NextBillion - A WDI Publication

About the Event

Asia-Pacific Agri-Food, proud anchor event of Singapore International Agri-Food Week, unites hundreds of international stakeholders across the value chain to build agri-food agility and resilience in Asia-Pacific.

Secure your spot today to join us on October 27-29, 2026, for pivotal discussions and unmatched networking opportunities.

Restoring Africa’s soils, ecosystems and livelihoods through biochar. A focused summit where investors, producers, researchers, project developers and policy leaders explore commercialisation and scalable climate-smart solutions.

EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS TO SOLVE THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST CHALLENGES

Established in India in 2009 and expanding to Kenya in 2014, the Sankalp Forum has a 15-year legacy of supporting entrepreneurs. As an initiative of Intellecap under the Aavishkaar Group, Sankalp Forum has cultivated a dynamic ecosystem for businesses focused on impact. Our mission is to foster sustainable and inclusive development by convening stakeholders, providing essential networks, knowledge, and capital to empower entrepreneurs across the Global South in addressing the world’s toughest challenges.

OUR ECOSYSTEM
The Sankalp Forum thrives on the collective power of its diverse ecosystem, bringing together a wide array of stakeholders who are united by a common goal: to drive sustainable development through entrepreneurship. Each player in this ecosystem, from early-stage entrepreneurs to seasoned investors and policy makers, plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and creating impact. Below, we introduce the key personas within our community, each representing a unique perspective and set of needs.

The world’s leading platform where companies, governments, investors, and development partners align around the data, policies, and strategies needed to scale distributed energy access.

Registration is open!
The Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo returns to Rwanda 27-29 October 2026 at the Kigali Convention Centre. Visit the official 2026 event website for registration, exhibition, and sponsorship information.

About the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo
Jointly organized by GOGLA and the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo is the global meeting place for off-grid solar, mini-grid, productive-use, clean cooking, and e-mobility leaders to connect, collaborate, and shape the next era of energy access. This high-profile, multi-day international event has drawn thousands of participants from around the world over multiple editions.

A room curated for scalers — women founders with paying customers, ready to raise funding, expand, or launch into new markets. 100seats for scalers. Maximum capacity for summit is 200.

You’re a Scaler and this summit if right for you if:
• You’re a founder or co-founder and identify as a woman AND
• You have paying customers or users or very significant number of users
• You’re raising a substantial round now (1M-5M+), or planning to raise a significant growth round within the next 12 months (can be pre-seed to Series A, depending on the sector)
OR
• You have product market fit in one market and now expanding to new geographical markets

This summit is NOT the right fit for you if:
You are very early stage founders at ideation or startup phase with no product-market fit, looking to come and learn and start speaking to investors.

Not a Founder? Find your ticket
All prices are Early Bird and include French VAT at 20%. Bringing 5 or more people? Delegation rates start at 20% off →

UNDP and Generali are launching an MSME-focused Insurance Innovation Challenge in India to support the scaling of insurance products and solutions that are accessible, affordable, and relevant for MSMEs and their workers. Join this information webinar to learn more about the Challenge, including the eligibility criteria, priority areas, application process, and key requirements. The session will also provide an opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification on the Challenge and application process.

Time: 4:00 – 6:00 IST

Women-owned and led SMEs (WSMEs) are important drivers of innovation, job creation, and economic growth, yet many continue to face barriers to accessing the capital needed to scale. Business accelerators and investment readiness programs can help entrepreneurs strengthen their business models, expand professional networks, engage with investors, and build their capacity to attract and secure investment. Yet women entrepreneurs remain underrepresented in these programs. An analysis of more than 300 accelerator programs found that only 13 percent of founding teams were composed entirely of women, compared with 52 percent composed entirely of men. Moreover, participation in accelerators does not necessarily translate into improved access to finance, underscoring the need for more intentional approaches to helping women entrepreneurs secure investment.

The webinar will bring together practitioners and experts to discuss emerging evidence and practical lessons from implementing business accelerators and investment readiness programs for women entrepreneurs. The discussion will explore what works, where implementation challenges persist, and how programs can be strengthened. It will also share key insights from a new We-Fi note on the topic, drawing on lessons learned from We-Fi-supported initiatives.

Time: 9:00 -10:00 am ET