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

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General at World Health Organization
Massad Boulos
Massad Boulos
Senior Advisor on Africa at US Department of State
Idris Elba
Idris Elba
Award-winning Actor, Filmmaker, Musician, and Activist at Elba Hope Foundation
Cristina Junqueira
Cristina Junqueira
Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Nubank
Cina Lawson
Cina Lawson
Minister of Digital Economy and Transformation at Togo
Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health at United Nations
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Director-General at World Trade Organization
Mark Suzman
Mark Suzman
CEO at Gates Foundation
Josephine Teo
Josephine Teo
Minister for Digital Development and Information at Singapore
Dr. Bosun Tijani
Dr. Bosun Tijani
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy at Nigeria

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
Max Tani
Max Tani
Media Editor at Semafor