Following the success of Semafor’s The Next 3 Billion summit in New York on the sidelines of the 2025 United Nations General Assembly, Semafor and the Gates Foundation are taking the conversation on the road to key markets in Africa and the Middle East.

The Next 3 Billion Tour will spotlight insights from the Global Findex 2025 report and the Global Digital Connectivity Tracker, translating global research into actionable, locally relevant conversations. Each gathering will bring together policymakers, business leaders, innovators, and civil society to explore how financial inclusion and digital connectivity can unlock the full potential of the next three billion people coming online.

Launched in partnership with the Gates Foundation and featuring Semafor’s signature live journalism, this four event series will create space for insightful dialogue, collaboration, and solutions. From Abuja to Johannesburg, to Abu Dhabi and beyond, these convenings will explore what it will take to bridge the digital divide, expand economic opportunity, and deliver inclusive growth.