The Abidjan chapter of The African Roadshow, organised by the Africa GCC Council, will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, government representatives and ecosystem organisations on 30 June 2026 at the Mövenpick Hotel Abidjan.

The event forms part of the road towards the Africa GCC Pavilion at AIM Congress 2026 in Dubai, strengthening investment, commercial and innovation links between Africa and the Gulf region.

Supporting Africa’s Next Generation of Founders

During the Abidjan chapter, the One Million Startups Initiative will present its mission to enable one million startups from emerging and frontier markets to launch, validate, grow and scale globally.

OMS responds to the structural challenges that many African founders face, including fragmented support ecosystems, limited international market access, uneven access to capital and insufficient cross-border growth pathways. Its model connects talent development, startup support, digital infrastructure, local innovation hubs and access to global partners and markets.

Through a practical development pathway, founders can move from initial onboarding and business validation to traction, regional growth and international expansion. The initiative combines academy content, business-development tools, startup visibility, ecosystem access, market intelligence and participation in selected events and missions.

Six Priority Cities Across Africa

One Million Startups is developing programs and ecosystem connections across six priority African cities:

Abidjan, Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Casablanca and Cairo.
Together, these cities provide access to major economic and entrepreneurial markets across West, East, Southern and North Africa. They also serve as strategic points for connecting founders with universities, innovation hubs, business networks, public institutions, investors and international partners.

The African city network forms part of a wider OMS presence spanning more than 40 cities globally, including major business and innovation centres in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. The broader network is designed to help founders and companies build local relationships, identify market opportunities and prepare structured pathways for international growth.

Connecting African Startups to Global Markets

For African founders, participation in One Million Startups can provide access to:

• Business validation and startup structuring
  
• Digital tools, guides and development frameworks
  
• Startup and founder visibility
  
• Local ecosystem and institutional connections
  
• Regional and international market-entry opportunities
  
• Funding opportunities, events and investor-facing activities

OMS is open to solo founders, startup teams, SMEs and growth-stage businesses. Entrepreneurs may apply at different stages, from an initial idea through early traction and international expansion.

From Abidjan to Dubai

The Abidjan event will also contribute to preparations for the Africa GCC Pavilion at AIM Congress 2026. The pavilion will provide a platform for African governments, companies, investment agencies, startups and financial institutions to present opportunities to investors and partners from the Gulf and other international markets.

Through its participation in The African Roadshow, One Million Startups aims to ensure that African founders are not only represented in these international discussions but are also better prepared to access the partnerships, capabilities and market opportunities required to grow sustainable and globally competitive businesses.

International Speakers

The Abidjan chapter will feature international speakers with experience in investment, economic diplomacy and business development, including:

• Ayman Al Awadhi, Co-Founder of The Corporate Group, UAE
  
• Gonçalo Terenas, Founder of the Africa GCC Council
  
• William Kwende, International Investor and Co-Chair of the Africa GCC Council

Their contributions will provide practical perspectives on investment trends, market-entry opportunities and new pathways for African companies seeking to expand internationally.

Event Information

The African Roadshow – Chapter AbidjanDate: 30 June 2026
Venue: Mövenpick Hotel Abidjan
Time: 15:00–19:00