An official welcome from Oceania's thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem will be delivered by leaders from all six Australian states.

Leaders will share the global state of entrepreneurship and cutting-edge initiatives to support and empower new entrepreurs.

Details coming soon

From champion surfers to successful entrepreneurs, these two know how to withstand peaks and troughs, and ride the waves in between. Introducing keynote speakers Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning. With intimate knowledge of entrepreneurship from ground level up, Mick and Kelly are part of a global entrepreneurial movement that’s building momentum. Find out why 2023 […]

The United States is home to some of the world's leading startup ecosystems and is one of the most desired markets for up-and-coming companies. This session, designed for startups that want to expand to this market, will share insights and strategies for navigating its complexities and achieving success. Seasoned US-based investor Scott Fox will host […]

Effective policymaking is critical for governments wishing to support entrepreneurship and innovation-driven economies.

The rate of change in tech is exponential, but the rate of change in traditional education is flat, according to the founders of Australia-based education startup HEX. The company, a rising star in Melbourne, delivers a new kind of learning that is immersive, up-to-date, and based in the real world. The team has supported more than […]

We are living in the age of the Great Convergence. Silos are over. Everything is interrelated and interconnected. Nature has built her ecosystems on this premise for thousands, if not millions of years. Indigenous tribes have lived in an interrelated and intertwined ecosystem as passed down through yarning over generations. Humans had a desire to […]

The Founders Summit offers bringing together entrepreneurs from some of the world's leading startups in a community that extends beyond the life of the Congress.

In today's world, consumers expect more than just goods and services from the companies they buy from.

Young people, and young entrepreneurs, have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic and the global cost of living crisis.

This Startup Nations Summit session will explore the structure and impact of scaleup programs in driving economic growth and scaling startups, including through global commercialization. With practical examples and insights from industry experts, participants will learn how building the “top of the pyramid” transcends an ecosystem, from multiplying economic impact to building a culture of […]

This Startup Nations Summit session will discuss how, with the rise of deep tech, scarce government resources are increasingly wasted, and opportunities for increased economic impact are missed because of the growing mismatch between portfolios of existing accelerator and incubator programs – often developed several years ago – and the new reality of startup ecosystems. […]

The center of gravity for the world's entrepreneurship landscape is rapidly shifting. No longer do innovators need to be in Silicon Valley to succeed. Increasingly, small cities are embracing the opportunity to build vibrant innovation ecosystems. Join this session to learn from ecosystem leaders who are taking charge to boost opportunities in their communities. Using […]

Funding fuels innovation. Both are in high-demand as countries and communities strive to be leading destinations for talent and technology. At the Global Business Angels Network (GBAN) Summit, angel investors from around the world will share new approaches, learnings and opportunities for cross-border investing that spurs and supports new entrepreneurial growth with potential to transform […]

Entrepreneurship and innovation are not limited to big cities. In many countries, self-employment rates are higher in rural areas than in highly-populated urban centers. It's time to challenge the common misconception that entrepreneurial opportunities are scarce in regional areas. Join this panel of experts for an eye-opening discussion on the growing culture of innovation in […]

From moon missions to commercial space travel and beyond, innovations in the space sector are captivating entrepreneurs and propelling new technology development for use both on Earth and beyond the Kármán line. National governments play a critically fundamental role in the cultivation and maturation of commercial space ecosystems. This session will explore the role of […]

The Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE), created by Y Combinator, a technology accelerator based in Silicon Valley, was introduced in 2013 as a standardized investment agreement for startups to raise funding from investors. It gained popularity in the Valley as an alternative to traditional equity financing options, and has since been modified by investors […]

The digitization and automation of services mean governments can do more with less to help startups — reducing costs and improving efficiencies that minimize barriers to entry, lead to a rise in startup formation, and support a strong economy.

As disruptive technologies, new ways of work and learning, and global talent gaps continue to shape our world, educators have a unique opportunity to explore new configurations, program offerings, and learning experiences. In this panel, action-orientated education disruptors, corporates, organizations, and diverse learners will share their case studies and experiences. Discover the crucial role business […]

By invite only. The GEN Compass Awards celebrate excellence in entrepreneurship, policymaking, investing, support programs and research – and honour those who are making a difference in helping entrepreneurs start and scale around the world. The top leaders in entrepreneurship ecosystems globally will be recognized across 16 categories.

Growth is transforming life here on Earth and our understanding of the universe beyond —  and startups are playing a critical role.

Session description coming soon.

This Startup Nations Summit session will explain how to precisely quantify the shape of funding gaps at each round. Delegates will discuss traditional and novel funding policies to address each gap and increase access to startup and growth capital. Making use of the latest global research and case studies, delegates will use different lenses to […]

The state of entrepreneurship is evolving. More than ever, founders are strapped for time, resources, connectivity, and community. In order to cultivate healthy, thriving businesses, entrepreneurs need all these things and so much more.

In this session, research leaders from around the world will explore key knowledge gaps, priorities and opportunities for new research in 2023 and beyond.

