CED - Center for Entrepreneurial Development

Presentation Session | Software Innovation
2026-03-25 11:05 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | DPAC Stage, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, 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 to replacing inefficiency with intelligence — and delivering measurable impact to the people and organizations they serve.

Collaborative Intelligence: Designing the Human x AI Workforce for Maximum Value
2026-03-25 10:00 - 11:30 | NanaSteak, 345 Blackwell St, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
The question is no longer whether AI will reshape your workforce. It already has. The harder question, and one most organizations have yet to solve is: how do you intentionally design how humans and AI work together to maximize value?
Deloitte’s 2026 Global Human Capital Trends research reveals that while 60% of executives are already using AI in decision-making, only 6% say they are making meaningful progress in designing human-AI interactions. The gap between deploying AI and deriving value from it isn’t a technology problem. It’s a design problem, and it starts with being deliberate about what humans do, what GenAI and Agents do, and how the two operate as a total workforce.
In this facilitated session, Chloë Domergue, a principal in Deloitte Consulting LLP’s Human Capital practice and a leader at the forefront of AI-driven workforce transformation, will introduce Deloitte’s practical frameworks for thinking about human and machine roles, workforce maturity, and the organizational tipping points that help determine where to invest, when to act, and what to build next. This won’t be a conceptual conversation. Participants will work through the framework directly—using it to assess where their organization stands, identify their most critical decision points, and pressure test their assumptions about how they are building for the future. Real-world applications will be woven in throughout, illustrating how leading organizations are moving from AI pilots to always-on, Humans x Machines operating models that compound value over time.
Whether you’re just beginning to integrate AI or agentic, or wrestling with how to scale what’s in motion, this session will leave you with a sharper lens for the decisions that matter most—how to build a workforce, human and machine—that is designed to win.

Student & Startup Talent Meet-Up
2026-03-25 10:00 - 10:50 | DPAC President’s Club, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
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 great fit.

Presentation Session | Next-Gen Hardware & Deep Tech
2026-03-25 10:00 - 10:50, 2026-03-24 14:20 - 15:10 | DPAC Stage, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, 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.

Day 2 Kickoff | Dealroom Sizes Up the Triangle Ecosystem
2026-03-25 08:30 - 09:45 | DPAC Stage, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
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 where the region is gaining momentum, where it still has ground to make up, and what it will take for the Triangle to climb the global ranks.

Sponsor Connection
2026-03-25 07:30 - 16:30, 2026-03-24 07:30 - 16:30 | DPAC Floor 2 Lobby, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, 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.

Partnering & Investor Meetings
2026-03-25 07:30 - 16:30, 2026-03-24 07:30 - 16:30 | DPAC Floor 3 Lobby, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
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!

Day Two | Doors Open & Morning Welcome
2026-03-25 07:30 - 08:30 | DPAC Floor 1 Lobby, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
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!

Investor Dinner (Invite-Only)
2026-03-24 18:00 - 21:00 | Bay 7, 324 Blackwell St #700, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
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.

Presenting Founders' Reception
2026-03-24 17:30 - 19:00 | The Durham Hotel, 315 E Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
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.

GrepBeat's Venture Connect After-Party
2026-03-24 17:00 - 19:00 | Private: Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, 280 S Mangum St #100, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
Join GrepBeat as they hoist a glass to celebrate Venture Connect and the Triangle’s entrepreneurial spirit. Connect, unwind, and spark new ideas!
RSVP required to attend: https://donorbox.org/events/914612/steps/choose_tickets

Fireside Chat | Supercharge GTM in the Modern AI Landscape
2026-03-24 16:25 - 17:10 | DPAC Stage, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
Go to market execution is where most startups stall, and AI is changing how the best teams solve it. Kelly Breslin Wright, former President and COO of Gong and CRO of Tableau, joins Susan Cook, former CEO of Zaloni and CEO of DAS42, for a candid conversation on building high performing GTM engines. They will share practical lessons on hiring, ICP clarity, messaging, and using AI to move faster without losing focus, plus what founders often get wrong when trying to scale revenue.

Early Exits & Transaction Ready
2026-03-24 15:25 - 16:15 | DPAC President’s Club, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
Given the long roadmaps, most life science companies are going to exit well before revenue and some exit much earlier than originally planned. How did these opportunities unfold? How did you prepare? What do you wish you had done differently? Join us for an exciting fireside chat with exited founders sharing insights from their journeys.
Hosts will include: Kelli Luginbuhl, Leah Townsend, & Giles Shih.

