Events

Presenting founders are invited to join us for an exclusive reception at the end of VC26 Day 1. We hope to see you there! Thank you, Bank of America and Canopy, for sponsoring this event.

A private dinner offers a chance for our regional VCs to connect directly with out-of-region funds in an intimate setting. Please note this is an invite-only event, and does require an RSVP. A special thank you to EisnerAmper, Hutchison PLLC, & JP Morgan for sponsoring this event.

Start your second day at VC26 with registration and a light continental breakfast. Grab a coffee, reconnect with fellow attendees, and get ready for another day of impactful conversations and game-changing connections. Doors open early—let’s dive back in!

Looking to accelerate your business growth? Bookable meeting spaces are available for one-on-one conversations with investors, partners, and key ecosystem resources. Whether you’re seeking capital, strategic guidance, or industry connections, this is your chance to forge valuable relationships that drive your startup forward. Schedule your meetings and make every moment count!

Spend time connecting with our Venture Connect sponsors! Visit their booths, learn about their work, and explore ways to collaborate and build meaningful relationships.

How does the Triangle stack up against the leading startup ecosystems in the world? Dealroom CEO Yoram Wijngaarde opens with a global snapshot of venture activity, highlighting trends across capital, sectors, and emerging innovation hubs. Drawing on insights from the Triangle’s Dealroom initiative with CED, Yoram then joins Bill Spruill for a candid discussion on […]

The companies in this session are operating at the frontier of what hardware and deep technology can do. From advanced robotics and satellite systems to novel materials and semiconductor architecture, these innovators are building the physical and computational infrastructure of tomorrow.

An informal, high-energy meet-up designed to connect students, startups, and university partners in one room. Whether you're a founder looking for sharp summer talent or a student seeking a hands-on internship for Summer 2026, this session creates space for real conversations and meaningful connections. Come ready to introduce yourself, explore opportunities, and spark the next […]

Led by Chloë Domergue, Human Capital Deloitte Principal, this hands-on workshop explores what collaborative intelligence between humans and AI looks like inside a real organization. The next leap in performance will not come from better tools alone. It will come from teams that think differently, challenge assumptions, and work intentionally with intelligent systems. Through guided […]

This session showcases software companies using artificial intelligence, automation, and modern cloud platforms to solve real-world problems across healthcare, construction, education, finance, and beyond. What unites them is a commitment to replacing inefficiency with intelligence — and delivering measurable impact to the people and organizations they serve.

Most founders think fundraising is a pitch contest. It isn’t. It’s a structured process driven by preparation, evidence, and investor psychology. In this talk, Lesley Ross shares the playbook founders can use to navigate venture fundraising and significantly improve their odds of success.

We are excited to host an invite-only Tech Investor Lunch during Venture Connect. This is a unique opportunity to network with fellow tech investors over lunch and engage in insightful conversations. Thank you to KPMG for sponsoring this lunch!