It has been nearly a decade since the .CO domain launched to the world, ushering in a new era of innovation and opportunity. Increasingly .CO has become the destination domain extension for a new generation of start-ups, innovators and entrepreneurs. Every day, exciting new businesses and brands are building the future on .CO — disrupting the status quo and doing their part to change the world.
Every idea and budding brand deserves a place to call its own and our mission has not wavered in the slightest: to let every brand tell its tale from the comfort of its own digital home, where it can grow and see its dreams fulfilled.
What makes it worth celebrating though?
Probably the fact that startups are growing exponentially worldwide, year on year. There are currently 344 startups across the world that have a valuation of over 1 billion USD of which more than 78 were added this year. According to the Entrepreneurship Index, 2019 by CEOWORLD magazine, the United States has been recognized as the world’s most entrepreneurial country, with the United Kingdom coming in second. Countries like Israel, Poland, Sweden, and India also found spots in the Top 10.
Life as an entrepreneur is exciting, full of surprises and also disappointments. Picture this – you’re a one-person army but also a team player, switching hats at the drop of a dime while still ensuring you’re heading in the right direction to build the business you’re dreaming of. (No wonder most entrepreneurs are rumored to start their day at 4 am!) Even if you manage to keep your business afloat and better yet, taste success, you’re the last one to eat.
It takes the right amount of drive, passion, creativity, business acumen, people skills, and a never-say-die attitude to make it, and that’s what makes it worth celebrating.
The largest celebration of entrepreneurship is the annual Global Entrepreneurship Week activation. Like most—if not all—new ventures, Global Entrepreneurship Week started with an idea. What if there was a global movement to inspire people everywhere to unleash their ideas and take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey?
Representatives from 37 countries were on hand when GEW was announced in 2007 by Jonathan Ortmans, president of GEW, Carl Schramm, former president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation and Gordon Brown, former prime minister of the United Kingdom. Now more than a decade later, GEW boasts tens of thousands of events across 170 countries, attracting everyone from students, seasoned entrepreneurs, aspiring business owners, and fence-sitters simply waiting for a nudge into the startup world.
.CO is also doing it’s part to support startups, whether you are bootstrapping, going public or trying to secure seed funding. We have curated an assortment of valuable discounts, freebies, access to networking events and helpful write-ups and hints to help you on your entrepreneurial journey. From a 50% discount at BuildMyLogo to tickets to global Startup Weekend events, being a part of the .CO community has its perks!
To our innovators with more than 2.3 million registered domains across nearly 200 countries and territories worldwide, we applaud you. To celebrate this year we are showcasing the work of some of our favorite hustlers, dreamers and doers around the world. We sat down and got some insight into their startup journey – one that’s replete with obstacles and those eureka moments! (You never know what strikes a chord and helps you find the missing piece in the puzzle, do you?) So sit back and listen to some of the flourishing startups that are part of the .CO family.
