Global Entrepreneurship Week turns 5 this year, and people in 130 countries are getting in on the celebration.

Billed by its organizers as “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,” GEW is a week-long, worldwide series of events and competitions aimed at inspiring people to engage in entrepreneurship while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and investors.

A smattering of events the past couple of days served as a prelude to GEW, but the event officially begins today and continues through Sunday.

GEW is powered by the Kansas City, Mo.-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and the Kansas City area will enjoy a heaping portion of GEW-related activities all week. But Kansas City isn’t the only place on the Silicon Prairie getting in on the GEW action.

Check out the schedule below for a list of GEW events from all across the region (organized by city and then date), and let us know if you have an event we should add to the schedule.

Silicon Prairie News event: Join us at 6 p.m. Tuesday for the Silicon Prairie News BIG Global Entrepreneurship Week Party in Kansas City. (Learn more)

Des Moines

• Startup Weekend Des Moines – Nov. 16-18 at StartupCity Des Moines 

Kansas City

Monday

• Startup@Kauffman Demo Day – Nov. 12, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Learn more) (Watch the live stream)
• Startup@Kauffman Luncheon featuring Christopher Schroeder – Nov. 12, noon-1 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation (Learn more) (Watch the live stream)
• Kauffman FastTract Networking Workshop – Nov. 12, 3-4 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation (Learn more)
• Break a World Record Speed Networking – Nov. 12, 5-7:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Crown Center (Learn more)
• Meet the Authors of the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program – Nov. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation – (Learn more)

Tuesday

• Business for Breakfast – Nov. 13, 7:30 a.m. at Livestrong Sporting Park (Learn more)
• Managing Benefits: Business Solution Series 2012 – Nov. 13, 7:30-9 a.m. at Kansas City Kansas Community College (Learn more)
• Business Solutions Showcase – Nov. 13, 8-10 a.m. at BMO Harris Bank (Learn more)
• Google for Entrepreneurs Day – Nov. 13, 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation (Learn more)
• QuickBooks Pro/Premier: Introduction – Nov. 13, 12:30-4:30 p.m. at Johnson County Community College (Learn more)
• Winning Government Contracts: The First Steps – Nov. 13, 1-4 p.m. at UMKC (Learn more)
• Kansas Retail Sales and Compensating Use Tax – Nov. 13, 1-5 p.m. at Johnson County Community College (Learn more)
• Introduction to Government Contracting – Nov. 13, 2-4:30 p.m. at Johnson County Community College (Learn more)
• Silicon Prairie News BIG Global Entrepreneurship Week Party – Nov. 13, 6-8 p.m. at Coal Vines (Learn more)

Wednesday

• Expanding Horizons – Nov. 14, 8 a.m.-noon at Union Station (Learn more)
• The Chamber’s Morning Schmooze – Nov. 14, 8:45-10 a.m. at The Roasterie’s Bean Hangar (Learn more) 
• 1 Million Cups – Nov. 14, 9-10 a.m. at the Kauffman Foundation (Learn more)
• Southtown, Waldo and Brookside Monthly Luncheon – Nov. 14, 11:45 a.m. at Wornall Road Baptist Church (Learn more)
• The Entrepreneurial Community in Kansas City: From Gragmented to Collaborative? – Nov. 14, noon-1:30 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation (Learn more)
• Entrepreneurship Spotlight – Nov. 14, noon at Kansas City Kansas Community College (Learn more)
• Sprint Reverse Pitch Day – Nov. 14, 1-6 p.m. at the Sprint Campus (Learn more)
• Connect @ Coffee Girl’s Cafe – Nov. 14, 3-5 p.m. (Learn more)
• Taking an Idea to Market: A GEW Event for High School Students – Nov. 14, 4-6 p.m. (Learn more) 
• Network and Learn with Under30CEO and Innovative Professionals for Entrepreneurs – Nov. 14, 5:30-8 p.m. at Snow & Company (Learn more) 
• The Basics of Writing a Business Plan – Nov. 14, 5:30 p.m. at the UMKC SBTDC Clay County Extension Office (Learn more)

Thursday

• Minority Business Forum – Nov. 15, 7-9 a.m. at the Blue Room (Learn more)
• CEO Roundtable: Work on your business, not in your business – Nov. 15, 8 a.m. at Johnson County Community College (Learn more)
• 2012 HEMP Retreat – Nov. 15, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Downtown Marriott (Learn more)
• GovFest for Entrepreneurs – Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Johnson County Library (Learn more)
• Startup Job Fair – Nov. 15, 5-7 p.m. at Rockhurst University (Learn more)
• KCnext Fall IT Networking Event – Nov. 15, 5-8 p.m. at the College Basketball Experience (Learn more)
• Starting a Business: Success Right from the Start – Nov. 15, 6 p.m. at Johnson County Community College (Learn more)
• Personal Finance – Nov. 15, 6-9 p.m. at Holy Cross School (Learn more)

Friday

• Good Morning, Overland Park – Nov. 16, 7:30 a.m. at the Overland Park DoubleTree (Learn more)
• Exit Interviews: Lessons Learned from Successful Entrepreneurs – Nov. 16, noon-1:30 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation (Learn more)
• Startup Weekend Kansas City – Nov. 16-18 at the Kauffman Foundation (Learn more)

Saturday

• Leadership Workshop – Nov. 17, 10 a.m.-noon at the Kansas City, Mo. Central Library (Learn more)

Iowa City

• Iowa Centers for Enterprise Elevator Pitch Competition – 16, noon at University of Iowa (Learn more)

Kearney, Neb.

• Central Nebraska Business Idea Contest – Nov. 14, 7 p.m. at KRave Underground (Learn more)

Norfolk, Neb.

• Free screening of “Crossing Borders” – Nov. 14, 4 p.m. at Northeast Community College

Did we miss one? To let us know about an event, contact us at editor@siliconprairienews.com.

 

Credits: Video from Kauffman Foundation on YouTube