November is Global Entrepreneurship Month

With business starts up nearly 20% statewide compared to a year ago, entrepreneurs are more important than ever in helping our economy recover and grow. To support you, The Washington State Department of Commerce is once again hosting a series of more than 50 online classes, workshops and interactive sessions throughout November.

From finances and hiring to marketing and exporting, there’s something for everyone during Global Entrepreneurship Month (GEM), whether you’re a first-time business owner or a seasoned vet who needs to re-engage that entrepreneurial spirit to rebuild, recover and restart.

In addition to the live sessions, there are also on-demand, pre-recorded content and the state’s Entrepreneur Academy, a series of 11 free courses taught by a team of experts on subjects ranging from choosing the right location to ideation.

“The range of topics, presenters and experts providing live and on-demand webinars this year is an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs and small businesses to learn about best practices, tips and tools to grow and strengthen their business,” said Susan Joseph Nielsen, Small Business Program Manager for Eastern Washington. “This is the second year Commerce and our partners are hosting live GEM webinars online to create a forum for the exchange of ideas and entrepreneurial expertise while being sensitive to public health protocols. This format encourages participants to engage, ask questions and make a direct connection with presenters during or after the webinar.”

GEM sessions run from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. All sessions are free to attend but do require preregistration. Additional live and on-demand sessions will be added weekly throughout the month.

You can register for 2021 GEM sessions at http://bit.ly/wa-gem.