Saint Lucian Entrepreneurs, What Is The Global Entrepreneurship Congress? A Look Ahead To GEC 2026

The GEC 2026 host city will be announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

My name is Michelle N. Samuel, a Saint Lucian business woman, a member of GEN, and the GEC Ambassador to St. Lucia. In this capacity, it is my responsibility to share information about GEC, and to identify and recruit a contingency of Saint Lucians to attend this year's event. But when and where will it take place?

During the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Global Entrepreneurship Network will announce the host city for the next Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC 2026).

Hosted each year in a different rising entrepreneurial city, the Congress reflects the truly global nature of entrepreneurship today and provides a rare platform to support entrepreneur-led growth across diverse economies and ecosystems – focusing on solutions that reduce barriers and link markets, ecosystems, and opportunities across regions.

GEC 2026 will convene 3,000+ participants, including entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and ecosystem builders from 200 countries and territories.

What Is The Global Entrepreneurship Congress?  

The Global Entrepreneurship Congress is one of the most impactful and influential gatherings of entrepreneurship ecosystem players in the world. Unlike massive conferences or sector-specific events, the Congress brings founders at all stages, alongside investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurship ecosystem builders from every type of economy, into the same room to collaborate on bringing new ideas to life, driving economic growth, and expanding human welfare.

Why GEC Matters Now  

When entrepreneurs can’t start or scale, economies stagnate, inequality widens, and societies lose their most powerful engines for innovation and opportunity.  Today’s youngest firms are already shaping the future economy—creating nearly half of all new jobs despite representing just 20% of total employment (OECD). GEC exists to address these challenges head-on—by bringing all the players together to strengthen innovative approaches to empowering entrepreneurs everywhere.  GEC 2026 is expected to generate millions of dollars in economic value for the host city while delivering tangible outcomes for the global entrepreneurship ecosystem, including cross-border investment connections, policy dialogues, and international partnerships.

Why It Matters to Saint Lucia  

The Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) matters to Saint Lucia because it connects our local entrepreneurs, policymakers, ecosystem builders, and support institutions to the global conversations, capital flows, partnerships, and best practices shaping the future of entrepreneurship. As a small island developing state with a growing MSME sector, Saint Lucia stands to benefit from exposure to innovative policy models, funding mechanisms, inclusive entrepreneurship strategies, and technology-driven solutions that can be adapted to our local realities. Participation in and alignment with the GEC elevates Saint Lucia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, strengthens capacity across public and private stakeholders, and positions local founders—particularly youth, women, creatives, agro-entrepreneurs, and social enterprises—to scale beyond borders, compete globally, and contribute more meaningfully to national economic diversification, resilience, and sustainable development.

Justus William and Jordann Norbert got to experience GEC 2025 in all its splendor.

Who Should Pay Attention, and Why  

Founders

GEC offers something rare: an intimate, curated environment designed around your real needs. It’s a place to share perspectives directly with the ecosystem meant to support your success, build meaningful relationships in priority markets, explore emerging trends, and access tools and resources in a highly interactive setting.  

Investors    

From early-stage angels to family offices and institutional funds, the GEC strengthens the investor back office. Through curated programming and hands-on experiences, investors gain insight into global funding ecosystems, explore new approaches to sustainable fund management, and build quality connections with peers—within a network that extends far beyond the event itself.  

Ecosystem Builders    

There are no siloes at the GEC. It’s a collaborative culture where ecosystem leaders exchange perspectives, learn from cutting-edge global data, and explore proven strategies, programs, and tools from peers around the world. The Congress offers the opportunity to connect with founders, investors, policymakers, and support organizations—while learning how to improve efficiency and get results in your home ecosystem.  

Policymakers

The GEC provides a unique space for government leaders to test policy structures, explore new perspectives, and make real progress on policies that empower constituents and fuel strong economies. Policymakers engage with peers globally, examine how ambitious national strategies are implemented, and join a community that continues to support their efforts long after the Congress is over.

For those shaping the future of entrepreneurship, whether as a founder, investor, ecosystem builder, or policymaker, GEC 2026 is a moment to be a part of.

What to Expect at GEC 2026  

New to the Congress? Take a look at what was accomplished when the GEC returned to the United States last year for the first time since 2009. Co-hosted by GEN and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, GEC 2025 convened more than 3,400 investors, founders, ecosystem builders, and policymakers from 132 countries in Indiana, a rising startup hub and one of the country’s top states for business. Two Saint Lucian Entrepreneurs; 

• View the Agenda + Watch the On-Stage Conversations: Click through the Program Agenda or explore the playlist below to watch GEC sessions on demand.
• Listen to the Testimonials: Hear what entrepreneurs, investors, ecosystem builders, and policy leaders from around the world have to say about the GEC 2025 experience.
• View the Photo Gallery: From the mainstage to the GEN Village, catch the key moments on camera.

The Countdown to GEC 2026 Begins  

The host city for GEC 2026 will be revealed live from the World Economic Forum on January 20. If you’re attending and want to connect with GEN, send an email: davos2026@genglobal.org. If you want to be the first to know when registration opens, sign up for the GEN newsletter. 

For updates on GEC 2026, follow the Facebook page St. Lucia Delegates to GEC https://www.facebook.com/stluciadelegationtogec/ and the WhatsApp channel MNS Consultancy https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vao7H2n5q08lnp0UeU0I.