INMerge Innovation Summit welcomes speakers and startups to Baku (Sponsored)

The INMerge Innovation Summit is set to return to Baku on 30 November – 1 December, 2026, bringing together some of the world’s most influential figures in technology, business, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Hosted at the Baku Convention Center, the summit will welcome more than 200 internationally renowned speakers.

Among the headline speakers is Maria Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion and 2025 inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Having transitioned from professional sports to business, Sharapova is now an entrepreneur and investor, serves on the Board of Directors of luxury fashion brand Moncler and is a New York Times bestselling author.

Joining her is Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google X and bestselling author of Solve for Happy and Scary Smart. Recognised for his insights into artificial intelligence, Gawdat is expected to bring valuable perspectives on the evolving relationship between technology and society.

The speaker lineup also features Greg Hoffman, who spent nearly three decades at Nike, rising from intern to Chief Marketing Officer. The author of Emotion by Design is known for his expertise in branding, creativity and innovation.

Another prominent participant is Joel Mokyr, professor at Northwestern University and recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his research into technological progress and economic growth.

Beyond its high-profile speakers, INMerge 2026 will place a strong emphasis on supporting startups and emerging entrepreneurs. This year, the summit has attracted more than 1,300 startup applications from 94 countries, highlighting its growing international reach.

Of these applicants, 120 startups have been selected to showcase their ideas and solutions at the event. More than 40 will compete in INBattle, the summit’s startup competition, for a €45,000 ($50,000) cash prize. The winner will also earn the opportunity to represent Azerbaijan at the Startup World Cup 2027.

Since its launch in 2021, INMerge Innovation Summit has developed into a major regional platform connecting corporations, investors, startups and government representatives from Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The summit’s continued growth was reflected in its 2025 edition, which attracted more than 5,000 participants, over 180 speakers, 122 startups and 80 investors.

Through international collaboration, knowledge exchange and investment opportunities, INMerge aims to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem and further position Baku as an emerging hub for technology and entrepreneurship.

The full speaker lineup and ticket information are available on the summit’s official website.

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