Tech Investor Panel
2026-03-24 15:25 - 16:10 | DPAC Stage, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
Join a respected panel of growth-stage investors (moderated by Peter Franconi of Fulcrum Equity Partners) as they discuss relevant topics ranging from the capital raising environment to the prevalence of AI in software business models.

Presentation Session | Early-Stage Technology Companies
2026-03-24 14:20 - 15:10, 2026-03-24 10:00 - 10:50 | DPAC President’s Club, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
In addition to the DPAC Stage presentations, Venture Connect features a dynamic lightning round where emerging technology companies present rapid-fire pitches.

Is Your Board Keeping You Up at Night?
2026-03-24 13:30 - 15:00 | NanaSteak, 345 Blackwell St, Durham, NC, 27701, 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 interactive workshop, Mitch Heath, former COO and Co-founder of Teamworks, will do a deep dive on how founders can make the most of their advisor relationships and how management and board members alike can best optimize Board dynamics.

From Scale to Sale: Building Leverage Before You Need It
2026-03-24 13:15 - 14:05 | DPAC President’s Club, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, 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. Learn what sophisticated buyers look for, where founders unintentionally invite retrades or lose leverage, and what you can implement now to avoid painful surprises later.

Presentation Session | Science for a Healthier Planet
2026-03-24 13:15 - 14:05 | DPAC Stage, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, 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 innovators are using science to build a more resilient and sustainable world.

Lunch Break | Connect & Recharge
2026-03-24 12:00 - 13:00 | DPAC Floor 2 Lobby, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, 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 relaxed setting. Whether you’re diving into a deep discussion or simply recharging for the afternoon sessions, this is your opportunity to network, unwind, and fuel up for what’s next.

Biotech Investor Lunch
2026-03-24 12:00 - 13:00 | NanaSteak, 345 Blackwell St, Durham, NC, 27701, 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 conversations.
Thank you to Seward & Kissel & Dean Dorton for sponsoring this lunch!

Presentation Session | Early-Stage Life Science Companies
2026-03-24 11:05 - 12:00 | DPAC President’s Club, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
In addition to the DPAC Stage presentations, Venture Connect features a dynamic lightning round where emerging life science companies present rapid-fire pitches.

Presentation Session | Software Innovation
2026-03-24 11:05 - 12:00 | DPAC Stage, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, 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 to replacing inefficiency with intelligence — and delivering measurable impact to the people and organizations they serve.
Thank you to our sponsors, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and Centri Business Consulting.

Presentation Session | Human Health — Biotech & Medtech
2026-03-24 10:00 - 10:50 | DPAC Stage, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, 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 innovators are tackling some of healthcare’s most persistent challenges.
Thank you, Wyrick Robbins, for sponsoring this event.

Opening Session | Dematerialization and Rematerialization
2026-03-24 08:30 - 09:45 | DPAC Stage, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, 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 the defining force of the 21st century: dematerialization—the ongoing shift of physical products, infrastructure, and entire industries into software. For more than three decades, software has reshaped manufacturing, logistics, retail, media, telecommunications, transportation, banking, and finance.
Now, we are entering the next phase: rematerialization. Powered by artificial intelligence, computational biology, and synthetic biology, physical systems and resources can be redesigned and re-engineered into entirely new configurations. Machine intelligence is accelerating value creation, unlocking new business models, and challenging conventional assumptions about how companies are built and scaled. From AI-driven enterprises to programmable biology, these twin forces will redefine both software services and life sciences—reshaping the very foundation of venture investment.
Building on these opening insights, Tercek is joined on stage by Chloë Domergue, Principal and Practice Leader in Human Capital at Deloitte, for a forward-looking conversation about what future organizations will require to succeed. As technology transforms how value is created, fundamental questions emerge: How many people does a startup truly need? What roles will matter most? How will human capital strategies evolve in an era defined by intelligent systems? Together, they will explore how founders and investors must rethink talent, structure, and scale for the next generation of high-growth companies.

Doors Open | Registration, Check-In & Breakfast
2026-03-24 07:30 - 08:30 | DPAC Floor 1 Lobby, 123 William V Bill Bell Wy, Durham, NC, 27701, United States
Kick off your VC26 experience with registration and a light continental breakfast. Connect with fellow attendees over coffee, fuel up for an inspiring day ahead, and get ready to dive into the conversations that will shape the future of the Triangle’s innovation ecosystem. Doors open early—see you there!

Special thanks to our Breakfast Sponsor, Bilan Stribling at Edward Jones.

Pendominium
2026-03-24 - 2026-03-26 | Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
