What is GEC+Africa?

The Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa (GEC+Africa) is a premier gathering that connects entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and ecosystem enablers from across the globe to accelerate entrepreneurship on the African continent.

Established by the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) in 2017, GEC+Africa was officially launched by then Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress 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 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-Abrahams, 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 SMMEs 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.