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
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
The Commonwealth of Virginia
Issa Rae
CEO of HOORAE, Producer, Actress, and Writer
CEO of HOORAE, Producer, Actress, and Writer
Thomas “Tom” Gayner
Chief Executive Officer, Markel Group
Chief Executive Officer, Markel Group
Erin Harkless Moore
VP & Managing Director, Investments, Pivotal Ventures
VP & Managing Director, Investments, Pivotal Ventures
Everette Taylor
CEO, Kickstarter
CEO, Kickstarter
Kevin Roose
Technology Columnist, The New York Times
Technology Columnist, The New York Times
Dhani Jones
Chairman, Qey Capital Partners
Chairman, Qey Capital Partners
Edward H. Baine
President, Dominion Energy Virginia
President, Dominion Energy Virginia
Dr. Jennifer Chung
Functional + Lifestyle Medicine
Functional + Lifestyle Medicine
Kelli Saulny
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Corridor Ventures
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Corridor Ventures
Jennifer Hunter
Senior Vice President Corporate Citizenship & Chief Sustainability Officer, Altria
Senior Vice President Corporate Citizenship & Chief Sustainability Officer, Altria
Noelle James
Managing Director, Startup Virginia
Managing Director, Startup Virginia
Travis Holloway
Co-Founder & CEO, SoLo Funds
Co-Founder & CEO, SoLo Funds
Rodney William
Co-Founder, Chairman & President, SoLo Funds
Co-Founder, Chairman & President, SoLo Funds
Salomé Garcia
Head of Southeast State and Local Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google
Head of Southeast State and Local Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google
Ashley Williams Hillman
Founder & CEO, The Well Collective
Founder & CEO, The Well Collective
Richard Wintsch
Executive Director, Startup Virginia
Executive Director, Startup Virginia
Kristin Richardson
Founder and CEO, Sherah
Founder and CEO, Sherah
Tamika Tyson
Founder, SCALE
Founder, SCALE
Lois Schonberger
Partner, Quantum Black, McKinsey & Company
Partner, Quantum Black, McKinsey & Company
Sonali Shetty
Chief Technology Officer, Tactiq
Chief Technology Officer, Tactiq
Melissa Pegus
Partner, UpVentures Capital
Partner, UpVentures Capital
Timothy D. Sands, Ph.D.
President, Virginia Tech
President, Virginia Tech
Scott C. Beardsley, Ed.D.
President, University of Virginia
President, University of Virginia
Michael Rao, Ph.D.
President, Virginia Commonwealth University Chair, VCU Health System Authority
President, Virginia Commonwealth University Chair, VCU Health System Authority
Gregory Washington, Ph.D.
President, George Mason University
President, George Mason University
Mark Hourigan
Founder and CEO, Hourigan
Founder and CEO, Hourigan
Jair Lynch
President and CEO, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners
President and CEO, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners
Sunayna Tuteja
Chief Innovation Officer, Federal Reserve System
Chief Innovation Officer, Federal Reserve System
Joe Benevento
President and CEO, Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority and Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
President and CEO, Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority and Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
Garret Westlake, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Innovation & Strategic Design, Virginia Commonwealth University
Vice Provost for Innovation & Strategic Design, Virginia Commonwealth University
Thomasine Isler
Innovation and Industry Engagement Manager,
VCU’s Technology Transfer and Ventures
Innovation and Industry Engagement Manager,
VCU’s Technology Transfer and Ventures
Darrell Norton
Partner, CapTech Consulting
Liz McBride
AI Change Acceleration Leader, CapTech Consulting
AI Change Acceleration Leader, CapTech Consulting
Brian P. Brown Ph.D.
Dean, VCU School of Business
Dean, VCU School of Business
Darrell K. Williams
President, Hampton University
President, Hampton University
Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.
President, Virginia State University
President, Virginia State University
Hakim J. Lucas, Ph.D
13th President & CEO, Virginia Union University
13th President & CEO, Virginia Union University
Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D.
President, Norfolk State University
President, Norfolk State University
Dan Orlovsky
NFL Analyst, ESPN
NFL Analyst, ESPN
