everyday now, it has been really exciting and we credit a lot of that to the people we had the opportunity to met at the GEC” explains Shukla.

In addition to attending the GEC, they also won the opportunity to meet and be on stage with Richard Branson, one of the featured speakers at the Conference and one of the worlds most respected entrepreneurs. Shukla described the experience as inspiring and exciting, explaining that receiving advice from Branson regarding their fledgling business was a true milestone for Fenugreen.

“Since the GEC, we have really seen business booming. Everything we could have ever hoped for, for our business has all fell into place and it is just really exciting.”- Kavita Shulka.

In April, my co-founder Ivan Wang any I had the privilege of meeting Mike DeLazzer at his Marco Island Home.  Our trip was marked by homemade burritos, a game of Akinator and the best Sea Bass I have ever had.

By Marco Island standards, the weather was supposedly subpar when we arrived, but the sunlight and warm weather was a welcomed change from Boston.  I arrived a little before Ivan, so I got a chance to ride with Mike on his boat and see the island. When Ivan flew into town, we met up with Mike and his wife Gina at the USS Nemo, where all four of us had the Signature Miso Broiled Sea Bass.  The faux foodie in me wants to write about that alone, but I will save that for another time.

The next day we met up with Mike and had a chance to chat about what we wanted to do with our company and the challenges that lay ahead of us.  For dinner, Mike made burritos, and we were joined by his brother Faust and sister-in-law Candy.  We had a good time getting to know each other; we played several rounds of Akinator.  In this game one of us thought up a character–real and otherwise ranging from Enkidu to President Barack Obama—and the app tried to guess who this person was using very basic yes and no type clues.  We collectively play against the app guessing the character before it did.   We wrapped up the night discussing education and the stars.  While this trip was about mentorship, we spent most of the time getting to really know each other; this is because Mentorship is more than just an event; it’s a process that extends over a year—if not longer.

We met Mike virtually at the turn of the year; back then we were a company developing a technology that had a myriad of applications, and a clear commercialization strategy for a niche market, but the details on how we were going to get from business model on a page to a physical operation was nebulous.  Mike has been really helpful in helping us figure out how to build out the other parts of our product, beyond the core technology we are developing; although we’ve always known this is a technical task we’d have to pursue eventually Mike was able to pull together resources to help us move these parallel parts of our product development along.

What I’ve come to realize is that a business plan is not something inscribed in stoned, it’s really the embodiment of us entrepreneurs attempt to put into words the vision we have for our company.  Constrained by time, space, and coherence, the many nuances of our business can never be captured when the pen hits the paper.  This leaves a lack of real constructive criticism when getting feedback from competition judges or even potential investors; having a mentor like Mike, who has deep experience, and the time to really talk to us, is completely different because we can explore, in a very methodical and profound way, a specific aspect of our company.

Through that process, I have had to think more about our supply chain and how that supply chain will change as we grow.  In many ways our technology leverages the global supply chain to stay competitive with similar technologies, but exploring our company with Mike has forced me to think about our supply chain in much more depth and complexity than I would have on my own.  Now our plan, once ambiguous, is evolving into something almost corporeal.  Now we know how and where parts of our product will be designed, developed, and manufactured.  Now we are getting a real sense for how much things will cost, and where other technical challenges will be.  Without an advisor like Mike, we wouldn’t be as far along as we are today.

WASHINGTON (Nov. 14, 2011) – Startup Open, a competition for startups with high-growth potential featured as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2011, today announced the two grand prize winners: Kavita Shukla, founder of Fenugreen, and Jason Ethier, founder of Dynamo Micropower. The two Boston-area entrepreneurs were selected from a group of startups dubbed the “GEW 50” announced last month. In selecting the winners, a panel of judges took into account each of the startups’ concept, growth projections and knowledge of their industry.

“Young firms, like those conceptualized by Kavita and Jason, are the linchpins to revitalizing the world economy,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation, founder of Global Entrepreneurship Week. “Their ingenuity, innovation and entrepreneurial passions exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship and will inspire others to strive to create new firms.”

