Unlocking the biggest social and economic opportunity of our time.

Three billion people remain offline — disconnected from the digital economy and systems that drive global progress.

 

The Next 3 Billion is dedicated to exploring the forces accelerating economic and societal prosperity across the world’s most ascendant regions.

 

This full day of live journalism will feature candid, on-the-record conversations designed to spark collaboration, bold thinking, and actionable solutions — unlocking one of the greatest social and economic opportunities of our time.

When

September 24, 2025

Where

New York City

Time

Doors Open: 8:00 a.m. 

Breakfast & Networking: 8:00 a.m.

Program Begins: 9:00 a.m.

Featured Speakers

Vivek Badrinath
Vivek Badrinath
Secretary General at GSMA
Iván Duque
Iván Duque
Former President at Colombia
Lungisa Fuzile
Lungisa Fuzile
CEO for Africa Regions and Offshore at Standard Bank
Cristina Junqueira
Cristina Junqueira
Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Nubank
Sangbu Kim
Sangbu Kim
Vice President for Digital at The World Bank

Moderators

Yinka Adegoke
Yinka Adegoke
Africa Editor at Semafor
Alexis Akwagyiram
Alexis Akwagyiram
Managing Editor, Africa at Semafor
Reed Albergotti
Reed Albergotti
Tech Editor at Semafor
Gina Chon
Gina Chon
Executive Editor at Semafor
Tim McDonnell
Tim McDonnell
Climate and Energy Editor at Semafor
Amna Nawaz
Amna Nawaz
Co-Host at PBS News Hour and Semafor Contributor
Ben Smith
Ben Smith
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief at Semafor
Justin B. Smith
Justin B. Smith
Co-Founder and CEO at Semafor