African Bank joins GEC+Africa 2026 as official partner

African Bank has joined the Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa (GEC+Africa) as an official partner ahead of the event in Cape Town in September. GEC+Africa will take place on 16 and 17 September at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Organisers expect more than 2,000 delegates from over 43 African countries. The event will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, businesses and government representatives to discuss business growth, investment and opportunities across African markets.

African Bank’s focus on entrepreneurs

African Bank said the partnership supports its work in entrepreneurship, enterprise development and economic inclusion. The bank wants to help entrepreneurs access business networks, knowledge and markets that can help them grow. Edna Sathekga-Montse, chief transformation and sustainability officer at African Bank, said entrepreneurs play an important role in creating jobs and strengthening local economies. “We at African Bank are delighted to once again partner with GEN Africa for GEC+Africa,” she said. Sathekga-Montse said African entrepreneurs need to keep developing new products, services and solutions. She also said they need support from businesses and institutions around them. “Entrepreneurship therefore is not simply a business issue. It is our issue,” she said. She added that successful businesses can create jobs and open more opportunities in their communities.

GEC+Africa heads back to Cape Town

The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Africa organises GEC+Africa. The organisation launched the initiative in 2017 during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Johannesburg. GEN Africa held the first standalone GEC+Africa congress in Cape Town in 2024. That event attracted more than 2,000 delegates from 71 countries, including 38 African countries. More than 220 speakers also took part. The 2026 congress will run under the theme “Connecting Africa”. Organisers have also been running the Road to GEC+Africa programme across several African countries ahead of the event. The programme has included bootcamps and pitch competitions in Botswana, Uganda, Namibia, Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and Tanzania. The South African leg starts this month. Businesses that perform well in the programme will move on to the continental stage in Cape Town. The participating businesses cover sectors including finance, technology, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, climate innovation and digital services.

What to expect in September

The two day event will include keynote sessions, panel discussions and masterclasses. Entrepreneurs will also have access to startup showcases, exhibitions and opportunities to meet investors and other businesses. Carmen Rudd, executive for operations at 22 On Sloane and GEC+Africa lead, said the event will bring entrepreneurs together with organisations that support them. “GEC+Africa was created to connect the people, ideas and opportunities shaping the future of entrepreneurship on the continent,” Rudd said. For entrepreneurs, the event offers a chance to meet potential investors, partners and businesses from other African markets. African Bank’s involvement also brings a financial institution into discussions about what entrepreneurs need to start, fund and grow their businesses.