Due 22 Sept 2025
We welcome special session proposals for the 2025 ELISA Business Summit on topics that align with the theme of this year’s summit, “Business Beyond Borders.”

Attendee FAQs

2024 ELISA Summit

MON, NOV 17th: Pre-Summit Arrivals

7am-7pm
Registration & Badge Collection

noon-2pm
Informal lunch at Gwango Heritage Resort (for Spark semi-finalists only)

2pm
Hotel/Accommodation Check-in
* Accommodation is included for Spark semi-finalists

4-5:30pm
Gobelo Farm Tour

6-7:30pm
Spark Orientation, Entrepreneurship Basics & How to Identify Opportunities

7:30-8:30pm
Dinner for Spark semi-finalists and registered attendees of the ELISA Business Summit

TUES, NOV 18th: ELISA Business Summit

7am-7pm
Registration & Badge Collection

7-8:30am
Breakfast

7:30-8:15am
Business Models & Value Propositions

8:15-9am
Customer Segmentation, Targeting & Market Validation

9-9:45am
Marketing, Branding, Competitive Analysis & The African Edge

9:45-10:30am
Financial Planning, Funding & Financing

10:30am-11pm
Networking Break (Group Photos)

11am-11:45am Panel Discussion
Sales Strategies, Pricing, Revenue Models & Expansion Opportunities

11:45am-12:30pm
Building Global Supply Chains

12:30pm-1:30pm
Networking Lunch

1:30pm-2:30pm
Digital Transformations Scaling Businesses in a Borderless Africa

2pm*
Hotel/Accommodation Check-in
* Accommodation is included for ELISA Business Scholars, Coaches and confirmed summit attendees

2:30pm-3:30pm
Beyond Borders Live Pitch

3:30-4:15pm Panel Discussion
Crossing Borders: Challenges & Opportunities in African Markets

4:15-5pm
Poster Presentations & Voting + Networking Break

5-5:30pm
Spark Poster Competition Awards

5:30-6:30pm
Entertainment & Art Exhibit

6:30-9:30pm
Enterprise Reception & Dinner: Meet, mingle and celebrate leaders of emerging African companies at an event showcasing the incoming cohort of ELISA Business Scholars

WED, NOV 19th: ELISA Business Scholars Training Session

*Events & activities on Day 2 are for EBS Scholars & Coaches only

7am-8am
Networking Breakfast

8am-noon
ELISA Business Scholars Training Session

noon-1pm
ELISA Business Scholars & Mentors Strategy Luncheon

1-4:30pm
ELISA Business Scholars Training Session

4:45-6:30pm
Sunset Safari on the Gwango Estate

7:30pm
ELISA Business Scholars Networking Dinner

THURS, NOV 20th: ELISA Business Scholars Training Session

*Events & activities on Day 3 are for Scholars & Coaches only 

7am-7:30am
ELISA Business Scholars Networking Breakfast

7:30am-11:45am
ELISA Business Scholars Training Session

11:45am-12:45pm
ELISA Business Scholars & Mentors Strategy Luncheon

12:45pm-3:30pm
ELISA Business Scholars Pitch Sessions

3:30pm-6:30pm
Sunset Safari in Hwange National Park

7:30pm-9:30pm
ELISA Business Scholars Dinner & Training Session Wrap Up

FRI, NOV 21st: ELISA Business Scholars Depart

*Events & activities on Day 3 are for Scholars & Coaches only 

7:00-10:00am
Hotel/Accommodation Check-out for Scholars and Coaches

7:00am - noon*
Breakfast & Departure from Hwange to Victoria Falls 
*Shuttle transportation will be provided at a scheduled time