Shukla’s Fenugreen offers patented, all-natural material to address the global challenge of food spoilage. The sustainable product keeps food fresher from “farm to fork” by helping reduce transportation, inventory and energy costs. Shukla will receive an all-expenses paid trip to participate in the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Liverpool in March 2012. The Congress will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, global leaders and startup champions from more than 100 countries. Shukla will have the opportunity to showcase her business plan on a global scale, gain valuable insight from successful and experienced entrepreneurs, and network with world leaders and economists.

Ethier’s Dynamo Micropower has developed a proprietary ultra-micro turbine architecture that will supplant conventional power solutions in the sub-10kW range. Ethier will receive one year of mentoring from Redbox founding members and serial entrepreneurs Michael DeLazzer and Biju Kulathaka, courtesy of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). The program will include a trip to DeLazzer’s home in Marco Island, Fla. where Ethier’s business plan will be scrutinized and market opportunities will be identified.

Selected startups from the “GEW 50” will be invited to participate in Start-Up Chile, a ground-breaking program that attracts world-class, early-stage entrepreneurs from around the world to start a business in Chile. The program offers startups $40,000 in equity-free, seed capital and a one-year work visa in Chile, along with access to the most potent social and capital networks in the country. “GEW 50” company participation could help Start-Up Chile reach its goal of bringing in 300 participants to Chile in 2011.

The Startup Open competition, now in its second year, was open to entrepreneurs who had a “startup moment” between GEW 2010 and GEW 2011 (11/22/10 to 11/20/11). A startup moment is defined as any event related to launching a new business, such as incorporating a company; officially opening the doors for business; completing a first sale; and securing outside funding.

Today’s announcement coincides with the beginning of GEW, an initiative to spur new ideas, ingenuity and firm creation through local, national and global activities. A record 123 countries will take part in the week-long event. In the U.S. alone, more than 1,400 organizations – including top universities, non-profit organizations, startups, government agencies and corporate sponsors – will host 3,500 GEW events.

For more information on the 2011 Startup Open winners, visit startupopen.com. To learn more about what is happening around the world during the GEW 2011, visit unleashingideas.org.

Global Entrepreneurship Week

During one week each November, thousands of activities around the world inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial action while connecting them to potential mentors, collaborators and investors. In four short years, Global Entrepreneurship Week has expanded to more than 100 countries—empowering nearly 20 million people through 95,000 activities. Powered by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the initiative is supported by dozens of world leaders and a growing network of 24,000 partner organizations. For more information, visit unleashingideas.org, and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.

Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. Through its research and other initiatives, the Kauffman Foundation aims to open young people’s eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship, promote entrepreneurship education, raise awareness of entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and find alternative pathways for the commercialization of new knowledge and technologies. In addition, the Foundation focuses on initiatives in the Kansas City region to advance students’ math and science skills, and improve the educational achievement of urban students, including the Ewing Marion Kauffman School, a college preparatory charter school for middle and high school students set to open in 2011. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo. and has approximately $2 billion in assets. For more information, visit kauffman.org, and follow the Foundation on Twitter at @kauffmanfdn and Facebook.

Last week, one of Tennessee’s startups was tabbed as one of the ‘GEW 50′–the most promising startups launched around the world since Global Entrepreneurship Week 2010. It marks the second straight year that a new Chattanooga firm has been recognized as part of the Startup Open competition. 

The following is a blog post originally published on the Company Lab (Co.Lab) site.

………………………………… 

GEW Lists Cumberland Signal Labs Among World’s Top 50 Startups

Chattanooga companies keep showing up in big ways! We were notified today that Global Entrepreneurship Weekk selected 48Hour Launch participant, Cumberland Signal Labs (CSL), as one of the top 50 start-ups… ON THE PLANET! How awesome is that?!

GEW reviewed hundreds of applications from over 60 countries and selected 50 start-ups based on the concept, growth projections, and knowledge of the industry. More details about the list can be found herere.

CSL was chosen, and now founder Richard Hardin has a chance to win:

• an all-expenses-paid trip and VIP delegate credentials to participate in Liverpool’s Global Entrepreneurship Congress in March 2012
• one year of mentoring from Redbox founding members and serial entrepreneurs Michael DeLazzer and Biju Kulathaka
• other great prizes.

