Empretec global network

18/10/2026

Talent is everywhere. Opportunity should be too.

Around the world, future entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders are already emerging. Some are building companies today. Others are still students, researchers or aspiring founders.

The question is not whether talent exists.
The question is whether entrepreneurship ecosystems are creating the networks, mentorship, finance and opportunities that allow that talent to thrive.

At , we will explore how governments, investors, entrepreneurship support organizations and business leaders can help build the ecosystems that transform potential into opportunity.

Because the future depends not only on talent, but on our ability to create the conditions in which that talent can thrive.

17/10/2026

17/10/2026

World Investment Forum, Doha, Qatar, 25-27 October 2026.

Women in Business Awards, 26 October 2026.

UN Trade and Development supports women entrepreneurs, start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to grow sustainably and compete in the global economy. The Women in Business Awards are where that work becomes visible: a global platform celebrating women entrepreneurs who are transforming industries, and connecting them with investors, mentors and new opportunities for growth.

Twelve women, twelve companies, four categories: Leadership, Innovation, Technology and Sustainability. Winners are revealed at the World Investment Forum 2026 in Doha on 26 October.

Meet the finalists in the coming days! Organised by UN Trade and Development, hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Qatar.

https://ow.ly/qq9g50ZYyGL

12/10/2026

The global economy is being reshaped by , sustainability transitions and rapidly evolving technologies.

Yet the future will not be built by technology alone. It will be built by people. By entrepreneurs who turn ideas into businesses, businesses into jobs, and innovation into opportunity.

At the , UN Trade and Development 's Entrepreneurship and SMEs Track will bring together founders, ministers, investors, ecosystem builders and business leaders to explore a central question:
How do we invest in the people who will build the businesses, industries and solutions of tomorrow?

Join us in as we explore what it takes to build entrepreneurship ecosystems that are innovative, inclusive and resilient.

23/09/2026

08/09/2026

💭What happens to small businesses when global trade routes come under pressure?

A new analysis from the UN Trade and Development Entrepreneurship team explores how disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could affect SMEs, the backbone of economies worldwide.

SMEs represent around 90% of businesses and 70% of employment globally, yet they are often the least equipped to absorb sudden increases in costs and uncertainty.

➡️Rising energy prices. ➡️Higher freight and insurance costs. ➡️More expensive imports. ➡️Tighter financing conditions.

For smaller firms, these pressures can limit investment, disrupt growth plans and weaken links to regional and global markets.

📣A key message from the analysis: economic resilience depends not only on keeping trade moving, but also on keeping SMEs connected to opportunity.

Read the full analysis📲 https://lnkd.in/d9PUrE8S

When a disruption in the Strait of Hormuz pushes up energy, shipping and insurance costs, the shock does not land on a level playing field.

A small business in a developing economy borrows at 15.8%. A similar business in a developed economy borrows at 6.3%.

New analysis from UN Trade and Development shows what that gap does under pressure. Smaller firms have fewer suppliers to switch to, less cash to absorb a shock and harder access to credit. Trade volumes can recover while those firms are left out of the recovery.

Keeping trade moving is not enough. Smaller firms have to stay connected to it.

➡️ Read the analysis: https://ow.ly/C5fl50ZKvtx

07/09/2026

A new generation of entrepreneurs is taking shape in Tumbes, Peru 🇵🇪

The first Empretec workshop in Tumbes was recently conducted by ManglarUP, the Business Incubator of the Nacional de Tumbes, with support from Nacional Empretec Venezuela.

Local entrepreneurs came together to test their ideas, build new skills and develop the behaviours that support innovation, ex*****on and growth.

Local talent. Global network. A stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem for Peru.

📸Photos courtesy of the Business Incubator of the National University of Tumbes

12/08/2026

💭How do start-ups become investment-ready?

This week, UN Trade and Development and Empretec Saudi Arabia delivered an Empretec Crash Course on Fundraising for 114 technology start-up founders participating in the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) 1KMILE Program.

Over several intensive sessions, founders explored key topics including ➡️fundraising strategies, ➡️investor expectations, ➡️valuation, ➡️financial planning, ➡️investment readiness, and ➡️effective pitching.

What stood out most was the quality of the discussions. Entrepreneurs were not only asking how to raise capital, but also how to build scalable businesses, attract the right partners, and position themselves for sustainable growth.

The training is part of a broader journey that will culminate in upcoming Demo Days, where participants will have the opportunity to present their ventures and engage with potential investors.

A great example of collaboration between UNCTAD, Empretec Saudi Arabia and NIDLP to strengthen the next generation of innovative entrepreneurs.