The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, in collaboration with Etlaq by Launch and the Gulf University for Science and Technology’s (GUST) Startup Lab held a “Startup Huddle” event on November 17 at GUST as part of the Embassy’s U.S. Speaker Program celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) from November 16-19.
The huddle featured Ms. Wendy Ekua (W.E.) Da’Cruz, a Ghanaian -American economic strategist and co-founder of the Virtual Global Consultant (VGC) Group, Mr. Mohammed al-Suraye’, founder of Dawraat, Mr. Abdullah al-Benayan, Founder of ROF Group, and Rakan al-Fadhala, Co-Founder of Chocolatiness. The event included two panel discussions highlighting the panelists’ journeys in business innovation, SME development, and entrepreneurship, providing attendees with an opportunity to engage with the panelists, exchange ideas, and share best practices.
As part of her program in Kuwait, Ms. Da’Cruz also conducted a training workshop for the Women’s Leadership and Mentorship Program, met with government representatives from the Youth Authority and the Industrial Bank of Kuwait to explore initiatives supporting SME financing and entrepreneurship, and engaged with female leaders and youth in the fields of economics and technology.
Known as “The Digital Diplomat,” Ms. Da’Cruz co-founded the Virtual Global Consultant (VGC) Group in 2016. Her firm specializes in designing eCommerce systems and digital platforms to facilitate business growth in emerging markets. She also created the Digital Futures program, connecting market research students with African businesses to enhance their global competitiveness.
This year’s “Startup Huddle” embodies the U.S. Embassy’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment in Kuwait.
