Where Tomorrow’s Leaders Met Today: Inside The Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit
Young dreamers, creators & innovators from across the country all traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit. The Summit recognizes the country’s brightest founders and entrepreneurs who are going beyond the limits and creating change in their communities.
They have the numbers to prove their impact — that’s $3.8B+ total funding raised by the Under 30 Listers and the social following to match. This year’s list is a standout from the previous year’s. With AI playing a significant part in how Generation Z gathers data, creates insights, and builds systems, the possibilities of what can be created have truly become infinite.
“Focus on becoming. As you focus on becoming who God has created you to be, and the purpose that’s already evident in the fact that you were born on this earth. I want to make sure people aren’t chasing a list, but they’re chasing a purpose. And as you chase your purpose, things will come to you,” Nyamekye Wilson said, a 2026 Forbes Under Lister and Founder of Black Sisters in STEM, the largest talent ecosystem of Black women in STEM (SIS).
Celebrities like Dwayne Wade, Ashley Graham, Michael Phelps, and the founders of iconic brands like Lindsey Carter of SET Active and Shawn Fanning of Napster graced the main stage to share gems about what it takes to build a viral brand and a community.
Photo credit: Forbes
“Get into the mindset of the consumer. We all want to feel and be a part of something. We want to connect to the person, not only the product. Treat the consumer like your friend,” was shared during the Viral Marketing 101: How Social Media Can Ignite A Consumer Brand panel featuring Lindsey Carter and Jake Karls.
“If you want to create a big business, you have to have a strong foundation. For me, that’s VCP, which means vision, capital, and people,” explained serial entrepreneur Marc Lore.
“If you’re not doing anything new or crazy, PUSH HARDER. Make your scope more ambitious. Don’t be scared when people say your idea is crazy or dangerous,” was advised during the Radical Creation: How to Build Companies That Shake Society, featuring panelists Shawn Fanning and Andrew Frame.
Curious about how to become an Under 30 Lister? Beyond the basics like having to be 29 1/2 years old, the Forbes team that develops this iconic list every year shared insider tips on how YOU can make next year’s list:
Photo credit: Forbes
Numbers: Quantify your impact.
Stories: Know how to tell your story concisely.
Growth: Show the reach, scale, and potential for growth.
Founders: Both entrepreneurial founders and full-time (9-5) founders can make the list, too.
Transparency: Be transparent about your business.
Photo credit: Forbes
Being in the room reminded me that age is a non-factor. During our 20s, we’re all in a transition with a desire to get somewhere. Our minds are the brightest and filled with ideas the world has yet to see. The difference is — some of us put the strategy in place to get it done, and others don’t. Be strategic, not stagnant.
It doesn’t matter how radical, unusual, or out-of-the-box your idea may seem. If you’re passionate about what you can do and stay committed to it, then it can happen.
The beauty about this is you don’t have to do it alone, either. In fact, most founders who are billionaires didn’t. They had a community, team, and investors all backing up the one vision they decided to pursue. Today, those visions are the very tools, apps, and systems we use. It’s what I like to call “ordinary people with extraordinary ideas”.
Don’t let someone else create the tools our generation needs. We are leading the charge.