Seriously… how sweet is that?!

So, our friends from Secure Waterss made the list last year, CSL is our second GEW Top 50, and there is a chance we could see the third at this fall’s 48Hour Launch on 11/11/11. We’re especially excited this time around because we are Tennessee’s official kickoff event for Global Entrepreneurship Week!

How awesome would it be to have back-to-back events produce top 50 start-ups?!

Wisty Pender, representing GEW TN, is excited as well. She says, “We are really excited that The Company Lab is kicking-off Tennessee’s 2011 Global Entrepreneurship Week with 48Hour Launch! The creativity and innovation that go into and emerge from an event like this is a testament to the role that entrepreneurs play in innovation and ultimately job creation. There is an amazing slate of activities engaging entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs across the State including pitch competitions, speaker forums, training events, speed networking, celebrations and much more. It’s going to be a great week!”

Who’s going to create the next big Chattanooga buisness??

Maybe you…

Get Started

Kansas City, Mo. (July 27, 2011) – Startup Open aims to answer a question plaguing economists, investors and Main Street alike: Who are the next generation of entrepreneurs that will grow to become tomorrow’s Google, Apple or Facebook? Startup Open is a competition that recognizes the “GEW 50,” a group of 50 companies deemed to have the greatest chance of growing into game-changing firms that will move markets and create jobs.

Startup Open today announced its top honors and prizes, which will be awarded during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2011. One winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip and VIP delegate credentials to participate in Liverpool’s Global Entrepreneurship Congress in March, 2012. The Congress will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, global leaders and startup champions from more than 100 countries. While there, the Startup Open winner will have the opportunity to showcase its business plan on a global scale, gain valuable insight from successful and experienced entrepreneurs, and network with world leaders, economists and other experts.

“Job creation rests in the hands of high-growth startups, those with the agility to navigate tough marketplaces while solving real-world issues through innovations that improve lives,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. “Startup Open is designed to identify these startups and give them the tools to make real, fundamental change.”

A second Startup Open winner will receive one year of mentoring from Redbox founding members and serial entrepreneurs Michael DeLazzer and Biju Kulathaka, courtesy of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. The program will include a trip to DeLazzer’s home in Marco Island, Fla., where the winner’s business plan will be scrutinized and market opportunities will be identified. Redbox is the second largest video rental company in the world, with more than 35,000 locations in the United States and revenue exceeding $1 billion.

“Participating in Startup Open deeply changed the way I think about my company and the impact it can have if we pick the right path. We were challenged to think bigger than ever before,” said Olivier Ceberio of Resolute Marine Energy, the 2010 Startup Open Grand Prize Winner.

Select startups from those named to the “GEW 50” will be invited to participate in Start-Up Chile, a ground-breaking program that attracts world-class, early-stage entrepreneurs from around the world and gets them to start their firms in Chile. Participating startups will receive $40,000 in equity-free, seed capital and a one-year work visa in Chile, along with access to the most potent social and capital networks in the country. The involvement of the “GEW 50” aims to help Start-Up Chile reach its goal of bringing in 300 participants to Chile in 2011.

Startup Open is a featured competition of GEW, an initiative founded by the Kauffman Foundation to spur new ideas, ingenuity and firm creation through local, national and global activities in more than 100 countries. The competition, now in its second year, is open to entrepreneurs who have a “startup moment” between GEW 2010 and GEW 2011 (Nov. 22, 2010 to Nov. 20, 2011). A startup moment is defined as any action related to launching a new business, such as incorporating a company; officially opening the doors for business; completing a first sale; or securing outside funding. The “GEW 50” will be announced on Oct. 15, 2011, with those companies then competing for the top honors and prizes to be announced at the start of GEW 2011 on Nov. 14.

Startup Open applicants will have until Sept. 15 to submit their “startup moment.”

For more information on how to enter and the 2010 winners, please visit www.startupopen.com.

Global Entrepreneurship Week

During one week each November, thousands of activities around the world inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial action while connecting them to potential mentors, collaborators and investors. In three short years, Global Entrepreneurship Week has expanded to more than 100 countries—empowering nearly 20 million people through 95,000 activities. Powered by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the initiative is supported by dozens of world leaders and a growing network of 24,000 partner organizations. For more information, visit www.unleashingideas.org, and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.

Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. Through its research and other initiatives, the Kauffman Foundation aims to open young people’s eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship, promote entrepreneurship education, raise awareness of entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and find alternative pathways for the commercialization of new knowledge and technologies. In addition, the Foundation focuses on initiatives in the Kansas City region to advance students’ math and science skills, and improve the educational achievement of urban students, including the Ewing Marion Kauffman School, a college preparatory charter school for middle and high school students set to open in 2011. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo. and has approximately $2 billion in assets. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org, and follow the Foundation on Twitter at @kauffmanfdn and Facebook.

Kansas City, Mo. (May 26, 2011) – Startup Open, a competition that recognizes startups with high-growth potential, has launched its search for the 50 most promising new startups around the world as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2011. The “GEW 50” will be announced on Oct. 15, 2011, with those companies then competing for the top honors and prizes.

“Economic growth and job creation is directly tied to young businesses with the potential to become part of tomorrow’s Fortune 500, so recognizing and rewarding those most promising startups on the path to success may inspire others to follow their examples,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation.

Startup Open is a featured competition of GEW, an initiative founded by the Kauffman Foundation to spur new ideas, ingenuity and firm creation through local, national and global activities in more than 100 countries. The competition, now in its second year, is open to entrepreneurs who have a “startup moment” between GEW 2010 and GEW 2011 (Nov. 22, 2010 to Nov. 20, 2011). A startup moment is defined as any action related to launching a new business, such as incorporating a company; officially opening the doors for business; completing a first sale; or securing outside funding.

Startup Open applicants will be judged on concept, growth projections and knowledge of their industry. A handful of companies winning the top honors and prizes will be announced on Nov. 14 as GEW 2011 gets underway.

The Startup Open 2010 grand prize winner received a trip to Richard Branson’s privately owned Necker Island. Winner Olivier Ceberio, founder of Resolute Marine Energy (RME) in Boston, Mass., recently returned from his trip, where he took part in multiple networking sessions with Branson and other successful entrepreneurs. Additional activities included a sailboat race with Branson and a trip around the island in the “Necker Belle” catamaran. Ceberio won the top prize at GEW 2010 for his RME plan to develop wave energy converters that generate clean energy from ocean waves. The goal of RME is to aid the 1.2 billion people worldwide who lack access to safe drinking water.

“During my stay at Necker Island, I had the opportunity to learn from and exchange ideas with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs in the world,” said Ceberio. “I am very grateful to the Kauffman Foundation for providing me with this invaluable experience that will help expand my network as I improve and grow my business.”

Last year’s second and third places winners received two days of mentoring at Kauffman Labs for Enterprise Creation, a Kauffman Foundation program. Entrepreneurs Stas Samarin of PulmoCAD, LLC in St. Louis and Kahoru Watanabe of Wing Power Inc in Sarasota, Fla., had the opportunity to hear new ideas and feedback on how to improve their business models from every angle.

Startup Open applicants will have until Sept. 15 to submit their startup moment. For more information on how to enter and the 2010 winners, please visit www.startupopen.com.

Global Entrepreneurship Week

During one week each November, thousands of activities around the world inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial action while connecting them to potential mentors, collaborators and investors. In three short years, Global Entrepreneurship Week has expanded to more than 100 countries—empowering nearly 20 million people through 95,000 activities. Powered by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the initiative is supported by dozens of world leaders and a growing network of 24,000 partner organizations. For more information, visit www.unleashingideas.org, and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.

Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. Through its research and other initiatives, the Kauffman Foundation aims to open young people’s eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship, promote entrepreneurship education, raise awareness of entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and find alternative pathways for the commercialization of new knowledge and technologies. In addition, the Foundation focuses on initiatives in the Kansas City region to advance students’ math and science skills, and improve the educational achievement of urban students, including the Ewing Marion Kauffman School, a college preparatory charter school for middle and high school students set to open in 2011. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo. and has approximately $2 billion in assets. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org, and follow the Foundation on Twitter at @kauffmanfdn and Facebook.