BEDC Win Two Champion Catalyzer Awards
Last week, The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation [BEDC], supported by the Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative of Bermuda [YEI] and the Department of Ecommerce, was honoured for its efforts in leading Global Entrepreneurship Week in Bermuda to help entrepreneurs launch new startups and grow young enterprises throughout the country.
On hand to receive the award was a Bermuda contingent from the BEDC including Erica Smith, Executive Director; Nick Kempe, Chairman of the Board; Nhuri Bashir, Board Member; and Lead Delegate, Jamillah Lodge, Business Development Officer.
Bermuda received two Champion Catalyzer Awards given to the Host that has the most events per capita and the most partners per capita while in Milan, Italy at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress.
Ms Lodge said, “Receiving these awards is a testament to how much the entrepreneurial ecosystem has grown and continues to grow in Bermuda since we began participating in GEW in 2008.
“Every year, we strive to create opportunities for our local entrepreneurs and GEW is a way that we can highlight the work that the BEDC engages in on a daily basis. We thank the GEN Team for continuing to promote and support entrepreneurship and for celebrating successes that have come from their dedication to highlighting entrepreneurship on the world stage.”
The 2014 GEW Bermuda campaign was the largest to date. Including the annual Rocket Pitch Business idea competition that awards three budding entrepreneurs with start-up capital and services and the TechAwards that acknowledges leaders in the entrepreneurial community for their innovation around technology, there were a total of 38 activities and events that were held leading up to and during the month of November.
Bermuda was able to double the number of events held in 2014 in comparison to 2013 due to the support of the 30 Partners that provided logistical and/or financial support to ensure that the initiative was a success.
In 2014, for the first time, Bermuda participated in a globally recognized event, the Future Agro Challenge. Connor Burns and EJ Burrows of Bermuda Aerial Media were selected as the National Winners.Both represented Bermuda in Greece at the International Finals that took place on November 16th.
EJ and Connor beat out 9 other companies from around the world to bring home the top prize at the International Future Agro Challenge at Industry Disruptors 2014 in Athens, Greece with their use of cutting edge technology in robotics, engineering, and computer software and applying it in diverse ways to aid in agricultural land management.
“The host organizations that guide Global Entrepreneurship Week in more than 150 countries are at the forefront of efforts to reach new audiences and build the connections necessary to support entrepreneurial growth,” said Jonathan Ortmans, president of Global Entrepreneurship Network. “Each one of them is instrumental in helping millions of people around the world unleash their ideas and unlock their potential.”
The prize was awarded during a ceremony as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress. Launched in 2009 in Kansas City [U.S.] at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the event brings together entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, government officials and startup champions dedicated to building one global entrepreneurial ecosystem.
It is organized each year by a local cohost along with the Global Entrepreneurship Network and Kauffman Foundation. GEC Milan was cohosted by the META Group, an international investment and advisory group based in Italy.
The BEDC in partnership with the YEI and Department of Ecommerce is leading plans for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2015 which will run from November 16-22.
