Global Summit 2026 Impact Report

On May 6-7 2026, 100 business leaders, investors and sustainability experts came together at the beVisioneers Global Summit to meet the next generation of eco-innovators. Over two days, they connected with 150 young people developing solutions for environmental challenges worldwide. Following the summit, 85% identified Fellows as strong candidates for future opportunities, 85% committed to opening their networks, and 78% pledged to mentor fellows directly. This is what happens when the right people are in the right room.

Global Summit 2026 Highlights

85%

of Experts identified Fellows as strong candidates for future opportunities

78%

of Experts committed to mentoring Fellows

85%

of Experts pledged to connect Fellows with their networks

64%

offered to provide workshops or expertise sessions

74%

of participants made 4+ valuable new connections during the Summit

97%

of Fellows gained actionable feedback to accelerate their projects

Experts & Speakers

More than 100 business leaders, investors, philanthropists, and sustainability experts joined the beVisioneers 2026 Global Summit, including representatives from Ashoka, Bertha Foundation, and IKEA. The impact was immediate: 85% of Experts identified Fellows as strong candidates for future opportunities — demonstrating the strong potential of eco-innovators when connected with leaders ready to help scale their impact.

Andrea Brillembourg

Global Sustainability Projects & Partnership, AB InBev

Angie Wisemann

Group Organisational Development Director, Bupa

Aparna Shrivastava

Executive Director Climate Reserve, Aspen Global Change Institute

Bushra Ahmed

Advisor beVisioneers Catalyst Council

Diego Santamaria Razo

Technology Management Advisor, Breakthrough Energy

Florian Glück

Lead Sherpa Central Europe, Hilti

Glyn Richards

Group Director of Sustainability, Bupa

Ian Calvert

Venture Development Manager, OceanHub Africa

Jonathan Duncan

Founder Sustainable Finance & Green Economy Advisory

Juan Carlos Thomas Soto

VP Entrepreneurship & New Ventures, TechnoServe

Julie Chrysler

Director, Circular Economy & Social Impact, Yunus Environment Hub Philanthropy gGmbH

Katharina Beumelburg

CSO, Heidelberg Materials

Katrin Lehmann

CIO, Mercedes-Benz

Kaye Vitug

Co-Founder, Unlocking Eve

Ludvig Liljekvist

Liljekvist Ingka Group, IKEA Retailer

Mathias Geisen

Board Member, Sales & Customer, Mercedes-Benz

Michael Norton

Director, CIVA

Nicole Schwab

Co-Founder, Ostara Collective

Olaf Schick

Member of the Executive Board – Chief Financial Officer, Mercedes-Benz

Pia Heidenmark Cook

HC Tomorrow AB Senior Advisor & Board Member (The DO)

Richard Woods

Undaunted, Global Network

Sabina Gros

CEO BPT, Pure Power Now

Sam Bentley

Creator

Santiago Mejía

Social Ecosystems Strategy Director for Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Ashoka

Tony Tabatznik

Co-Founder Bertha Foundation

What experts tell us they gain

Pipeline

Direct access to curated, prototype-stage eco-founders - pre-vetted, mission-aligned and building across food systems, circular economy, clean energy, water, and sustainable construction. Many of our experts tell us they arrive expecting to give and leave having found ventures genuinely worth tracking.

Intelligence

First-hand market insight from founders building in Nairobi, Jakarta, São Paulo, Lagos and many more contexts across the globe where the most urgent environmental problems are being solved, and where most corporate sustainability teams have no direct visibility. The conversations at beVisioneers do not happen in a boardroom.

Network & Connection

The room includes investors, philanthropists, CSOs, researchers and policy advocates — many outside the usual conference circuit. Experts consistently say the relationships they build become one of the most valuable parts of the experience. As Silvia Hernandez reflected: “Their ideas were bold, but what impressed me even more was their mindset — curious, collaborative, and deeply committed to driving real change.”

Experts Reflections on Global Summit

Insights and Feedback from the Summit Community

"This was a great summit. I was amazed by the quality of preparation of the fellows. I’m not entirely sure where it comes from, but I imagine it’s a combination of the positive energy and dedication of the organizing team, together with a group of early-career professionals who are genuinely optimistic, motivated, and energized by the possibility of positive change."

Waldo Soto

Director & Cofounder, 2811

"Spending time with such a diverse group of young innovators was both humbling and inspiring. Their ideas were bold, but what impressed me even more was their mindset: curious, collaborative, and deeply committed to driving real change."

Silvia Hernandez

Strategy & Consulting Managing Director, Accenture

"The most valuable part for me was the direct access to people who are actually shaping industries at scale, from Mercedes-Benz leadership to climate experts, investors, and entrepreneurs. The conversations were honest, practical, and pushed me to think more deeply about how Avinya can scale globally, not just technologically but also strategically and commercially."

Jenil Gandhi

beVisioneers Fellow

"I was genuinely inspired by the quality of the dialogue and by the ambition of the young fellows from around the world who are already building solutions for the future - in my specific case especially in the built environment."

Katharina Beumelburg

CSO, Heidelberg Materials

"Connecting with the Fellows has been my highlight. Very impressive and wide range of efforts!"

Aparna Shrivastava

Executive Director Climate Reserve, Aspen Global Change Institute

"The quality of connections and validations we have received over the past 3 days is incredibly helpful for our venture. This is a significant boost to our work as progress through our next endeavours."

Venkata Ramana Mattaparthi

beVisioneers Fellow

Waldo Soto

Director & Cofounder, 2811

Silvia Hernandez

Strategy & Consulting Managing Director, Accenture

Jenil Gandhi

beVisioneers Fellow

Katharina Beumelburg

CSO, Heidelberg Materials

"Connecting with the Fellows has been my highlight. Very impressive and wide range of efforts!"

Aparna Shrivastava

Executive Director Climate Reserve, Aspen Global Change Institute

Venkata Ramana Mattaparthi

beVisioneers Fellow

Intergenerational Learning

At the beVisioneers 2026 Global Summit, many mentors and Fellows met face-to-face for the very first time. We spoke with Ben Mengare, Retail Sales Manager at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and mentor to beVisioneers Fellow Ivana Mena Sanchez, about the value of intergenerational learning and meaningful mentorship.

See how they have impacted each other’s lives:

Spotlight Presentations

Throughout the Global Summit, six Fellows from across three cohorts took to the stage to showcase their planet-positive projects. Representing diverse regions and sectors, they shared how their projects have grown through the support of beVisioneers and its community. Their solutions address critical challenges across energy, waste management, alternative materials, and sustainable construction.