2026 GCEC Global Summit
Building and nurturing entrepreneurship ecosystems
July 23–25, 2026 | São Paulo, Brazil – ESPM
What is an ecosystem made of?
Diversity of people, ideas, institutions, and markets. Different forces interacting, transforming, and creating impact over time.
In 2026, for the first time, the GCEC Global Summit will be held in Brazil and Latin America, bringing the world to one of its most dynamic entrepreneurship ecosystems.
GCEC in São Paulo
Brazil is the largest economy in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the world’s ten largest overall. A country where creativity is cultural capital and innovation is a daily practice.
From this ecosystem emerged global leaders such as JBS, Embraer, and Nubank.
At the center of this national ecosystem stands São Paulo, the business and innovation engine of Latin America:
- One of the world’s largest startup ecosystems;
- The only Latin American city in the Global Top 40;
- One of the Top 5 fintech hubs worldwide;
- The largest higher-education market in Brazil;
GCEC 2026 takes place where scale, diversity, and experimentation meet.
Event dates and format
- Dates: July 23 to July 25, 2026
- Schedule: Morning of July 23 to early afternoon of July 25
- Format: In-person, immersive experience
- Location: ESPM campus, São Paulo
All academic activities will take place on campus to ensure continuity, exchange, and ease of participation.
What it is
The GCEC Global Summit is an international convening of university entrepreneurship-center leaders to share best practices, build partnerships, and advance entrepreneurship education and ecosystem building.
Who attends: Directors and managers of entrepreneurship centers, faculty and program leaders, senior university administrators, and invited ecosystem leaders such as founders, investors, and innovation hubs.
What it includes:
- Keynotes (main-stage talks with key entrepreneurship ecosystem agents like founders, investors, hub leaders and specialists)
- Breakout sessions (panels, workshops and masterclasses proposed by members and partners of GCEC and summit participants)
- Networking (structured and informal)
- Host-city experiences(optional cultural/ecosystem activities)
How sessions are selected
A Call for Sessions invites proposals, which are reviewed and curated into the final program.
What participants leave with: Practical playbooks, global benchmarks, and high-value connections to strengthen their centers and ecosystems.
Schedule
| July 23 (Thu) | July 24 (Fri) | July 25 (Sat) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Cultural & Immersion Activities | Open Keynote Session (Breakout Rooms) | Session (Breakout Rooms) |
| Afternoon | Parallel Programs | Closing Keynote | |
| Evening | Welcome Dinner & Official Opening | Culinary Experience (Free Night) |
| Jul 23 - Thu | Jul 24 - Fri | Jul 25 - Sat | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning |
Cultural Activities / Immersive Experiences & Parallel Programs |
Open Keynote
Session
(Breakout Rooms) 2 slots |
Session
(Breakout Rooms) 4 slots
Brazilian Celebration Lunch
Closing Keynote
|
|
| Afternoon |
Session (Breakout Rooms) 2 slots |
Session (Breakout Rooms) 4 slots |
||
| Evening |
Reception Dinner (outside of ESPM Campus) |
São Paulo Gastronomic Immersion (Free Night) |
||
Why attend GCEC 2026
Over three immersive days, participants will experience:
This is a working summit for those building, leading, and evolving entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Global keynotes with founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders
Panels and workshops led by directors of entrepreneurship centers from around the world
Immersions in fintechs, innovation hubs, venture capital firms, and entrepreneurial initiatives in São Paulo
Curated networking designed to foster long-term institutional and academic collaboration
About the hosts: ESPM
Founded in 1951, ESPM was created to connect education and market realities.
Today, it is recognized as a leading business school in Brazil and Latin America, with a strong focus on marketing, innovation, consumer behavior, and entrepreneurship.
At ESPM:
- The market actively participates in the classroom
- Academic knowledge is shaped by real business challenges
- Alumni occupy leadership positions across industries, entrepreneurship, and innovation
Hosting GCEC 2026 reinforces ESPM’s role as a bridge between academia, industry, and society, and as a living example of an entrepreneurship ecosystem in motion.
Discover São Paulo
Beyond the conference, we invite you to experience the vibrant energy and cultural diversity of São Paulo—a metropolis that never sleeps, where innovation and creativity meet at every corner.
A city that never stops
São Paulo is the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere, accounting for nearly 10% of Brazil’s GDP. Dynamic, creative, and cosmopolitan, it is among the world’s top 20 startup ecosystems, with particular strength in fintech, agrotech, and edtech.Diversity in every detail
From world-class museums such as MASP to a thriving music and arts scene, São Paulo breathes culture. The city is also renowned as Brazil’s gastronomic capital, offering award-winning restaurants, iconic street food, and flavors from every corner of the world.Getting around in São Paulo
São Paulo is the most connected city in Latin America, served by two international airports and an extensive transportation network.
To ensure a smooth experience, official transportation will be provided throughout the event, including:
Official shuttle service:
Exclusive vans connecting hotels, campus, and restaurants during the event.
Hotels, cafés, and services within walking distance; bike lanes and e-scooters available on main roads.
Accessibility:
Fleet equipped to ensure comfort and inclusion.
Where to stay
in São Paulo
The neighborhoods of Vila Mariana and Avenida Paulista offer a wide range of four-star hotels within a three-kilometer radius of the ESPM campus. Recommended hotels:
(Manin Official Hotel)
Pullman São Paulo Ibirapuera is a higher-category option, offering a premium level of comfort and services. It is located approximately 2 km from ESPM, has 348 rooms.
Two special booking options are available for GCEC attendees, subject to availability:
15% off public rates for Premium Deluxe rooms or higher, with breakfast included, via booking link
Fixed Premium Deluxe rates without breakfast via email: ~USD 170/night (single) or ~USD 195/night (double) at [email protected].
- +55 11 5088 4000
- Street Joinville, 515 - Vila Mariana, São Paulo - SP, 04008-011
- View Pullman Ibirapuera details
Transamerica Executive Nova Paulista is an executive-style hotel with a strong cost-benefit profile. It is approximately 1.4 km from ESPM, offers 170 rooms.
- +55 11 3508 5540
- Street Vergueiro, 2740 - Vila Mariana, São Paulo - SP, 04102-001
- [email protected]
- View Transamerica Executive Nova Paulista details
Register for GCEC 2026
Join the world’s largest gathering of entrepreneurship centers in a city and institution built on innovation, diversity, and market connection.
Brazil. São Paulo. ESPM.
Sponsors
