June 4 - The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) today announced that GEC+Africa will return to Cape Town in September 2026, building on the success of its 2024 edition and reaffirming the region’s leadership in pan-African innovation and entrepreneurship.
The announcement was made at the 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC 2025) in Indianapolis, USA. The event gathered thousands of entrepreneurship leaders from nearly every country to explore the boldest ideas shaping entrepreneurship in a time of global transition.
In 2026, GEC+Africa will convene a dynamic cross-section of entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and ecosystem enablers from across the continent and around the world. The event is designed to accelerate inclusive, innovation-driven entrepreneurship across Africa and shape the policies and partnerships needed to support sustainable economic growth.
Originally launched in 2017 during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Johannesburg by then-Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, GEC+Africa has grown into a platform for action and collaboration. Its most recent edition, held in Cape Town in March 2024, attracted more than 2,000 delegates from 70 countries, including representatives from 38 African nations, and featured 226 speakers across 62 sessions.
A highlight of the 2024 congress was a keynote by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, reaffirming the South African government’s support for entrepreneurship as a pillar of economic transformation. The event also saw a call to action from Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, who urged public and private sector leaders to help create one million new businesses by 2030.
In addition to convening top voices in entrepreneurship, GEC+Africa 2024 marked the launch of the 22 On Sloane Cape Town Hub, reinforcing a long-term commitment to empowering startups and SMMEs across southern Africa. The recently released GEC+Africa 2024 Impact Report now serves as a strategic roadmap for stakeholders seeking to invest in Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Further details about dates, programming, and registration for GEC+Africa 2026 will be released in the coming months. Sign up to receive information here.