Splash Coworking celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week – San Marcos Record

Report on Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025 and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Splash Coworking will spearhead a series of events for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) from November 17-23, 2025. The initiative aims to connect and support entrepreneurs within the San Marcos region. The official theme for GEW 2025, “Together We Build,” underscores the importance of community and collaboration in fostering innovation and economic resilience, principles that are central to achieving global sustainability targets.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The planned activities for GEW 2025 directly support several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering an inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The events are designed to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth by equipping entrepreneurs with the tools and connections needed to create jobs and build successful enterprises.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: By providing platforms for new ideas and facilitating access to capital, the initiative encourages innovation and supports the development of a resilient local economic infrastructure.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: GEW actively empowers entrepreneurs who face structural barriers, thereby promoting equal opportunity and contributing to the reduction of inequalities within the community.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The focus on building a strong, collaborative local business community strengthens the regional economy, making the San Marcos community more inclusive and sustainable.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The collaboration between Splash Coworking, the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, and local academic institutions exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships essential for achieving the SDGs.

Scheduled Activities Supporting SDG Implementation

The following official GEW 2025 events have been scheduled to advance these goals:

1. 1 Million Cups Greater SMTX Town Hall

   This interactive session on November 19 will facilitate dialogue between entrepreneurs and local leaders, fostering community engagement and partnerships (SDG 11, SDG 17). It provides a platform for sharing growth stories and insights to inspire sustainable local development.

2. Small Business Lunch & Learn: How to Access Capital

   Hosted on November 20, this workshop will address a critical barrier to business growth by providing information on business planning, lending, and grant opportunities. This directly supports SDG 8 by enhancing the capacity for small business success and SDG 10 by improving access to financial resources.

3. Bobcat Bazaar Marketplace

   Taking place on November 20, this market showcases student-made products and services. It encourages youth entrepreneurship and provides a practical platform for innovation, contributing to SDG 8 and SDG 9 by fostering the next generation of business leaders.

Conclusion

As stated by GEW Community Organizer Carina Boston Pinales, the week serves to “highlight the entrepreneurial community of the Central Texas area that supports entrepreneurship at all stages.” The Global Entrepreneurship Week movement is a significant global effort that aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By inspiring action and providing knowledge, experience, and connections, these events empower individuals to build enterprises that contribute to a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article’s core focus is on promoting entrepreneurship, supporting small businesses, and fostering local economic activity through Global Entrepreneurship Week. Events like “Small Business Lunch & Learn” and “Bobcat Bazaar Marketplace” directly contribute to creating economic opportunities and supporting the growth of micro- and small-sized enterprises.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The events provide opportunities for lifelong learning. The “Small Business Lunch & Learn” specifically aims to educate entrepreneurs on accessing capital and business planning, which are relevant skills for employment and business creation. The entire week is designed to provide participants with “the knowledge, experience, and connections they need to succeed.”

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article explicitly states that the Global Entrepreneurship Week movement empowers entrepreneurs “especially those who face structural barriers.” This directly addresses the goal of promoting social and economic inclusion for all.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  By fostering a local entrepreneurial ecosystem, the initiative strengthens the San Marcos regional economy. The collaboration between local organizations, government, and community members aims to “enhance the San Marcos region,” making it a more inclusive and productive community.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights collaboration as a key theme (“Together We Build”). It details partnerships between various entities, including Splash Coworking, the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, local elected officials, and Texas State University (via the Bobcat Bazaar), demonstrating a multi-stakeholder approach to achieving common goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.

  The entire initiative, with its focus on connecting entrepreneurs, providing resources (“How to Access Capital”), and offering a marketplace for student vendors (“Bobcat Bazaar”), is designed to encourage and support the growth of small enterprises.

• Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

  The “Small Business Lunch & Learn” event directly provides entrepreneurs with relevant skills in business planning and finance. The “Bobcat Bazaar” provides students with practical entrepreneurial experience.

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

  The article’s statement about empowering entrepreneurs “who face structural barriers” directly aligns with this target of promoting economic inclusion for marginalized or underrepresented groups.

• Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

  The events are a form of regional development planning focused on strengthening the local economic community in the “San Marcos region” and the “Central Texas area” by connecting leaders, entrepreneurs, and resources.

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

  The collaboration between a private entity (Splash Coworking), a civil society organization (Chamber of Commerce), and public figures (“local elected officials”) to host these events is a clear example of this target in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of participants in entrepreneurial events: The article mentions that globally, “10 million people participate.” Locally, the number of attendees at the “1 Million Cups,” “Lunch & Learn,” and visitors to the “Bobcat Bazaar” can serve as a direct indicator of engagement and reach.
• Number of entrepreneurial activities organized: The article states that “tens of thousands of activities” take place worldwide. For the local context, the number of official events hosted (three are listed) is a clear indicator of the scale of the initiative.
• Number of participating organizations/partners: The article names several partners (Splash Coworking, San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, local officials). The total number of collaborating entities is an indicator of the strength of the partnership (Target 17.17).
• Number of new or small businesses supported: The number of student vendors at the “Bobcat Bazaar Marketplace” and the number of businesses attending the “Lunch & Learn” are implied indicators for measuring support for micro- and small-enterprises (Target 8.3).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: sanmarcosrecord.com