The Next 3 Billion
September 24, 2025
New York City
Unlocking the biggest social and economic opportunity of our time.
Sessions
Semafor Editorial Presentation
Alexis Akwagyiram
Managing Editor, Semafor Africa
Ben Smith
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Semafor
The Future of Funding African Infrastructure
Diana Layfield
Chair, British International Investment
Patrick Muyaya
Minister of Communications, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Derick De Zilva
CEO, Standard New York, Inc.
Yinka Adegoke
Editor, Semafor Africa
Partner session
The View from Cisco
Francine Katsoudas
EVP and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, Cisco
Justin Smith
Semafor Co-Founder & CEO
Partner session
The View from Schneider Electric
Jean-Pascal Tricoire
Chairman, Schneider Electric
Justin Smith
Semafor Co-Founder & CEO
Charting the Future of AI
Josh Parker
Head of Sustainability, NVIDIA
Sasha Rubel
Head of AI Policy, Europe, Middle East and Africa, AWS
Reed Albergotti
Tech Editor, Semafor
Emerging Markets & The Energy Transition
Iván Duque
Former President, Colombia
Amna Nawaz
PBS News Hour & Semafor Contributor
Partner session
The View from Standard Bank
Lungisa Fuzile
CEO for Africa Regions and Offshore, Standard Bank
Guilllaume Doane
Director of Strategic Partnerships, EMEA, Semafor
Rethinking Philanthropy
Idris Elba
Award-winning Actor, Filmmaker, Musician, and Activist, Elba Hope Foundation
Max Tani
Media Editor, Semafor
The Backbone of Connectivity
Tom Greenwood
CEO, Helios Towers
Vivek Badrinath
Secretary General, GSMA
Alexis Akwagyiram
Managing Editor, Semafor Africa
Innovations in Global Aid
David Miliband
President and CEO, International Rescue Committee
Prashant Rao
Senior Editor, Semafor
Harnessing AI to Advance Development
Sangbu Kim
Vice President for Digital, The World Bank
Dr. Bosun Tijani
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Nigeria
Josephine Teo
Minister for Digital Development and Information, Singapore
Reed Albergotti
Tech Editor, Semafor
The Future of Fintech
Cristina Junqueira
Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Nubank
Gina Chon
Senior Editor, Semafor
Health is Wealth
Dr. Vanessa Kerry
Co-Founder and CEO, Seed Global Health
Dr. Austin Demby
Minister of Health, Sierra Leone
Isa Chaker
CEO, Every Pregnancy
Amna Nawaz
PBS News Hour & Semafor Contributor
Innovations for the Next Generation
Mark Suzman
CEO, Gates Foundation
Amna Nawaz
PBS News Hour & Semafor Contributor
Partner session
The View from G42
Ali Dalloul
Chief Strategy Officer, G42
Justin Smith
Semafor Co-Founder & CEO
The Forces Driving Economic Growth & Financial Health
Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health
Ben Smith
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Semafor
A New Era: The US Administration & Africa
Massad Boulos
Senior Advisor on Africa, US Department of State
Yinka Adegoke
Editor, Semafor Africa
The Power of Solar
Patrick Walsh
CEO, Sun King
Carol Koech
Vice President for Africa from the Global Energy Alliance
Jacqueline Novogratz
CEO, Acumen
Tim McDonnell
Climate and energy editor, Semafor
Payments Powering Economic Growth
Shola Akinlade
Co-Founder and CEO, Paystack
Jesse Moore
CEO, M-Kopa
Alexis Akwagyiram
Managing Editor, Semafor Africa
Untapped Opportunities: Globalization and Trade
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Director-General, World Trade Organization
Ben Smith
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Semafor