• Sponsor Connection

    DPAC Floor 2 Lobby 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, United States

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

  • Opening Session | Dematerialization and Rematerialization

    DPAC Stage
    DPAC Stage 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, United States

    Venture Connect 2026 opens with a bold framing of the venture landscape amid sweeping technological and societal change. Robert Tercek, co-founder of The Futurists Network and Nura Studios AI, explores […]

  • Presentation Session | Human Health — Biotech & Medtech

    DPAC Stage
    DPAC Stage 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, United States

    From ENT care to oncology, the companies in this session are redefining how medicine is practiced, delivered, and experienced. Whether through novel device engineering, AI-powered diagnostics, or breakthrough therapeutics, these […]

  • Presentation Session | Software Innovation

    DPAC Stage
    DPAC Stage 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, United States

    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 […]

  • Biotech Investor Lunch

    NanaSteak
    NanaSteak 345 Blackwell St, Durham, NC, United States

    We are excited to host an invite-only Biotech Investor Lunch during Venture Connect. This is a unique opportunity to network with fellow biotech investors over lunch and engage in insightful […]

  • Lunch Break | Connect & Recharge

    DPAC Floor 2 Lobby 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, United States

    Take a break, grab a bite, and connect organically with fellow attendees. This unscripted, unstructured lunch is your time to step outside, spark new conversations, and build relationships in a […]

  • Presentation Session | Science for a Healthier Planet

    DPAC Stage
    DPAC Stage 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, United States

    The companies in this session are confronting some of the most pressing environmental and agricultural challenges of our time. From climate-resilient crops to next-generation water treatment and sustainable seafood, these […]

  • From Scale to Sale: Building Leverage Before You Need It

    DPAC President’s Club
    DPAC President's Club 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, United States

    Transaction readiness isn’t a last-minute sprint—it’s the result of disciplined decisions made years earlier. In this session, Tyson Nargassans, CED Founder in Residence and CEO of Slope Software, shares hard-won lessons on how to structure your company so you can move quickly, command stronger valuations, and stay in control when investors or acquirers come calling. […]

  • Is Your Board Keeping You Up at Night?

    NanaSteak
    NanaSteak 345 Blackwell St, Durham, NC, United States

    At their best, Boards can be a founder's most valuable asset, providing the right level of accountability, invaluable strategic advice, and connections that lead directly to new knowledge, revenue, or talent. But at their worst, Boards can create distraction and overhead, apply unhealthy pressure, or even become an impediment to the company's success. In this […]

  • Presentation Session | Next-Gen Hardware & Deep Tech

    DPAC Stage
    DPAC Stage 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, United States

    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.