Dubai: The Global Innovation Summit & Retreat 2026, jointly hosted by the International Startup Foundation (ISF) and the Global CIO Circle, concluded successfully in Dubai after three impactful days from January 9 to January 11, 2026.

The summit brought together global CXOs, investors, policymakers, startup founders, mentors, and young innovators, positioning Dubai as a convergence point for enterprise leadership, grassroots innovation, and global collaboration.

Held under the theme “Aspire. Transpire. Inspire.”, the summit demonstrated how purpose-driven entrepreneurship - when supported by strong enterprise ecosystems—can unlock the next generation of innovators.

The Vision Behind the Summit
At the heart of the summit lies the ISF Junicorn Initiative, a vision conceived by JA Chowdary, Founder and Chairman of the International Startup Foundation.
Choosing purpose over pause, JA Chowdary has dedicated this phase of his journey to empowering future entrepreneurs. The Junicorn Initiative reflects his belief that while talent is universal, access is not—and exists to bridge that gap through mentorship, global exposure, and opportunity, especially for young innovators from rural and underserved regions.

Summit Leadership
The summit was jointly chaired by Lenin Gali, Founder & CEO of Global CIO Circle, and Padma Alluri, Junicorn Director at ISF and Global CEO of IFIN Global Group—reflecting a strong partnership between enterprise leadership and youth entrepreneurship.
Welcoming delegates from India, the United States, Canada, the UAE, Europe, Australia, Singapore, and beyond, the Chairs emphasized belief, collaboration, and relationships as the foundation of the summit.

“This summit exists because of a vision rooted in giving back—one that nurtures young entrepreneurs and inspires leaders who build companies that truly matter,” said Lenin Gali.
“Dubai represents the transition from validation to scale—where grassroots innovation meets global responsibility. It is here that young innovators are no longer observers, but contributors, shaping solutions alongside global leaders,” added Padma Alluri.

Key Summit Highlights
Day 1 Centrepiece: Inaugural Ceremony, CXO Gala & ISF Awards
The summit opened with Junicorn Pitch Panel Sessions, where 50+ young innovators—from rural regions, tier-2, tier-3, and urban centers across 9 Indian states, along with Dubai AEIC student innovators—presented before a distinguished jury of CXOs, investors, and domain experts. These sessions led to the selection of the Top 10 Junicorn finalists.
The evening of January 9 emerged as the defining highlight of the summit, beginning with a formal Inaugural Ceremony that brought together senior leaders, policymakers, global CXOs, and ecosystem builders.

This was followed by an invite-only CXO Gala Dinner and Networking Evening, culminating in the ISF Annual Awards Ceremony, which recognized lifetime achievement, exemplary mentorship, and leadership contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship. The evening set the emotional and strategic tone for the summit, aligning enterprise leaders, mentors, investors, and young innovators as one community.

Day 2: Thought Leadership, Soonicorn Pitches & Desert Safari Networking
Day 2 featured global keynotes, panel discussions, and roundtables on AI, healthcare innovation, enterprise–startup collaboration, and the future of work, alongside Soonicorn startup pitches by growth-stage ventures.
The day concluded with a desert safari experience, bringing together CXOs, speakers, startup founders, Junicorns, and Soonicorns for shared activities, informal networking, and dinner—reinforcing the belief that enduring relationships are built beyond conference rooms.

Day 3: Keynotes, Top 10 Junicorn Finals & Innovation Expo
The final day opened with high-impact keynotes, unicorn founder panels, and roundtable discussions, followed by the Top 10 Junicorn Pitch Finals.
Finalists showcased impact-driven solutions across healthcare, clean tech, agritech, AI, education, sustainability, and social impact. The summit concluded with an Innovation Expo, enabling direct engagement with founders, and a Closing Ceremony and Dinner, marking the culmination of the three-day gathering.

A Global Platform with Purpose
With participation from 100+ global CXOs, investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders, the Global Innovation Summit & Retreat 2026 reaffirmed a shared commitment to inclusive innovation, early-stage mentorship, and building long-term global pathways for young entrepreneurs.

As the summit concluded, one message stood clear: the future of innovation belongs to those who are identified early, supported wisely, and connected meaningfully.