Vienna 2026: Canada’s young entrepreneurs step onto the world stage at the G20 YEA Summit 

For a lot of young entrepreneurs, breaking into international markets can feel like something reserved for big companies with big budgets. The G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA) Summit exists to prove otherwise. From Sept. 16 to 18, 2026, the European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs (YES for Europe) hosted the Summit at the Messe Wien Exhibition Centre in Vienna, Austria. Approximately 360 participants—including young entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, guests and panelists—came together from across the G20 under the theme “Re/Code Europe: The G20 Entrepreneurial Mandate.” The idea behind it: rethink how businesses operate so economies can stay resilient and ready for what comes next. 

Canada showed up in force. Futurpreneur, a proud founding member of the Alliance, led a nationally selected delegation of 35 young entrepreneurs from eight provinces. The group reflected Canada’s diversity and entrepreneurial talent: more than half of delegates identify as women, and nearly three-quarters identify as racialized, including more than 30 per cent Black founders and 5 per cent Indigenous founders. Their businesses span professional services, technology, education, manufacturing, sustainability, transportation, and health and wellness. The delegation was led by Anukul Sharma, CFO of Futurpreneur and President of G20 YEA Canada, and Sidonie Kerbellec, Senior Bilingual Partnerships Specialist and Canada’s G20 YEA sherpa.

Highlights from Vienna

Ahead of the Summit, Futurpreneur led two days of pre-Summit trade activities on September 14 and 15, connecting Canadian delegates with key players in Austria’s entrepreneurship and business ecosystem. The activities offered insights into Austria’s business landscape, investment opportunities and innovation ecosystem. The week began with a welcome reception alongside the Austrian Business Agency (ABA) and the Vienna Business Agency. The delegates also took part in visits and presentations at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), Invest.austria and Impact Hub Vienna. These events helped Canadian delegates build local connections, explore opportunities for international growth and strengthen relationships ahead of the Summit. 

The program explored three themes: digital innovation and artificial intelligence, sustainability and trade certainty while the panels examined innovation ecosystems across borders, regulatory harmony and global trade certainty as well as regenerative systems and sustainability. Discussions also explored the future of innovation in Europe and how to turn legacy into leverage. 

Beyond the panel discussions, delegates met with other businesses to explore opportunities, connected with entrepreneurs from across G20 economies and supported fellow participants in the Summit’s pitch competition. 

The delegation also met with Alison Grant, Canada’s Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, and Ronan Caillo, Senior Trade Commissioner. The exchange offered a closer look at the role of diplomacy in EU–Canada relations, trade diversification and economic cooperation. 

The Summit concluded with the signing of the 2026 Vienna Communiqué, a set of policy recommendations from young entrepreneurs from across the G20 for consideration by G20 leaders. Futurpreneur consulted Canada’s delegates to bring their priorities to the table, and Anukul Sharma signed on behalf of G20 YEA Canada alongside fellow Alliance leaders

Canada’s delegates in action

Canadian voices were also heard on stage. Sherena Hussain, FleetZero’s Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, moderated the panel on regenerative systems and sustainability, which featured Morgan Lehtinen, Executive director at RXN HUB. Gharsa Amin, Founder and CEO of Toronto-based Kavodax, weighed in on regulatory harmony and global trade certainty. 

Entrepreneurs from Canada stepped into the spotlight at the Summit’s pitch competition: Saboor Meherzad, Founder and CEO of GrowEasy Solutions, was among the 10 participants, alongside Clinton Large and Gharsa Amin, who earned a place on the podium. 

Off stage, delegates kept busy with meetings and bilateral discussions with potential partners from across the G20. 

Conversations in Vienna led to ongoing international discussions and an MOU to explore a potential business collaboration and pilot opportunity.”

“As a Canadian entrepreneur building an early-stage technology company, having access to this kind of international platform, network and exposure would have been very difficult to create independently”, says Saboor Meherzad.

What the delegates are bringing home

The Summit’s impact is already being felt. In a post-Summit survey, 26 delegates reported making nearly 600 new business contacts and holding 118 business meetings, 53 of which led to follow-up actions. 

More than 80% of survey respondents reported at least one tangible next step, and 62% reported business progress such as new opportunities or ongoing partnership discussions. Six delegates reported formal agreements or memoranda of understanding (MOUs), signed or in progress. 

Respondents also expanded their reach: 92% grew their international networks and 96% said the experience supported their international business goals. The Summit and trade activities both received a very high satisfaction rating, reflecting the value delegates placed on the experience. 

Morgan Lehtinen shares: “Attending the G20 YEA Summit allowed me to forge vital international connections that directly advance RXN HUB’s mission.”

At a time when Canada-EU partnerships are more critical than ever, these global bridges are helping Canadian innovators expand abroad while offering top European companies a seamless entry point into the North American market.”

What’s next, with Futurpreneur 

Global Affairs Canada, through the CanExport Associations funding program, the Trade Commissioner Service and ecosystem partners in Canada and Austria helped make this experience a success. From the Toronto Region Board of Trade and the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT), which contributed to the pre-departure briefing, to the local ecosystem organizations in Vienna, these partners helped delegates prepare, connect and explore international markets. 

As Futurpreneur celebrates 30 years, its commitment to opening doors for young entrepreneurs remains as strong as ever. Through financing, mentorship and access to international markets, Futurpreneur has supported more than 16,600 businesses with over $259 million in start-up loans, backed by more than 2,100 volunteer mentors. 

The connections made in Vienna are just the beginning. As delegates bring these ideas and partnerships home, they show what’s possible when young Canadian entrepreneurs have the support to grow beyond borders. 

Want to represent Canada at the next Summit? Explore Futurpreneur’s G20 YEA program and stay tuned for applications to join the 2027 Canadian delegation.