BIG DIPPER INNOVATION SUMMIT™ 2026

Explore What’s Next

3 Days

of Programming

80+

Speakers, Panelists & Performers

30+

Sessions & Experiences

Where innovators come to think, build, and lead.

The Big Dipper Innovation Summit brings founders, creatives, investors, and business leaders together to explore the ideas, technologies, and cultural shifts that shape what comes next.

May 12-14, 2026 • Richmond, VA

Group registration

Our 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.

Governor Abigail Spanberger

The Commonwealth of Virginia — **Governor Abigail Spanberger**
The Commonwealth of Virginia

Issa Rae

CEO of HOORAE, Producer, Actress, and Writer — **Issa Rae**
CEO of HOORAE, Producer, Actress, and Writer

Thomas “Tom” Gayner

Chief Executive Officer,
Markel Group — **Thomas “Tom” Gayner**
Chief Executive Officer, Markel Group

Erin Harkless Moore

VP & Managing Director,
Investments, Pivotal Ventures — **Erin Harkless Moore**
VP & Managing Director, Investments, Pivotal Ventures

Everette Taylor

CEO, Kickstarter — **Everette Taylor**
CEO, Kickstarter

Kevin Roose

Technology Columnist, The New York Times — **Kevin Roose**
Technology Columnist, The New York Times

Dhani Jones

Chairman, Qey Capital Partners — **Dhani Jones**
Chairman, Qey Capital Partners

Edward H. Baine

President, Dominion Energy Virginia — **Edward H. Baine**
President, Dominion Energy Virginia

Dr. Jennifer Chung

Functional + Lifestyle Medicine — **Dr. Jennifer Chung**
Functional + Lifestyle Medicine

Kelli Saulny

Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Corridor Ventures — **Kelli Saulny**
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Corridor Ventures

Jennifer Hunter

Senior Vice President Corporate Citizenship & Chief Sustainability Officer, Altria — **Jennifer Hunter**
Senior Vice President Corporate Citizenship & Chief Sustainability Officer, Altria

Noelle James

Managing Director, Startup Virginia — **Noelle James**
Managing Director, Startup Virginia

Travis Holloway

Co-Founder & CEO, SoLo Funds — **Travis Holloway**
Co-Founder & CEO, SoLo Funds

Rodney William

Co-Founder, Chairman & President, SoLo Funds — **Rodney William**
Co-Founder, Chairman & President, SoLo Funds

Salomé Garcia

Head of Southeast State and Local Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google — **Salomé Garcia**
Head of Southeast State and Local Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google

Ashley Williams Hillman

Founder & CEO, The Well Collective — **Ashley Williams Hillman**
Founder & CEO, The Well Collective

Richard Wintsch

Executive Director, Startup Virginia — **Richard Wintsch**
Executive Director, Startup Virginia

Kristin Richardson

Founder and CEO, Sherah — **Kristin Richardson**
Founder and CEO, Sherah

Tamika Tyson

Founder, SCALE — **Tamika Tyson**
Founder, SCALE

Lois Schonberger

Partner, Quantum Black, McKinsey & Company — **Lois Schonberger**
Partner, Quantum Black, McKinsey & Company

Sonali Shetty

Chief Technology Officer, Tactiq — **Sonali Shetty**
Chief Technology Officer, Tactiq

Melissa Pegus

Partner, UpVentures Capital — **Melissa Pegus**
Partner, UpVentures Capital

Timothy D. Sands, Ph.D.

President, Virginia Tech — **Timothy D. Sands, Ph.D.**
President, Virginia Tech

Scott C. Beardsley, Ed.D.

President, University of Virginia — **Scott C. Beardsley, Ed.D.**
President, University of Virginia

Michael Rao, Ph.D.

President, Virginia Commonwealth University Chair, VCU Health System Authority — **Michael Rao, Ph.D.**
President, Virginia Commonwealth University Chair, VCU Health System Authority

Gregory Washington, Ph.D.

President, George Mason University — **Gregory Washington, Ph.D.**
President, George Mason University

Mark Hourigan

Founder and CEO, Hourigan — **Mark Hourigan**
Founder and CEO, Hourigan

Jair Lynch

President and CEO, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners — **Jair Lynch**
President and CEO, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners

Sunayna Tuteja

Chief Innovation Officer, Federal Reserve System — **Sunayna Tuteja**
Chief Innovation Officer, Federal Reserve System

Joe Benevento

President and CEO, Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority and Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation — **Joe Benevento**
President and CEO, Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority and Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation

Garret Westlake, Ph.D.

Executive Director, The da Vinci Center, Virginia Commonwealth University — **Garret Westlake, Ph.D.**
Executive Director, The da Vinci Center, Virginia Commonwealth University

Darrell K. Williams

President, Hampton University — **Darrell K. Williams**
President, Hampton University

Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.

President, Virginia State University — **Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.**
President, Virginia State University

Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D

13th President & CEO, Virginia Union University — **Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D**
13th President & CEO, Virginia Union University

Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D.

President, Norfolk State University — **Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D.**
President, Norfolk State University

Dan Orlovsky
NFL Analyst, ESPN — **Dan Orlovsky**
NFL Analyst, ESPN

When the main stage goes dark, the city lights up. Extended Play is Big Dipper Innovation Summit™ after-hours programming, spreading attendees across Richmond's creative ecosystem each evening for curated experiences at intimate satellite venues.

Extended Play is where the real conversations happen. Smaller rooms, real talk, lasting relationships. Three evenings. Multiple venues. Culture meets commerce after dark.