The Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa (GEC+Africa) connects entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and ecosystem enablers from around the world to accelerate entrepreneurship on the African continent. Launched in 2017 during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Johannesburg, the event is returning this year to Cape Town for another
Taking place on 16-17 September 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) under the theme “Connecting Africa”, the congress is expected to welcome over 2 000 delegates from over 43 African countries for two days of dialogue, collaboration, investment engagement, and ecosystem building. Many attendees flock from across the continent to the Mother City for one of Africa’s largest entrepreneurship gatherings.
“GEC+Africa was created to connect the people, ideas, and opportunities shaping the future of entrepreneurship on the continent. As we prepare to welcome delegates from across Africa and beyond to Cape Town, partnerships with African Bank are critical in helping us create a platform that drives meaningful collaboration, investment, and growth for African entrepreneurs,” says Carmen Rudd, Executive: Operations at 22 On Sloane and GEC+Africa Lead.
Entrepreneurship on the Tip of Africa
Role players across South Africa that support or actively participate in entrepreneurship understand the difference it makes within the economy. But it isn’t just the private sector that works towards entrepreneurial growth in Africa; it is is governement too. In fact, back in 2017, the event was officially launched by former Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
GEC+Africa was established to advance entrepreneurship and strengthen collaboration across Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The initiative reached a major milestone with the inaugural GEC+Africa Congress in Cape Town in 2024, welcoming over 2 000 delegates from 71 countries, including 38 African nations, and featuring more than 220 speakers across multiple stages and sessions.
Additionally, the Minister of Small Business Development in South Africa, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, has previously highlighted the role of young people as the hope for the future and the people who will help in solving our seemingly intractable problems through transforming our economies. Through initiatives such as the GEC+Africa or SME Funding Summit, spaces are created where these important issues can be addressed, and the government can be called upon to address policy change.
2026 GEC+Africa
Since its inaugural event in 2024, the GEC+Africa has been strategically focused on enhancing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and startups. It had a dual objective of emphasising industrialisation to create job opportunities for youth and exploring the evolving business landscape, considering technological advancements and the effects of digital disruption.
This year, African Bank’s support as a partner of the GEC+Africa reinforces the shared commitment to entrepreneurship, enterprise development and economic inclusion, while creating opportunities for founders and small businesses to access networks, knowledge, and markets that can help them scale.
“Entrepreneurs are the backbone of a thriving economy, driving wealth creation and economic development across the globe,” says Edna Sathekga Montse, Chief Transformation and Sustainability Officer of African Bank.
“We need Africa’s entrepreneurs to harness their audacity to believe, to collaborate, and to start pushing boundaries in terms of products, services, and solutions. Just as importantly, we need to support them in this endeavour. Successful entrepreneurs foster more prosperous communities. They create employment and more avenues for growth. Their success is intertwined with the prosperity of our people.
“Entrepreneurship, therefore, is not simply a business issue. It is our issue. The beauty of GEC+Africa is that it brings together the key players — entrepreneurs, the private sector, government, and industry — to innovate solutions that will benefit us all”.
What to Expect From the Day
In celebration of the event that champions entrepreneurship across Africa, a multinational tour through the continent to build up to the GEC+Africa. This tour was titled the Road to GEC+Africa and took the form of a series of regional bootcamps and pitch competitions across
the continent.
It engaged entrepreneurs from Botswana, Uganda, Namibia, Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and Tanzania, identifying innovative businesses that will advance to the continental stage in Cape Town. The South African leg of the competition will be kicking off in early August.
The regional bootcamp and pitch competition have showcased a wide range of solutions spanning finance, technology, agriculture, climate innovation, healthcare, manufacturing and digital services, highlighting both the diversity and potential of Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa 2026 will take place on 16 and 17 September from 9:00 to 17:00.
Delegates attending GEC+Africa 2026 will have access to keynote sessions, panel discussions, masterclasses, startup showcases, investor engagements, exhibitions and curated networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration and unlock new business opportunities across the continent.
All entrepreneurs, MSMEs, Startups, investors, corporates, ecosystem enablers, policymakers, academics, and professionals with an interest in Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem are invited to register to attend the event.
General admission is free.
It provides access to:
- Access to the GEC+Africa 2026 Exhibition Hall featuring Startups, corporates, ESOs, and country showcases.
- Access to plenary sessions
- Entry to selected breakout sessions, panel discussions, and workshops.
- Access to the GEC+Africa event app to schedule meetings and connect with attendees.
- Daily refreshments at networking areas (at own cost)
Premium access costs US$150.
This will allow access to:
- Full access to all public sessions, workshops, and plenaries.
- Access to the GEC+Africa 2026 Exhibition Hall featuring Startups, corporates, ESOs, and country showcases.
- Priority seating at keynote sessions.
- Access to the GEC+Africa event app to schedule meetings and connect with attendees at the premium lounge.
- Networking opportunities with investors, policymakers, and global ecosystem leaders at the networking cocktail and other closed networking events.
You can register on the website.
