Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) Annual Conference 2026
The ANDE Global Annual Conference 2026 will be hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing together global stakeholders working on entrepreneurship ecosystems and small and growing businesses (SGBs).
Event Overview
This flagship event of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs focuses on strengthening small and growing businesses in emerging markets. It is designed as a convening space where practitioners, funders, policymakers, researchers, and ecosystem builders collaborate on practical solutions for inclusive economic growth.
Johannesburg is positioned as the host city due to its role as South Africa’s leading innovation and entrepreneurship hub, while also reflecting broader challenges common across the Global South, including financing constraints, regulatory barriers, and high operating costs for SMEs.
Format and Structure
The conference runs over three days and combines plenary discussions with interactive and applied formats such as workshops, thematic sessions, and networking activities. Local excursions are also integrated to showcase regional innovation ecosystems.
Rather than a top-down agenda, the programme is co-created with the ANDE community through open calls for session proposals, allowing members to shape the thematic focus based on emerging priorities in entrepreneurship development.
Participants and Focus
The event brings together a mixed ecosystem of actors working across entrepreneurship and development finance. This includes investors, ecosystem intermediaries, development practitioners, researchers, and policy actors. The emphasis is on practical collaboration rather than purely academic exchange, with a strong focus on how to strengthen SGBs in real operational contexts.
A key feature is its rotating regional model, with the conference alternating between Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Washington, DC. This ensures that each edition is grounded in regional realities while maintaining a global perspective.
Key Elements
The programme is structured around community-driven content development, where members submit and refine sessions in advance. This approach is intended to surface innovative ideas on ecosystem development, entrepreneurship finance, and inclusive growth strategies.
Networking and partnership-building are central outcomes, alongside knowledge exchange on scaling solutions for SGBs in emerging markets.
Context and Relevance
The conference is particularly relevant for actors working on entrepreneurship ecosystems, SME development, impact investment, and inclusive economic growth. It serves as a platform for aligning policy, finance, and practice around constraints facing small businesses in developing and emerging economies.
Previous Editions
Recent conferences have been hosted annually, including editions in 2023, 2024, and 2025, each reflecting the same rotating global model and community-driven agenda approach.