BIG DIPPER INNOVATION SUMMIT™
What’s Next Already Started
3 Days
of Programming
80+
Speakers, Panelists & Performers
30+
Sessions & Experiences
Founders, creatives, investors, and business leaders came together to explore what comes next in energy, capital, tech, culture and media, and health and wellness. The conversation did not stop when they left.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Summit Returns Spring 2027
Richmond, Virginia. Dates announced soon.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
The Big Dipper Innovation Summit brings together founders, creatives, investors, and business leaders across five tracks, energy, capital, tech, culture and media, and health and wellness.
It is built so people leave with more than they came with. Not just inspired, but equipped. Not just connected, but clear on what to do next.
2026 Featured Guests
Founders and builders. Investors and operators. Creatives and business leaders. Policy makers and institutional voices. BDIS brings together people who don’t usually sit in the same room, but when they do, things happen.
The Commonwealth of Virginia
CEO of HOORAE, Producer, Actress, and Writer
Chief Executive Officer, Markel Group
Managing Director, Investments, Pivotal Ventures
Managing Director, Startup Virginia
CEO, Kickstarter
Technology Columnist, The New York Times
Functional + Lifestyle Medicine
Chairman, Qey Capital Partners
Chief Strategy Officer, Independence Hydrogen
Executive Vice President–Utility Operations and President–Dominion Energy Virginia
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Corridor Ventures
Senior Vice President Corporate Citizenship & Chief Sustainability Officer, Altria
Founder & CEO, The Well Collective
Co-Founder & CEO, SoLo Funds
Co-Founder, Chairman & President, SoLo Funds
Executive Director, Startup Virginia
Founder and CEO, Sherah
Founder, SCALE
Partner, Quantum Black, McKinsey & Company
Chief Technology Officer, Tactiq
Partner, UpVentures Capital
President, Virginia Tech
President, University of Virginia
President, Virginia Commonwealth University
President, George Mason University
Founder and CEO, Hourigan
CEO, Julie
President and CEO, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners
President and CEO, Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority and Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
Vice Provost for Innovation & Strategic Design, Virginia Commonwealth University
Darrell Norton
Partner, CapTech Consulting
AI Change Acceleration Leader, CapTech Consulting
Dean, VCU School of Business
President, Hampton University
President, Virginia State University
President & CEO, Virginia Union University
President, Norfolk State University
Interventional Cardiologist
Global Vice President of Employee Experience,
TELUS Digital Solutions
Co-Founder and CEO, HopDrive
President and CEO, ChamberRVA
Founder, Civic Vanguard
Vice President–Corporate Communications, Dominion Energy
Innovation and Industry Engagement Manager,
VCU’s Technology Transfer and Ventures
President, Capital Markets, Thalhimer
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Dominion Energy
Executive Director, Dominion Energy Innovation Center
Founder, The Players Impact (TPI)
CEO, Perfusion Medical
Market Development & Policy Global Infrastructure and Energy, Google
Monica Rao, MSA Founder, Graphoria
CEO and Co-Founder, Okovate Sustainable Energy
Head of Film, Kickstarter
CEO, BioRE-Element Technologies
Regional President of Virginia, Lee Enterprises and President, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Co-Founder and CEO, Refraction
Co-Founder and COO, Lighthouse XR
Critical Care Physician; Founder, Say More Coaching
Director –Governance, Assistant Corporate Secretary and Managing Counsel, Dominion Energy
Emmy Award–winning Creative Producer, Storyteller, and Voice Actor
CEO and President of Malveaux Global Media
New York Times Bestselling Author,
Cultural Advisor at YouTube
NFL Analyst, ESPN
