Beyond the Big Names: Where the Next AI Leaders Are Emerging Globally | Featuring Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026 Insights

This session opens with a 10-minute launch of the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026, where Stephan Kuester will present key insights from this year's report. While much of the AI conversation focuses on investment trends and frontier models, a different story is unfolding beneath the surface. Across the world, new ecosystems are producing high-potential AI companies through unique combinations of talent, industry depth, and commercialization pathways. This session explores where real AI innovation is emerging beyond the dominant hubs, bringing a ground-level perspective from founders and ecosystem leaders on how AI businesses are being built and scaled.