The Global Entrepreneurship Congress is heading to Qatar! This year, GEN's flagship annual event will be hosted in partnership with the Qatar Development Bank in Doha from 21st to 24th September. If you are UK-based or a Brit working abroad, we would love to have you join the British delegation to GEC!
Over the last 15 years, the GEC has developed into the most impactful and influential live gathering of entrepreneurship ecosystem players in the world. GEC 2026 will gather over 5,000 entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and support organisations from 180+ countries for four days of talks, workshops, and above all, networking. It’s the one truly global community for ecosystem builders, focused on sharing innovative approaches to empowering entrepreneurs everywhere. You can learn more here: https://gec.co
Last summer, we convened the largest-ever UK delegation to GEC, with 47 UK ecosystem experts heading to Indianapolis, representing the second-largest visiting delegation. In September, we are looking to break that record, with an expected 70 UK delegates heading to Doha.
What did UK delegates to GEC 2025 highlight as reasons to join?
- Professional development: GEC provides an opportunity to step away from your day-to-day work and immerse yourself in global best practice exchange and networking to develop your personal and organisational strategies. The GEC program will equip you with innovative new approaches to policy, programmes and ecosystem development from around the world.
- Global connections: As the one truly global community for ecosystem builders, GEC allows you to connect - or reconnect - with peers from every country, across ESOs, academics, investors, corporates, policymakers, founders and more.
- Strengthening UK links: Sharing this experience with 70 other UK ecosystem leaders – especially through group dinners, receptions and social activities – allows you to form deep bonds that translate into meaningful collaboration back home.
Read more reflections from UK delegates to GEC 2025: Oli Barrett, Clementine Flack (Royal Academy of Engineering), Chris Haley (Startup Genome), Kaitlin Fritz (Capital Enterprise), Fabio Bianchi (Oxentia), Jo Gray and Miranda Page (Youth Business International), Kendra Byers (Edinburgh Napier University), Jonathan McAlpin (Enterprise Northern Ireland), Martine Abboud (Creo Incubator), Katie Coombes (Rebel Business School).
What to expect as part of the UK delegation:
- Pre-departure hybrid event to meet other delegates and receive a briefing from the British Embassy Doha and GEN Global staff.
- Briefing pack detailing members of the delegation and key information about the event.
- Private WhatsApp group to aid coordination between delegates;
- Scheduled group dinner and group photo, plus opportunities for social and cultural activities around the Congress.
The GEC runs September 21-24 (meaning you’ll want to arrive on Sunday 20th) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. If you can join us, we can provide a limited number of registration codes that zero the $400 conference fee, leaving you to cover your travel and accommodation.
To learn more about the event and to request a place on the UK delegation, please contact us.
We hope to see you in Doha!
