Global Entrepreneurship Week

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Wilmington

GEW Wilmington is a celebration of entrepreneurship in the greater Wilmington region. It highlights some of the best of Wilmington's entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

November 17-23, 2025

GEW Wilmington is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, a celebration of entrepreneurs that:

Removes barriers and welcomes all

GEW is an international movement, occurring in 200 countries, with 10 million people participating in 40,000 activities. Because the focus of GEW is about removing barriers and inviting all to the entrepreneurial community, every program is a critical component of helping everyone to succeed through entrepreneurship.

In 2025, Brunswick Community College Small Business Center, Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center, and several UNCW programs including the Career Center, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC), and Research and Innovation are offering GEW Wilmington events. Register now and be sure to post about your experience using #GEW2025!

GEW Week

Save the Date for GEW - November 17-23, 2025!

17th

Events coming soon!

18th

Entrepreneur Day

Connecting classroom learning with entrepreneurs

All day, All around the region

Organized by: CIE

17th-18th

NC IDEA Ecosystem Summit

Research Triangle Park

Organized by: NC IDEA

19th

1 Million Cups Wilmington (at CIE and online)

Time: 9:00-10:00 AM

Organized by: The entrepreneurial community

More info: No registration needed, just show up!

20th

Mentor Madness

A fast-paced, caffeinated speed mentoring program to connect startup and scaleup entrepreneurs with expert advisors. Entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to meet with 3-4 Mentors, and CIE Mentors will have an opportunity to meet with 3-4 entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur application - coming soon
CIE Mentor application (only) - coming soon

Time: 8:30-10:30 AM

Location: CIE

Organized by: CIE

21st

Events coming soon!

Looking Back on GEW 2023

In 2023, GEW was supported by many Wilmington Coalition partners and UNCW programs including: Brunswick Community College Small Business Center, Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center, Channel powered by Live Oak Bank, Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, and UNCW Cameron School of Business, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Research and Innovation.

15 mentors participated in Mentor Madness and more than 2000 attendees participated in GEW CIE events, and GEW CIE sponsored and partner events, in 2023.

Other CIE Events and Programs

Available Space at CIE

Contact The CIE

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Phone: (910) 962-2206

cie@uncw.edu

803 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403-5676

Regular Hours

Monday to Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday - Closed

Global Entrepreneurship Week