For many young entrepreneurs, “going global” often feels like a distant dream, something only large companies with massive budgets can attain. The G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (YEA) is designed to bring that dream within reach.
Hosted by a G20 country each year, the G20 YEA summit brings together hundreds of the world’s top young entrepreneurs to share ideas, advise on key issues, make international connections and, most importantly, explore global growth strategies. This is why Futurpreneur proudly leads Canada’s G20 YEA delegation to these annual summits, ensuring Canadian founders are actively shaping global conversations.
As the 2025 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa demonstrated, the experience is truly once-in-a-lifetime: in a post-summit survey, 23 respondents (out of 39 young Canadian delegates) said it marked a defining turning point in their efforts to scale their businesses.
Read on to learn how the G20 YEA helped past participants overcome common barriers to international growth.
Charting a path to global expansion
Before joining the delegation, participants identified some of the common hurdles they face when trying to enter a foreign market like South Africa, including a lack of local experience and credibility as a founder, along with trusted introductions.
The G20 YEA 2025 post-summit survey also revealed three additional barriers, each of which Futurpreneur directly addressed through the summit experience:
Barrier 1: Limited access to global networks
Sixty-five per cent of survey respondents from the participating delegates who responded to the survey cited limited access to credible international business networks as their primary challenge to scaling globally. To help overcome this hurdle, Futurpreneur led targeted trade activities and facilitated curated B2B (business-to-business) connections, opening doors to senior government officials and industry leaders who are typically out of reach for young founders.
Result: All survey respondents reported an expansion of their international networks, with a total of more than 740 new global connections made.
Barrier 2: Financial constraints
Over half (57%) of the survey respondents identified the cost of international travel as a significant barrier to gaining international exposure. In fact, without Futurpreneur’s partial travel stipend, made possible thanks to the support of Global Affairs Canada’s Exports Associations Trade Program, several delegates shared that participation would not have been possible.
Result: This financial support enabled delegates to participate in 123 B2B meetings, 80 of which progressed to tangible next steps, including partnership discussions and project exploration.
Barrier 3: Gaps in market intelligence and export readiness
Prior to the summit, 52% of the survey respondents reported difficulty accessing market-specific intelligence, regulatory guidance and information on export tools and government support programs. To address this gap, Futurpreneur delivered intensive pre-departure briefings and workshops that strengthened export literacy and enhanced readiness for global expansion.
Result: Following the mission, 87% of survey respondents reported increased awareness of Government of Canada resources, including the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), while 73% reported feeling ready to actively pursue international opportunities with confidence.
Through these targeted interventions, Futurpreneur transformed global ambition into actionable strategies, providing founders with the networks and knowledge needed to actively compete and thrive in foreign markets.
Voices from the delegation: Real-world impact in action
While the data highlights the scale of the mission, the delegates’ experiences reveal its deeper impact. Their stories showcase the partnerships formed, the credibility gained and the market validation achieved – outcomes that numbers can’t fully capture.
- “This year’s G20 event was remarkable. Education was a priority for several delegations, and I’ve had promising initial meetings with delegates from Mexico and India about creating new certified programs that upskill youth before they immigrate for work or school. It’s been fantastic to see how we might expand our services and grow our businesses.” — Clinton Large, founder, Large Inc.
- “[The G20 YEA] offered Iris + Arlo the opportunity to connect with visionary leaders from around the world, share our mission to make sustainable period care more accessible, and form meaningful partnerships that will help us expand into international markets.” — Lara Emond, founder, Iris + Arlo
- “Attending the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance Summit in Johannesburg as part of the Canadian delegation was a truly transformative experience for me and for Kovida Consultants. Thanks to this opportunity, I was able to expand my international network significantly, build relationships with entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners from across the G20, and secure new client relationships as a direct result of conversations that began at the Summit.” — Kajal Agarwal, founder, Kovida Consultants
Apply today to join our 2026 mission to Vienna
Whether you’re exploring international trade for the first time or preparing to scale into new markets, the 2026 summit in Vienna, Austria could be just the ticket. As a strategic gateway to the European Union, this mission offers unparalleled access to one of the world’s largest single markets – home to more than 450 million consumers.
Taking place the week of September 14, 2026, this year’s summit will enable you to expand your network of international connections in key markets, advance youth entrepreneurship on the international stage while learning about growth strategies and positioning your business for global expansion.
With 100 % satisfaction rate in trade activities and a strong majority of delegates eager to stay engaged as alumni, it’s clear the value extends far beyond the summit.
So, what are you waiting for?
Futurpreneur provides the network, preparation and support to ensure you do not have to do it alone. Check to see if you’re eligible to join the Canadian delegation to the 2026 G20 YEA Summit in Vienna, led by Futurpreneur, and introduce your business to the world.
Apply today to represent Canada and turn global opportunity into tangible growth for your business. Deadline to apply is March 31, 2026.