Historically, investor demographics have skewed largely male and white. Slowly, the field is diversifying - a transition that is imperative to a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem that empowers all and grows economies. Greater diversity amongst investors leads to greater diversity in funded founders, and that leads to more economically empowered individuals. Communities around the world are […]

Effective partnerships between the public and private sectors are critical to a thriving innovation ecosystem. Using case studies from global panelists, this discussion will examine the ingredients of effective partnerships and successful frameworks that drive transformative problem-solving and create new economic opportunities underpinned by innovation and entrepreneurialism.

Most entrepreneurs fail to raise investment. Why? Investors and companies have no money to invest? Investors and management boards have no skills to support them? The correct answer is – too much risk! The real dilemma lies on the border of potential and reality.

This Startup Nations Summit session will focus on how governments can strengthen ecosystems by attracting entrepreneurs, startup talent and investment. This includes defining an ecosystem's unique selling proposition, creating a compelling story, and implementing effective attraction campaigns and soft-landing programs.

In this panel discussion featuring directors of major Australian tech and startup conferences, discover the role that conferences play in ecosystem and community development. This session provides a rare opportunity for leaders in the tech and startup conference space to come together and discuss the regional variances and similarities in the conference landscape, and the […]

Founders thrive on connectivity. According to GEN research, startup communities with higher levels of local connectedness translate to an increased number of startups – and founders with high levels of connectivity grow their revenue twice as fast as those with lower levels. How to Build a Startup Community Anywhere will explore best practices and strategies for […]

Countless pitch competitions attempt to address these challenges, but none are quite like the Entrepreneurship World Cup. What makes it unique? It's not just a pitch competition that benefits those who top the podium — but a life-changing experience for all who enter.

Access to finance is one of the most significant barriers to starting and scaling a company, with minorities and underrepresented communities facing the highest hurdles. Innovative approaches to financing are needed to support equitable access to entrepreneurship and business growth opportunities.

Join us for a Fireside Chat with Astronaut, Engineer, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist Sara Sabry, the first Egyptian, and first Arab and African woman in Space. She will talk about her journey, how one can use the difficulty to their advantage, as well as the power of visualization. Sara is an Egyptian-Lebanese mechanical and biomedical engineer, […]

The Founder Institute (FI) is the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Since launching in 2009, its team has helped launch over 6,800 companies across 200+ cities and six continents. In this session, co-founder and CEO Jonathan Greechan will take a deep dive into the accelerator's history, including the wins, losses, and learnings leveraging the data his team has compiled […]

Capital can make or break a new company, and access to funding is consistency ranked as a top challenge facing founders. But not all capital is created equal. What kind is right for your business? How will money-raising decisions impact your company in the short and long-term? Learn from seasoned founders who have successfully raised […]

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established in 2015, are an urgent call for action by all countries. The 17 goals were drafted with the understanding that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to […]

With sector revenue expected to reach 1 trillion or more by 2040, this is an exciting time to be in the space industry. But what, exactly, is a space startup? What industries have applications in space?

In recognition of extensive entrepreneurial development innovations taking place in cities globally, GEC 2023 will host the inaugural Global Mayors Forum in Melbourne. The forum will provide a unique global platform for mayors to share policy approaches to technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. The Global Mayors Forum will discuss topics including: Entrepreneurship strategies and ecosystem building […]

Every founder, and every community culture, is unique. While entrepreneur support organizations have different approaches to supporting founders, there are common blocks to build upon when establishing entrepreneurship programs that support entrepreneurs “where they are” — regardless of development stage or mindset.

With programs supporting startups and entrepreneurship ecosystems in 200 countries, the Global Entrepreneurship Network reaches millions of people through its digital platform

According to GEN research, startup communities with higher levels of local connectedness translate to an increased number of startups – and founders with high levels of connectivity grow their revenue twice as fast as those with lower levels. In more than 60 cities around the world, a program called Startup Huddle is working to strengthen […]

This Startup Nations Summit session will examine how governments can prevent the waste of precious years and large portions of their budgets and by using techniques proven across 40 countries to assess their entrepreneurship ecosystem success factors, gaps and sub-sector strengths. This approach allows governments to shape short and long-term strategies leveraging global best practices […]

Behind every entrepreneur and founding team are lived experiences of resilience, grit and failure. The journey is like no other - with failures leading to breakthroughs and resilience leading to results that may fundamentally influence entire sectors and communities. In this session, a panel of storytellers will explore the importance of sharing and documenting the […]

Ready to level-up your angel investor network? Learn the most effective strategies and common challenges facing fund and network managers as they start and grow. This session will arm investor networks with case studies, tools and principles to maximize the number and quality of deals. Panelists will also discuss the nuanced influences that play a […]

Policymaking can be a lengthy and expensive process. This workshop, part of the Startup Nations Summit, will examine how governments can prevent the waste of precious years and large portions of their budgets by using techniques proven across 40 countries to assess ecosystem success factors, gaps and sub-sector strengths. With reliable data on what entrepreneurs need […]

The mining of natural resources accounts for 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In Australia the situation is more stark, with 30% of emissions attributable to mining. The industry faces a looming challenge: the transition to renewable green energy will require more than five times the amount of mine-produced materials by 2040. Entrepreneurs and global […]

After four days of impactful sessions, information sharing and networking, delegates will return home with new entrepreneurial insights and inspiration — a meaningful mix with the potential to transform our world. In the Closing Ceremony, GEC 2023 organizers will announce the 2024 host city and issue a renewed call to action to delegates ahead of […]