Annual Conference | MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship

2026 Innovation in Global Growth Markets: Prosperity through Entrepreneurship Annual Conference
Designing a New Calculus for Global Prosperity, April 22-23

Building on the momentum of our 2025 conference, the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship (KSC) will once again bring together a dynamic community of entrepreneurs, policymakers, corporate leaders, academics, and investors from across Africa, Latin America, the Arab region, Central Asia, and South and Southeast Asia—regions defining the future of the global economy.

During last year’s conference, we spoke about the importance of designing a New Calculus for Global Prosperity. The Center is grounding its work around this new calculus—an approach that places entrepreneurship and innovation at the very heart of building sustainable and inclusive prosperity.

During our 2026 Conference, we’ll go deeper into what action items need to be taken for all of us to collectively translate this new calculus into practice. Sessions will examine how innovation ecosystems, ethical technology deployment, and new models of capital allocation can drive prosperity that is both inclusive and sustainable. Through immersive discussions, ministerial dialogues, and hands-on workshops, participants will explore how emerging technologies can become powerful engines of shared progress and collaborate on designing practical frameworks for a more equitable global economy.

A close knit community of ecosystem players
Insightful Panels
Engaging Workshops
Networking Opportunities

Countries Represented by Attendees in 2025

In 2025, we welcomed over 80 speakers and panelists to our conference, including Vice President and Minister of Finance for the Republic of Botswana H.H. Mr. Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering and co-founder of Moderna Noubar Afeyan, and John C. Head III (Interim) Dean Dr. Georgia Perakis, MIT Sloan School of Management. The sessions covered critical topics such as harnessing AI for achieving prosperity in global growth markets, strategies for new capital models, and redefining the narrative of today's fastest-growing economies.

Prior Speakers

H.H. Mr. Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe

Vice President of the Republic of Botswana

Dr. Georgia Perakis

William F. Pounds Professor of Management, MIT Sloan School of Management

Noubar Afeyan

Founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering. Co-founder of Moderna

Dina H. Sherif

Executive Director, MIT Kuo Sharper Center

H.E. Sayasat Nurbek

Minister of Science and Higher Education, Kazakhstan

Adam Sharkawy

Founder, Material Impact

In-person and Virtual Attendees

The Innovation in Global Growth Markets conference fosters numerous networking opportunities, enabling attendees to engage in productive side meetings and collaborative discussions.

The conference also fostered a strong sense of community and pride among the Center’s fellows, partners, and stakeholders, solidifying the Center's position as a thought leader within MIT and the global development space.

By bringing together a diverse range of voices and perspectives, the conference successfully expanded the Center’s reach, increasing its visibility and reinforcing its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide. As the Center looks forward to building on this momentum, the event marked a significant step in its mission to drive sustainable development and prosperity through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Testimonials from Attendees

Ridzki Kramadibrata

Commissioner, Grab Indonesia

"From engaging in public panel discussions to sharing insights in the classroom and having meaningful one-on-one sessions with the Fellows, community, and Indonesian MIT students, it's been an enriching experience...I’m grateful and excited to be part of the commemorative events by the Kuo Sharper Center!"

Mehdi El Khatib

Managing Director, UM6P United States

We all attend many conferences throughout the year. I don’t recall many where topics covered, speakers, and people in attendance brought home with a sense of purpose/mission and solutions to addressing challenges and opportunities of emerging markets. It was warm and everyone I spoke to felt welcomed, which, I am sure, is reflective of the team putting it all together.

Ridhi Tariyal

Co-founder, NextGen Jane

It was such an impressive and incredible event. I deeply appreciated the opportunity to be a small part of it and am grateful that organizations the Kuo Sharper Center exist

Bunmi Akinyemiju

Partner at GreenHouse Capital Africa

I was incredibly impressed with the Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship...It's rare to find a US university that is deliberate and focused on Growth Markets (such as Africa) + Innovation as a pathway to Prosperity. So, we LOVE these guys so much!!

Dr. Natasha Matic

Executive Director, Accountability Accelerator

So perfectly organized with great people and covering some key topics facing growth markets today!

Nana Baffour, CFA

Founder and Executive Chairman, Sazience

Thank you to the MIT Kuo Sharper Center team on behalf of myself and my teams at Sazience /Qintess/Enda. Thank you for inviting us to such a special event and making us feel welcome, supporting our dreams and ambitions. Thank you for what you do and thank you for your commitment to growth, global entrepreneurship, and the power of the collective to make a difference.

Elyas Felfoul

Director, WISE - Qatar Foundation

The conference was a great opportunity to meet so many inspiring individuals from places as far as Indonesia and Brazil, and it was incredibly fulfilling. The work the Kuo Sharper Center leads is vital in this world that is in need of a total redesign (a new calculus!).

David Capodilupo

Assistant Dean for MIT Sloan Management's Global Programs

"I am the Assistant Dean of Global programs, The Kuo Sharper Center and Global Programs have had a close relationship, and we try and build bridges with each other, not just among ourselves, but among the institute. What Dina is doing, Fiona, and Phil, the whole team is just amazing. I’m proud to work at MIT and this part of our mission and our values to improve the world, and the entrepreneurial way to do this with the Legatum Fellows is something that is very unique."