By Kathleen Hoover, Senior at UNCW & CIE Marketing Lead Intern 

Each November, the Wilmington entrepreneurial community comes alive with innovation and collaboration during Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), and I’m thrilled to help guide the celebration once again! 

As a senior at UNCW and second-year marketing lead intern for the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing how deeply intertwined our local ecosystem truly is in Wilmington. This will be my third year with the CIE and my second year coordinating marketing materials for GEW events. Each year, Global Entrepreneurship Week reminds me that entrepreneurship connects us all. No matter where we are in the world, innovation thrives when we collaborate. 

Global Entrepreneurship Week is more than just a week. It’s a global movement. Taking place in over 200 countries, GEW brings together over 10 million participants through 40,000+ activities, all dedicated to empowering entrepreneurship and innovation. This year’s theme, “Together We Build,” captures what makes GEW so special. Our ecosystem is stronger when we grow, learn, and create together. Entrepreneurship isn’t a solo journey. It’s built on shared support, mentorship, and community. 

Here in Wilmington, that spirit is embodied through our entrepreneurial ecosystem, anchored by the CIE alongside partners like Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center, Brunswick Community College Small Business Center, and several UNCW programs, including the Career Center and the Office of Innovation and Commercialization. Together, we provide resources, education, and networking opportunities that help entrepreneurs turn ideas into impact. 

This year, Global Entrepreneurship Week officially takes place November 17–23, but the momentum begins earlier with a series of exciting Pre-GEW events. Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center will host sessions on topics like Intermediate QuickBooks (Nov. 11), Legal Considerations for Franchising (Nov. 12), and Deep Dive into Board Development (Nov. 13). In addition, on Nov.13, the UNCW CIE will stream “It’s About the Story!™” with Chris Mather, a workshop on crafting compelling pitches for investors. 

Then, during Global Entrepreneurship Week itself, the schedule is packed with immense opportunities to connect and grow. Starting the week off, the UNCW CIE is hosting Entrepreneur Day (Nov. 18), where entrepreneurs go into classrooms across the Wilmington area to inspire students. The following morning (Nov. 19), 1 Million Cups Wilmington will take place at the UNCW CIE, connecting founders and local community members to initiate learning and growth. Later that afternoon (Nov 19), Idea Test Lab Demo Day will highlight the HealthTech and BioTech cohorts as they pitch their ventures for funding, prizes, and community recognition. The week continues with additional opportunities to connect and grow throughout the community, including The Recipe of the RAISE (Nov. 20), Genesis Block’s Jumpstart Academy Demo Day (Nov. 20), and “Show Me the Funding!” (Nov. 21).  

As we gear up for another exciting Global Entrepreneurship Week, I’m reminded that each event reflects the heart of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Wilmington. Showing that innovation thrives when we collaborate across industries, institutions, and across the globe. 

Together, we build.