Global Entrepreneurship Week inspires record-breaking number of Canadians to join international movement to advance entrepreneurship

Toronto, Ontario – November 17, 2014 – Futurpreneur Canada (formerly the Canadian Youth Business Foundation) announced today that this year's Global Entrepreneurship Week will surpass all previous years' celebrations, with a record 475 events taking place across Canada from November 17-23, 2014. As the Canadian host for the sixth consecutive year, Futurpreneur Canada is inspired by the momentum this international movement is seeing in Canada, with more partners and young people exploring their potential as self-starters and innovators and encouraging others to do the same.

Each year, Global Entrepreneurship Week connects more than 7.5 million people in 150 countries with potential collaborators, mentors and investors through local, national and global activities, introducing them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities to start their own businesses. With hundreds of in-person and even more online events planned this year in communities all across Canada, the number of young people looking to discover entrepreneurial opportunities is clearly on the rise.

"In this tough job market, an increasing number of young people are choosing to grow their innovative ideas into new businesses," said Julia Deans, CEO, Futurpreneur Canada. "The climate for these young entrepreneurs is especially ripe in Canada, where funding is more accessible than in other countries and the costs of starting a business are among the lowest in the G20."

Futurpreneur Canada hopes Global Entrepreneurship Week will ignite a national discussion about how entrepreneurs, governments, businesses and academic institutions can work together to make business ownership a more attractive career option for young people. The organization is encouraging Canadians to take part by hosting or attending events, or helping spread the word through social media.

More than ever, young people are seeing entrepreneurship as a viable career choice. Times have changed and entrepreneurs today have more opportunities than in years past.

"Now is the time for young people to consider entrepreneurship for themselves," said Ronnen Harary, Chairman and co-CEO, Spin Master Ltd., and member of Futurpreneur Canada's Board of Directors, who launched his business in 1994. "As I've learned over the past 20 years, there's no experience like starting a company and working for yourself. I hope the conversations taking place during Global Entrepreneurship Week encourage even more young people to take the entrepreneurial leap."

"I feel very lucky to have started my business at a time when technology is so accessible," said Samantha Chan, founder of Paintlounge Inc. "From learning new skills, to communicating with customers and conducting daily administrative tasks – all the information you need is at your fingertips thanks to the internet."

Included among planned Global Entrepreneur Week events in Canada are:

The City Battle: For the past two years, Ottawa has hosted more events than any other Canadian city. It is taking on challengers this year to see if anyone can beat its record and Futurpreneur Canada will award the title of "Most Entrepreneurial Canadian City" to the city with the most events. It's a tight race, with Ottawa and Vancouver battling it out at the top.

On-campus Celebrations: Eleven volunteer Campus Ambassadors are championing entrepreneurship at their schools by coordinating events and making connections, and 10 student groups are hosting Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur events to educate 18-24-year olds about entrepreneurship.

Award-winning Mentorship: Behind the Scenes: This mentoring webinar is open to anyone around the world and features a panel of award-winning mentors.

Policy and government: On Friday, November 21, elected officials across Canada will be meeting with entrepreneurs as part of the Day in the Life Challenge.

Watch the early highlights video.

For more information about Futurpreneur and Global Entrepreneur Week events in Canada, visit www.futurpreneur.ca/GEW and follow @futurpreneur and @gewcanada.

About Futurpreneur Canada
Futurpreneur Canada (formerly the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, or CYBF) has been fueling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada's young enterprise for nearly two decades. We are the only national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Our internationally recognized mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,800 volunteer mentors. Futurpreneur Canada is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance, the Canadian member of The Prince's Youth Business International, and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week.
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