Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2026

Access to capital remains one of the greatest challenges facing entrepreneurs and innovationdriven businesses. While many founders focus on investors and debt financing, grant funding represents a powerful source of non-dilutive capital that enables businesses to innovate, grow, and retain ownership. Success, however, requires more than finding funding opportunities, it demands a strategic understanding of the funding ecosystem and the organizational readiness to compete effectively. This presentation explores how entrepreneurs can leverage grant funding and other non-dilutive financing strategies to accelerate innovation, strengthen resilience, and gain a competitive advantage in today's rapidly evolving marketplace. Drawing on practical insights from the Grant Success System, participants will discover what makes an organization fundable, why promising ventures are often overlooked, and how to position their innovations to attract investment from public and private funding sources. Attendees will learn how strategic grant readiness, compelling impact narratives, and collaborative partnerships can transform innovative ideas into scalable ventures that generate measurable economic and social value. The session will provide a practical framework for identifying the right funding opportunities, aligning business objectives with funding priorities, and building a long-term strategy that supports sustainable growth without sacrificing equity. By demonstrating how grant funding can fuel entrepreneurship, innovation, and competitiveness, this presentation challenges traditional assumptions about business financing and equips entrepreneurs with actionable strategies to secure capital while maintaining ownership, expanding capacity, and creating lasting impact.

Christine Hiebel is the founder of the Grant Success System, an accomplished electrical engineer, and a grant funding strategist who helps entrepreneurs, businesses, and organizations secure non-dilutive funding to fuel innovation and sustainable growth. Drawing on a successful career in engineering and strategic funding, she combines analytical problem-solving with practical business insight to help clients become grant-ready and build competitive funding strategies. Christine is a sought-after speaker and educator who is passionate about empowering innovators to leverage grant funding as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, economic development, and long-term impact.