We are into the 6-week countdown for the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Melbourne, 19-22 September. I have been chatting with a few of you who are preparing your own visit as well as those of you building delegations from your region.
International delegations are forming around countries. Around two months out from the GEC, we had registrations from over 120 countries with an average delegate size of around 7 per country. Over 30% of the countries included over 10 delegates.
We will also have delegations by region, particularly in Australia who will represent by state and region. Some Australian state and local governments are supporting delegations to attend the GEC to represent their region and bring insights back to their communities.
Below I capture some ideas raised in recent conversations, points to consider based on my own experience from two prior GECs, and insights from planning the 2023 Melbourne GEC over the past year and a half. Please add your own insights for those who have attended past GECs and ask any questions you might have so others might benefit.
Also, if you haven't already, be sure to purchase your tickets now so we can best support you in co-creating outcomes for your delegations from your region.
Get to know each other
There is so much value in being part of a group of people sharing a common background, even if that is just coming from the same region. Build relationships with your delegation now before the GEC. Host Zoom sessions or meet in person to get to know each other, share ideas, and discover common backgrounds and interests.
Become each other's advocates
By getting to know each other's interests, you will also become advocates for each other. The GEC is a large event and there is an inevitable fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) from missing a session or network connection. Having a team on the floor where you are all looking out for each other's interests makes a huge difference. I can't count the number of times in Riyadh when one of my co-delegates brought someone to me I needed to meet, or I pulled someone into a conversation where they might find value.
Know your asks and interests
There is a lot to take in at the GEC. We developed the program with lenses or domains based on: 1) Sector - including food and agriculture, space, health and life sciences, creative industries, energy and resources, and fintech; 2) Impact - including climate and decarbonisation, ecosystem development and placemaking, education and youth, inclusive entrepreneurship, post-conflict, and sustainability; and 3) Function - including government and policy, incubation and ecosystem building, investment and risk capital, university and research, entrepreneurs/startups/scaleups, and corporates and industry. I created a network map of the program as of a few weeks back here and you can see the updated program here.
Think about what areas add the most value to what you do and where you might add the most value. If you are a founder, take advantage of the benefits of Startup Alley where you get a discounted entry for two founders and exclusive showcase and investor connections.
Create a public prospectus
Create a prospectus, page, or portfolio of the people in your delegation. You can promote this beforehand to let people know your interests. Include names, profile pictures, organisations represented, interests, and what they are seeking at the GEC.
When we went to Riyadh, I found having a prospectus valuable to send to people to line up meetings. Once this got into the wild, I also had people coming up to me asking to be connected to our delegation based on the information in the prospectus.
Your delegation's brand
When you go to the GEC as a group, people get to know you as a collective, as in "Oh, you're one of the Australians!" or more specifically "You're one of those from Western Australia!" As a delegation, it can help to have a shared understanding of the strengths of where you come from and how you collectively represent your region. Branding such as shirts, hand-outs, or pins can also help to identify with each other.
Your delegate lead
Raise your hand to be the lead or nominate and support someone else to be the lead for your delegation. It helps to have someone be a primary contact and look after the needs of the group. In my first GEC in Bahrain, I appreciated my delegation lead facilitating introductions and guiding me through the event. In Riyadh at my second GEC, I was the delegation lead and found the experience incredibly rewarding.
A local Melbourne and Australian connection
As you find the areas of interest for yourself and your delegation, reach out to organisations in Australia now that can support your visit. Many countries have cross-country chambers of commerce or other business groups that can help you navigate engagement. You can also review the map of the Australian innovation ecosystem for agencies and organisations to connect with. Drop me a message if there is a connection of interest. From our trip to Riyadh, the Australia Saudi Business Council was amazing and made our trip unforgettable.
Make the most of your visit
Australia is a long way from many countries. Make the most of your visit by taking a few days to see the country or other aspects of Melbourne or Victoria. From a visit to central Victoria to hopping into any of the other seven states and territories, you will find something for everyone. I created a guide for international delegates here you may find useful.
You can find additional information on logistics including visas and accommodation on the GEN Australia website.
Engage in challenges to Transform your World
Unique to this year's GEC is a platform for us to collectively develop ideas and opportunities for shared challenges. We are intentional about the theme for this year of "Transform your World", as we apply innovation and entrepreneurship to core challenges facing our society. You can read more and register on the application leading up to the GEC on the GEN Australia Nectir registration page.
We are loading challenges into the system over the next few weeks, informed by workshops with over 500 leaders over the past year. You can sign up now and add your ideas or examples and work with others to solve core challenges including:
Climate
- ClimateTech for decarbonisation and industry transition
- ClimateTech scale: Funding, global connections, and advocacy
Youth entrepreneur education
- Connect youth entrepreneurship education with the ecosystem
- Develop entrepreneur education capability in schools
Incubation
- Improve incubator quality, specialisation, and connections
- Inclusive incubation
- Measure Incubator impact
Rural, regional, and remote entrepreneur ecosystems
- Rural community workforce development and attraction
- Develop rural innovation and entrepreneurship
Space
- Advancing space sector technology capability
- Space sector culture, communication, and awareness
- Government space sector policy and programs
- Unlock private sector value in the space sector
Let's co-create your delegation experience
Connect with me if you have questions or ideas about your trip to Melbourne in September. The GEC is a participatory Congress that only works when the right people are in the room. If you are reading this, then I expect you are the right people and that you know people who can both add and receive value from the GEC experience. I look forward to sharing with you and your delegations this September in Melbourne as we collectively work together to Transform your World.