The Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa (GEC+Africa) is a premier gathering that connects entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and ecosystem enablers from around the world to accelerate entrepreneurship on the African continent.
Established as a regional gathering based on the model of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, GEC+Africa was officially launched by then-Deputy President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa during GEC 2017 in Johannesburg – signaling a strong commitment to unlocking Africa’s entrepreneurial potential.
In 2024, GEC+Africa was hosted in Cape Town from 13 to 14 March at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The event welcomed approximately 2000 delegates from 70 countries, including 38 African nations, with an impressive lineup of 226 speakers across 62 breakout sessions.
A key moment from the 2024 edition was the keynote address by Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile, who reaffirmed government support for entrepreneurship as a driver of economic transformation.
One of the most powerful outcomes was a call to action from Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni, challenging the public and private sectors to help create one million new businesses by 2030. This bold goal was rooted in insights from a white paper by 22 On Sloane and reflects the congress’s ability to influence meaningful policy and action.
The congress also marked the launch of the 22 On Sloane Cape Town Hub, reinforcing a long-term commitment to empowering Startups and MSMEs across the region.
The GEC+Africa 2024 Impact Report, released after the event, now serves as a guiding framework for stakeholders committed to shaping Africa’s entrepreneurial future offering real strategies, data, and opportunities for collaboration.
GEC+Africa 2026 brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and industry leaders from across the continent to connect, learn, and unlock real opportunities for growth.
Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, Startups, corporates, and ecosystem builders from across Africa and beyond, opening doors to partnerships and collaborations.
Gain access to investors, funding opportunities, markets, and business support designed to help Startups and MSMEs scale sustainably.
Learn from experienced founders, policymakers, and experts through practical discussions, panels, and keynote sessions focused on real-world solutions.
Showcase your business, ideas, or solutions to a diverse audience while positioning yourself within Africa’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In March 2024, Cape Town hosted the first-ever Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa (GEC+Africa), drawing over 2,000 delegates from across Africa and around the world. Startups, MSMEs, investors, corporates, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders came together for two powerful days that set bold new goals for entrepreneurship on the continent.
The Global Entrepreneurship Network is a 501(c)3 organisation that operates an array of programmes in 200 countries aimed at making it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business.
22 On Sloane is Africa’s largest entrepreneurship campus, enabling Startups and MSMEs to scale through expert programmes, funding opportunities, and access to global markets.
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