Rochester Prepares for Global Entrepreneurship Week, A Regional Showcase of Innovation and Growth

Connected Know
Nov 14, 2025
2 min read

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Global Entrepreneurship Week Rochester, GRWROC, returns November. 18–21,2025 bringing together founders, investors, support organizations and business leaders for four days focused on innovation, collaboration and economic momentum across the region.

Positioned as a region-wide celebration of entrepreneurship, the event highlights the people and programs shaping Rochester’s business landscape. Organizers emphasize that the week is designed to connect entrepreneurs with tools, resources and exposure while strengthening the support networks that help startups overcome growth barriers.

A Week Built for Builders

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) spans more than 200 countries, Rochester’s local programming has grown into a distinct platform for the region’s innovation community. Sessions are expected to include networking events, workshops, panel discussions, and meetups centered on early-stage growth, business strategy, technology adoption and ecosystem development.

The initiative targets founders across industries, from technology and manufacturing to consumer goods, creative services and social enterprises.

Why It Matters for Rochester

GEW Rochester arrives at a moment when startup activity in the region continues to accelerate. The city’s expanding innovation ecosystem, supported by academic institutions, workforce partners, accelerators, and local businesses is drawing increased attention from both regional and national stakeholders.

The event underscores the broader economic importance of entrepreneurship in Western New York: job creation, new technologies, and the growth of locally headquartered companies. It also reinforces Rochester’s position as an emerging hub for early-stage innovation.

A Strategic Opportunity for Connected Know

For Connected Know and its readership, GEW Rochester represents an opportunity to connect directly with the region’s most active founders and business builders. The event offers a concentrated environment for partnership development, stakeholder engagement and content gathering.

Startups and small business leaders in attendance are expected to seek support in areas such as visibility, marketing, technology adoption and go-to-market strategy aligning closely with Connected Know’s work of amplifying regional business activity and startup stories.

What Attendees Can Expect

Programming across the four-day event is expected to feature:

Workshops and learning sessions focused on scaling, digital tools, financial planning and operational readiness.
Panels and discussions with leaders from support organizations, accelerators, universities and established companies.
Networking events fostering collaboration across industries and growth stages.
Founder-focused meetups providing space for open dialogue on challenges and opportunities in today’s entrepreneurial climate.

The week is designed to be practical, accessible and action-oriented, with a focus on connecting founders directly to resources that can help them move forward.

Action Steps for the Ecosystem

Organizations, investors and leaders interested in strengthening Rochester’s business environment can benefit by participating in GEW. Recommended actions include:

Attending targeted sessions aligned with industry or stage of growth.
Engaging with entrepreneurs seeking guidance or partnership.
Leveraging the week to identify emerging companies and future collaboration opportunities.
Supporting the visibility and success of founders across the region.

A Global Movement With Local Influence

While Global Entrepreneurship Week is an international initiative, its impact is deeply local. Rochester’s programming is deliberately built around the region’s strengths — a collaborative business community, strong institutional partners, and a growing culture of innovation.

The 2025 edition aims to serve as both a celebration and a catalyst, energizing the founders who are building the next generation of companies across Western New York.

Connected Know will provide continued coverage leading up to GEW Rochester and throughout the week.

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