About SEW

    What is SEW?
    Startup Europe Week (SEW) is a series of events dedicated to supporting communities of entrepreneurs by connecting them to their local ecosystems, celebrating their ideas and knowledge, and inspiring upward movement in their professional ventures—no matter where they are or where they come from.

    We support local entrepreneurs across Europe through our SEW Annual Events, which are made possible by our SEW Co-Organizers: local leaders who elect to be involved in expanding upon the resources available for their local entrepreneurial community. They collect and provide resources that include anything from advisory to co-working spaces, grants to open innovation opportunities, among several others. Regional networks of businesses, advisors, investors, and governmental institutions provide such resources, but our SEW Co-Organizers cohesively and efficiently bring this information and wealth of networks together.

    We ensure that every entrepreneur (whether novice or experienced) is aware of the resources available to them, how these resources give them an advantageous head start, and who in their community can join them in this long journey. This requires that SEW consistently brings local, regional, and city-level perspectives and knowledge to the table.

    This is where new ventures begin.
    Foster Collaboration
    Empower Changemakers
    Champion Innovation
    Expand your network
    Where is SEW?

    SEW is present in more than 300 cities in almost 50 countries, with 250+ Co-Organizers, being the largest regional entrepreneurship event in the world. During SEW 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 more than 200,000 entrepreneurs attended our events around the globe with another 8 million individuals impacted indirectly.

    Why choose SEW?

    Our journey began in 2015 out of a simple mission: to provide fundamental support for entrepreneurs — which often stems from their own neighbourhoods — without getting sidetracked by the hype around startups, scale-ups, and unicorn stories from the idealized Silicon Valley. While we recognize the inspiration those stories can offer, they often lack practical relevance for individuals looking to get started, particularly those without access to venture capital or a thriving entrepreneurial system. Our core belief is that anyone, anywhere, can embark on an entrepreneurial journey, provided that they have a clear understanding of the opportunities in their city or region. This typically involves two key factors: access to local resources and the unique advantages that their geography offers.

    Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial hubs have become increasingly trendy since the 2008 economic crisis. While we know that entrepreneurship can be an extraordinary and transformative path, like any journey, it comes with its challenges. Anyone who claims to possess the “magic formula” for success in entrepreneurial venture is, at best, naive. From our experience, we understand that any region can foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem if the right foundational elements are in place — chief among them, supportive individuals. We have good news for you: these individuals exist everywhere.

    Through their efforts, many of the doors that were once closed begin to open for entrepreneurs — not necessarily through investment, but often through meaningful connection, pilot projects, or in-depth conversations. From these humbling beginnings, regardless of where entrepreneurs come from, they can develop ideas to solve problems and create innovative products or services. In the entrepreneurial world, there is no “right” or “wrong” path, only the realities that each entrepreneur must navigate. These include the realities of the market they serve and, most importantly, the passion, resilience, and vision of the people behind the ventures we call businesses and startups.

    Ultimately, SEW exists to help each local community uncover the truth about their own local reality, empowering entrepreneurs to begin, grow, and thrive.

    BECOME PART OF OUR COMMUNITY
    Apply to be a Co-Organizer

    Please download the Co-Organizer Application Form below if you are interested in hosting a SEW 2025 Event!