AFRICAN INCUBATOR VALUE CREATION (AIVC) SERIES UNGA 2026 | NEW YORK CITY
AFRICAN INCUBATOR VALUE CREATION (AIVC) SERIES UNGA 2026 | NEW YORK CITY
How Incubators Drive Scalable Impact, Investment Readiness, and Long-Term Value Creation
Hosted by: Jos Ventures & PAN Diaspora Capital Management
September 10, 2026 9:00 AM–12:00 PM EDT Berkeley College in New York City In-Person + Virtual
Meeting link: To be provided soon
INVITATION BY APPROVAL ONLY SEATS ARE STRICTLY LIMITED — REGISTER NOW
A high-level convening of incubators, accelerators, founders, investors, DFIs, universities, and ecosystem leaders focused on building stronger African innovation ecosystems and unlocking scalable capital and partnerships.
CONNECT • COLLABORATE • INVEST • TRANSFORM Building the Next Generation of African Innovation
To learn more About the event:
Following the successful AIVC convening during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., this UNGA edition brings together incubators, accelerators, venture capital firms, DFIs, founders, investors, policymakers, universities, and ecosystem leaders to explore how innovation ecosystems can unlock scalable growth, resilient enterprises, and investable opportunities.
The forum will focus on how incubators and ecosystem enablers can move beyond traditional startup support to become value-creation platforms that connect entrepreneurs to capital, technical assistance, talent, research, strategic partnerships, and global markets.
PROGRAM AGENDA
1. Opening Welcome & Strategic Framing
Welcome Remarks
Founder Spotlight
Featured founders share their firsthand entrepreneurial journeys, highlighting:
• Building and scaling a venture
• Challenges accessing capital, talent, infrastructure, and markets
• The role of incubators and ecosystem partners
• Lessons for founders, investors, and ecosystem builders
2. Keynote Conversation — The Future of Venture Ecosystems
Theme
Building Globally Competitive Innovation Ecosystems
The conversation will examine:
• The outlook for startups in a more selective global funding environment
• What investors increasingly expect from early-stage companies
• The growing role of diaspora capital and strategic partnerships
• How universities can become stronger engines of entrepreneurship and commercialization
• How incubators can evolve from support organizations into value-creation platforms
• Building bridges between local innovation ecosystems and global capital markets
3. Panel I — Catalyzing Capital for Startups
Theme
Mobilizing Early-Stage and Growth Capital
Discussion Topics
• What does genuine investment readiness look like at the pre-seed and seed stages?
• What founders need to understand before approaching investors
• How investor expectations are changing in the current venture environment
• Building stronger pipelines from incubators and accelerators to institutional investors
• The role of blended finance, catalytic capital, DFIs, and impact investors
• Structuring investment vehicles for underserved and emerging markets
• How diaspora investors can participate in venture ecosystems
• Moving from grant dependency toward sustainable, investable business models
• Creating pathways from incubation to follow-on financing
4. Panel II — Building High-Performance Incubators & University Innovation Ecosystems
Theme
From Startup Support to Sustainable Value Creation
This session will introduce the vision for a potential Berkeley College Entrepreneurship & Incubation Ecosystem Pilot.
The objective is to bring together Berkeley students and founders with experienced entrepreneurs, incubators, accelerators, angel investors, venture capital firms, universities, and ecosystem partners—including members of the VC Lab and Decile communities.
The long-term vision is inspired by successful university entrepreneurship models such as Stanford’s StartX, while being designed around Berkeley’s existing strengths, resources, and community.
Discussion Topics
• Designing sustainable and investment-ready incubator models
• How universities can better commercialize ideas, research, and student ventures
• Connecting students to founders, mentors, investors, and operators
• Accessing grants, technical assistance, corporate partnerships, and global resources
• Best practices for founder mentorship, cohort development, graduation, and scaling
• Building cross-campus and cross-border entrepreneurship networks
• Leveraging AI and digital infrastructure to provide scalable founder support
• Measuring incubator performance through startup formation, capital raised, jobs created, survival, and follow-on investment
• Creating stronger pathways between universities, incubators, accelerators, and venture capital
5. Investor & Founder Pitch Showcase
Theme
From Innovation to Investability
A curated showcase featuring selected startups and emerging founders presenting directly to:
• Venture capital firms
• Angel investors
• Corporate venture studios
• Family offices
• Incubators and accelerators
• DFIs and development partners
• Strategic corporate partners
Objectives
• Give founders direct exposure to qualified investors
• Demonstrate what investment readiness looks like in practice
• Highlight high-growth and high-impact ventures
• Facilitate investor-founder introductions
• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships
• Generate follow-on meetings and potential investment discussions
Pitch Format
Each selected startup will deliver a concise investor presentation followed by focused investor questions and feedback.
6. Closing Session — From Convening to Action
Theme
Deploying Resilient, Risk-Adjusted Strategies for Long-Term Value Creation
Key Takeaways
• Building sustainable innovation ecosystems requires coordinated action
• Incubators can become powerful bridges between talent, technology, capital, and markets
• Universities can play a greater role in creating investment-ready ventures
• Investors and ecosystem partners can help build stronger pipelines rather than simply evaluating companies at the end of the process
• Cross-border and diaspora collaboration can accelerate access to capital and expertise
Call to Action
Participants will be invited to identify specific opportunities to:
• Mentor founders
• Support the Berkeley ecosystem pilot
• Provide technical assistance
• Connect startups with investors
• Provide capital or strategic partnerships
• Join future AIVC convenings and working groups
7. Networking Reception & Investor–Founder Connections
Following the formal program, participants will have an opportunity to connect informally and develop relationships around:
• Investors
• Founders
• Incubators & accelerators
• University leaders
• Corporate partners
• Development institutions
• Diaspora business leaders
• Entrepreneurs and ecosystem operators
Limited in-person seating available.
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