Global Entrepreneurship Week will return to Kansas City on Nov. 17-23, and a full schedule of events is planned.

“GEW is one of the best weeks of the year in Kansas City,” said Nathan Kurtz, a manager in entrepreneurship for the Kauffman Foundation, in a release. “Kansas City has been an epicenter of GEW activity since the beginning. Last year, more than 100 local organizations hosted more than 60 events and an estimated 5,500 Kansas Citians participated.”

This year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City will get an early start with several lead-up events, including “Get in the Ring: The North American Startup Clash” from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Midland Theatre, 1228 Main St. Eight finalists will pitch their startups to a noteworthy panel of judges in this event. The winning startup will compete at the “Get in the Ring” international championship in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. For more information, go to www.kauffman.org/GITR.

Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City will officially get underway with the GEW-KC Kickoff Rally at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road. The rally and networking party will highlight business creators from eastern Jackson County, Wyandotte County, the Northland and Kansas City Startup Village.

Other GEW-KC events include:

• KCnext Reverse Pitch, 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 20, Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road: Five of Kansas City’s biggest companies—all looking for partners to commercialize ideas or crack problems—pitch their ideas to local innovators, just like startups pitch to potential investors.

• Business Lessons on Social Media, 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 20, Clay County Annex, 1901 N.W. 48th St.: Public relations pro Lydia Alvarez explains how businesses and entrepreneurs can use social media to their greatest advantage.

• Against All Odds, 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 21, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 12601 W. 95th St., Lenexa: Gail Worth of Gail’s Harley-Davidson, John Yerkes and Matt Rider of Zoomin Market and Belinda Waggoner of hr-haven share their entrepreneurial success stories.

• 3D Printing Workshop, 3 to 4 p.m. Nov. 22, Hammerspace Workshop, Big Room, 440 E. 63rd St.: Only a laptop computer is needed for this class that will show beginners how to design 3D objects and how to operate a 3D printer. (Price: $15)

For the full lineup of GEW-KC events, visit www.kcsourcelink.com/gew.