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INSEAD Entrepreneurship Forum 2026

04 - 05 Feb '26

INSEAD Entrepreneurship Forum 2026

INSEAD Middle East Campus
Public
04 - 05 Feb '26

INSEAD Entrepreneurship Forum 2026

INSEAD Middle East Campus
Public

Overview

Step into the new wave of innovation at Future Makers: The Next Era of Entrepreneurship, a forward-looking forum bringing together founders, investors, and changemakers who are redefining the startup landscape. This event explores how founders are creating opportunities using the latest technologies and how their solutions are shaping the GCC and globally.

The two-day Forum – featuring a blend of keynotes, fireside chats, panels, masterclasses, workshops and company visits – will cover:

  • Current Trends – deep dives into various sectors and how AI and digital transformation are reshaping markets.
  • Attraction of New Talent – why and how global elite entrepreneurs are relocating to the GCC region.
  • Hot Startups & Success Stories – spotlights of emerging companies with high growth potential and inspiring paths of international scaling.
  • Funding Landscape – panels addressing where capital is flowing and strategies for attracting investment.
  • Global Entrepreneurship & Cross-Pollination – case studies on learning from other ecosystems and building bridges for collaboration.

Who should attend?

This forum is designed for alumni, entrepreneurs, investors, students and corporate leaders looking to navigate economic uncertainties and position their businesses for long-term success. Whether you’re an early-stage founder, a scaling startup, or an investor seeking high-growth opportunities, this event will provide critical insights, strategies, and networking opportunities.

Agenda

Wednesday, 4 February 2026

9:00 am - 09:30amRegistration & Welcome Coffee 
09:30 am - 09:45 am

Opening Address

  • Mark Mortensen, Associate Dean, INSEAD Middle East Campus
  • Prof. Henrich Greve, Professor of Entrepreneurship INSEAD and Academic Director of The Rudolf and Valeria Maag INSEAD Centre for Entrepreneurship
 
10:00 am - 10:45 am

GCC Region Spotlight

 
11:15 am - 12:00 pm

Why Global Founders Are Heading East: The UAE’s Rising Magnetism

 
12:00 pm - 2:00 pmNetworking lunch 
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

Building the Future: Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI

  • Helen Wang, Chief AI & Data Science Officer, Apex group
  • Ramy Lahoud, Head of Growth, Cosmo Tech
  • Moderator: Elias Aad, Senior Partner, Digital & Entrepreneurship Lead, Kearney 
 
2:45 pm - 5:30 pmCompany / Accelerator visit - more information TBC 
6:00 pm - 9:00 pmNetworking Reception  

Thursday, 5 February 2026

9:00 am - 9:30 am Registration & Welcome Coffee 
9:30 am - 09:45 am

Welcome Address 

  • Mark Mortensen, Associate Dean, INSEAD Middle East Campus
  • Nancy Hsieh, Executive Director, The Rudolf and Valeria Maag INSEAD Centre for Entrepreneurship
 
09:45 am - 10:30 am

The risk worth taking: Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

 
10:30 am - 11:15 am

Fundraising in GCC and beyond

 
11:15 am - 12:30pm

Designing for Scale: Building Companies That Grow Without Breaking

 
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Networking lunch 
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

The New Technology Frontier: Entrepreneurship Opportunities

  • Prof. Henrich Greve, Professor of Entrepreneurship INSEAD and Academic Director of The Rudolf and Valeria Maag INSEAD Centre for Entrepreneurship
 
2:30 pm - 3:15 pm 

Luxury Hospitality: Founder-Led Innovation 

 
3:15 pm - 4:00 pmFireside Chat 
4:45 pm - 5:45 pmINSEAD Startup Showcase 
 
5:45 pm - 6:00 pmClosing Remarks  

Friday, 6 February 2026

Optional cultural activity: Feel free to pick any of the suggested venues below and book your ticket directly on their website. If time slots are required, we encourage choosing a morning slot (10:00–11:00 AM or 11:00 AM–12:00 PM) so you can visit alongside other IEF participants.

Speakers

Registration

Register for the event on the Eventbrite website

IEF 2026 Tickets Price List
 Early Bird (available until 11 December 2025)Full Price
StudentN/A99 EUR / 425 AED
NAA Member149 EUR / 638 AED199 EUR / 854 AED
NAA Non-Member239  EUR / 1025 AED299 EUR / 1283 AED
Friends of INSEADN/A399 EUR / 1712 AED

Practical Information

How to get to INSEAD Middle East Campus?

Al Khatem Tower, 30th floor
ADGM Square, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Parking

Park at the Galleria Mall West Car Park - Levels P2, P3 or P4.
Take the lift and exit at P4.
The Al Khatem Tower will be directly in front of you on the left.

Campus access

Please carry a valid ID, as it may be required at the main reception to access the lifts.

Accommodation

We suggest booking your room in one of the hotels below, all within a walking distance to the campus : 

Dress Code

The dress code for the INSEAD Entrepreneurship Forum is business casual.

Media, filming and photography

INSEAD will engage professional photographers for this event. We reserve the right to use any film and/or photography from the event in our print and digital marketing collateral. Attendees who do not wish to be filmed or recorded should contact us prior to the event.

Steering Committee