CONFERENCE CREATOR OPENS OCTOBER 1
THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATORS
Building What Comes Next
The next generation won't be defined by technology alone. It will be defined by the people bold enough to shape it. Join founders, investors, researchers, policymakers, students, and ecosystem leaders shaping the future of Virginia.
Hosted each April, the Summit is where bold ideas become lasting partnerships, friendships are created, and knowledge is learned all through the lens of NEXTGEN innovation. We believe every breakthrough begins with an idea. Every company starts with a conversation. And every movement begins with people willing to imagine a different future. The Innovation Summit is where those conversations happen.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
NEXTGEN FOUNDERS
The entrepreneurs building tomorrow's companies.
NEXTGEN INDUSTRIES
AI, biotech, energy, manufacturing, defense, robotics, quantum.
NEXTGEN WORKFORCE
How education, apprenticeships, universities and employers prepare for jobs that don't yet exist.
NEXTGEN CAPITAL
How investors, philanthropy, government and corporations finance the future.
2026 Summit Highlights
Defense and Intelligence Panel Shines Light on Emerging Vertical for Central VA
One of the most important conversations at this year’s Innovation Summit centered on the growing defense and intelligence ecosystem emerging across Central Virginia. Bringing together leaders from defense, intelligence, venture capital, cybersecurity, economic development, and dual-use innovation, the session highlighted Virginia’s unique opportunity to become a national leader in next-generation defense technology and strategic innovation -- and how to act to accelerate that momentum.
The Future of Biotech and Regional Innovation Hubs
Leaders from across Virginia’s biotech, research, healthcare, and investment ecosystems explored how regional collaboration and emerging innovation hubs are shaping the future of life sciences and economic growth across the Commonwealth.
The LÄRABAR Founding Story and Building Companies With Intention
Lara Merriken shared the deeply personal story behind building LÄRABAR, offering insights on entrepreneurship, intentional leadership, wellness, and the courage required to build mission-driven companies.
The Luminoah Story - From a Son’s Rare Tumor Diagnosis to a Medical Breakthrough
This powerful session highlighted how one family’s response to a devastating diagnosis sparked the creation of Luminoah and a breakthrough approach to improving care and quality of life for pediatric cancer patients. At the session, Luminoah’s founder, Neal Piper, celebrated the news that the company had cleared FDA approval to fully go to market.
2026 Featured Speakers
WHY CHARLOTTESVILLE?
The next generation of innovation won't happen in one city. But Charlottesville has become one of America's most interesting places to explore the future. Home to a world-class university, nationally recognized healthcare system, growing startup ecosystem, pioneering biotechnology companies, venture investors, public-sector innovators, and an unusually collaborative civic culture, the region has become a living laboratory for the future of innovation.
Each April, leaders from across Virginia and beyond gather at the geographic center of the Commonwealth to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and launch what comes next.
WHY ATTEND?
Shape Virginia’s future.
Help shape what the next decade of innovation looks like.
Meet the people building it.
Connect with entrepreneurs, universities, investors, corporate innovators and ecosystem leaders.
Learn what's next.
Hear from founders, researchers, investors and policymakers shaping tomorrow's economy.
Discover breakthrough companies.
Explore Virginia's fastest-growing startups before everyone else knows their names.
Build unlikely partnerships.
Innovation increasingly happens across sectors, not within them.
Help Build the 2027 Innovation Summit
The best ideas come from the community. Through our Conference Creator, we're inviting founders, researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators to propose sessions, workshops, and conversations for the NEXTGEN Innovation Summit. If you have an idea that will inspire, challenge, or connect others, we invite you to help shape this year's program.
