Africa@Scale Summit 2026
African business competitiveness in a new global economy
Three days in Cairo where Africa's homegrown business leaders sit shoulder-to-shoulder with the institutions that believe in them.
5–7 November 2026 Cairo, Egypt
150 +
Founders & CEOs in the room
$ 50 B+
Combined revenue represented
20 +
Countries and markets
3 days
Working sessions, not panels
Why Africa@Scale exists
Africa is actively shaping the global economy. Yet the narrative surrounding African business too often focuses on potential rather than performance, and on start-ups rather than scale-ups.
Africa@Scale is the definitive gathering for the continent's Hidden Champions, the mid-to-large-sized African companies driving real economic growth. It is a space for honest conversations about expansion, a platform for cross-border deals and a direct line to the capital required to compete globally.
Convened by
African Hidden Champions (AHC), whose network exists to turn access into action for the continent's scale-ups.
If we Africans don't participate in growing our economies, nobody will do it for us... The biggest challenge is for us to have confidence in our own economies. If we have confidence in our own economy, then we can do much better.
Through the years
From Malindi to Accra, Africa@Scale has already brought together the rooms where deals are struck, partnerships sealed and hidden champions recognised — Aliko Dangote's remarks above were given at one of these earlier editions. 2026 continues that work.
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2025Building From Within — Accra, Ghana -
2025The Founders Day plenary, 16–18 October, Accra -
2024Pioneering African Business Futures — Malindi, Kenya -
2024A working session, Malindi -
2025Touring Niche Cocoa, a Hidden Champion in Accra -
2025Inside the Jospong Accra compost recycling plant -
Recognising African Hidden Champions -
Africa’s top companies on their path to global leadership -
Partners in conversation -
Delegates at a previous summit -
An evening at a previous summit -
2025The Champions Day gala dinner, Accra -
A reception at a previous summit
The 2026 Theme
Competitiveness in a New Global Economy
The rules of global trade are being rewritten. From carbon markets to AI, from supply chain resilience to new financial architectures, the 2026 Africa@Scale Summit focuses on how African businesses can move from compliance to true global competitiveness.
We are moving beyond the question of “Can we build it here?” to “How do we build it to win everywhere?”
Who should attend?
Africa@Scale 2026 is designed for leaders shaping the next chapter of African business competitiveness — three days to strategically unplug from the operational and move forward.
Who's in the room
Founders & CEOs
of mid-to-large cap African enterprises with $20M+ revenue
Institutional Investors & DFIs
actively deploying capital on the continent
Policymakers & Regulators
shaping the business environment
Global Thought Leaders
in technology, trade and leadership
Why attend
Market access
direct lines into new geographies, capital and cross-border partnerships
Deal momentum
forums built to progress live deals, not just discuss them
Executive coaching
guidance from peers who have scaled through the same complexity
Peer relationships
a room of founders and institutions solving the same problems
Programme Structure
Three days designed for impact, deals and leadership.
Day 1
Building New Opportunities
Exploring the regional and global markets where African businesses can grow with confidence. Identifying products to build, technologies to use and the new financial architecture needed to support scale.
Day 2
Partnering on Projects and Deals
Moving from discussion to signature. Focusing on deal pipelines, DFI perspectives, Pan-African pitch rounds and showcasing investable opportunities within the AHC network.
Day 3
Putting People First
Examining the leadership mindset required to guide businesses through complexity. Focusing on leading self, building resilient cultures and the capital leadership challenge.
Why Cairo?
Cairo stands at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Europe. It is a city that has always understood scale, from ancient monuments to modern megaprojects. As African businesses look outward, there is no better backdrop than a city that has been a global hub for millennia.
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Host resort The Westin Cairo Golf Resort & Spa -
Modern megaproject The Grand Egyptian Museum -
At the foot of the Pyramids The historic Mena House
Attendance at Africa@Scale is highly curated to ensure the quality of conversations and the viability of deal-making.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to attend?
Entry requirements vary significantly by nationality, so there's no single answer we can give here. As stable facts: your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, and most attendees will need to arrange a visa in advance. Start with Egypt's official e-Visa portal (visa2egypt.gov.eg) or your nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate. Once your invitation is confirmed, our events team will follow up with guidance specific to your nationality.
What does an invitation include?
Details on what an invitation covers — sessions, accommodation, transfers — will be confirmed when your invitation is issued.
Where will I stay?
Accommodation arrangements are being finalised and will be confirmed closer to the event.
Will transfers be arranged?
Transfer arrangements (airport, inter-venue) are being finalised and will be confirmed closer to the event.
What should I know about arriving in Cairo?
Arrival logistics will be confirmed closer to the event, alongside your invitation details.