Partner with SMilE

Bring the opportunity. We will help convene the ecosystem.

SMilE works with organisations that can contribute real demand, technology, capital, institutional support, knowledge, market access or participant pathways.

Business leaders beginning a partnership at SMilE Summit
Partnership with a purpose

Why partner

Partnership should strengthen the opportunity—not only the event.

The strongest partners help SMilE improve who enters the room, what they can act on and what may continue afterwards.

A partnership may be built around a region, sector, technology domain, investment thesis, enterprise requirement or institutional programme. Scope, visibility and engagement formats are shaped around strategic fit.

Partnership pathways

Different contributions. One shared standard of relevance.

These pathways describe possible roles; final categories and deliverables are agreed according to the initiative and contribution.

Government & institutional partner

Align a SMilE initiative with entrepreneurship, industrial development, investment, technology adoption or regional economic priorities.

Priorities · Programmes · Infrastructure · Convening

Enterprise & industry partner

Bring problem statements, innovation priorities, supplier-development needs, pilots and market opportunities into a curated ecosystem.

Demand · Pilots · Procurement · Market access

Investment partner

Engage with contextualised startups and MSMEs through selected pitches, focused meetings and follow-on pathways.

Investment thesis · Capital · Strategic guidance

Technology & R&D partner

Make technologies, intellectual property, research and specialist capability discoverable to suitable entrepreneurs and adopters.

Technology · Research · Validation · Transfer

Ecosystem & outreach partner

Bring credible participants, sector knowledge, institutional relationships and regional reach into the initiative.

Pipeline · Knowledge · Community · Outreach

Knowledge, media & experience partner

Strengthen programme quality, communication, visibility and the participant experience around a shared objective.

Expertise · Content · Communication · Delivery

How we assess fit

A partnership begins with a shared objective.

01

Strategic fit

The partnership should serve a defined economic, industry, technology or participant priority.

02

Clear contribution

Each party should understand the capability, access, resources or opportunity it is bringing.

03

Curated participation

Visibility and access should support relevance rather than dilute the quality of the room.

04

Measurable pathway

The collaboration should identify credible next steps and an appropriate basis for review.

Industry leaders and investors participating in a SMilE Summit panel

Regional and sector collaboration

Shape SMilE around an economic priority.

SMilE can be developed as a regional edition, sector-focused convening or institution-led programme. The agenda, outreach and curated engagements are built around the local or sectoral opportunity while preserving SMilE’s emphasis on relevance and follow-through.

Regional entrepreneurship and MSME activationSector challenges, technology adoption and supplier discoveryInvestment, market access and institutional collaboration

Start with the objective

What do you want the ecosystem to unlock?