MARCH 24–25
Where Innovation Meets Investment in the Southeast
Venture Connect is the Southeast’s premier capital summit—where breakthrough startups and bold investors collide. For over 40 years, CED has been the connective force behind the region’s most successful companies, and in 2026, we’re turning up the volume.
Next-Gen Hardware & Deep Tech
Energy, mobility, robotics, and engineering breakthroughs.
Software Innovation
SaaS, B2B platforms, and data-powered solutions.
Human Health: Biotech, Tools & Therapeutics
From lab bench to bedside.
Science for a Healthier Planet Agriculture, animal health, and industrial biotech.
Whether your company is supporting the future of AI, accelerating breakthroughs in therapeutics, or helping scale frontier tech through resources and investment—Venture Connect offers unrivaled access to curated deal flow, strategic connections, and momentum-building partnerships.
Join us, March 24-25, 2026 as we spotlight the founders building what’s next—and the partners fueling their growth.
About CED
The Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) is a nonprofit founded in 1984 to power the success of Triangle startups. Today, CED serves as the connective hub of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem—offering hightouch support, capital access, and communityled programming that helps founders scale smarter and faster.
CED’s Connect to Capital program is unmatched in the region—no other single organization in North Carolina connects more founders to the funding they need to grow. With a network of over 400 active investor relationships and thousands of introductions made annually, CED plays a catalytic role in accelerating innovation and enterprise value across the Southeast.
We invite you to support Venture Connect 2026 and help us reach our bold goal of generating $20 billion in new ecosystem value by 2034—by backing the founders, investors, and partners fueling North Carolina’s next wave of growth.
Primary Audience Reach: Title Sponsorship $100,000*
Lead sponsor with premium engagement options and stakeholder visibility across pre-event and conference programming. Industry Exclusive with multi-year commitment incentives available.
Benefits include:
• Logo lock-up with VC26 branding
• 20 conference tickets with Box Suite
• 6 tickets to the Alumni Event
• 6 tickets to the Investor Dinner
• 2 Rep on Company Selection Ctee
• 2 Rep on Speaker Ctee
• And more… Investors Startups Ecosystem Partners
• Lanyard Sponsor
• Opening Video Sponsor
• Live Speaking Opportunity
• Premium placement on the Event T-shirt
• Access to the Founder Lounge
Primary Audience Reach:
Investors Startups Ecosystem Partners
Premier Sponsorship
$60,000*
Top-tier sponsor with engagement options and stakeholder visibility across pre-event and conference programming. Industry Exclusive with multi-year commitment incentives available.
Benefits include:
• 10 Conference Tickets
• 2 tickets to the Alumni Event
• 2 tickets to the Investor Dinner
• 1 Rep on Company Selection Ctee
• 1 Rep on Speaker Ctee
• Live Speaking Opportunity
• Permanent Logo Placement onstage A/V
• Premium Booth Placement
• Premium placement on Event Tee
• And more…
Primary Audience Reach:
Investors Startups
Own a Pitch + Investor Reverse Pitch session and get stakeholder visibility across conference programming. Industry Exclusive with multi-year commitment incentives available.
Benefits include:
• 6 Conference Tickets
• 2 tickets to the Alumni Event
• 1 ticket to the Investor Dinner
• Investor Reverse Pitch Facilitator
Primary Audience Reach: Varies
• Permanent Logo Placement onstage A/V
• Premium Booth Placement
• Logo placement on Event Tee
• And more…
Own a signature day or evening event and receive premium engagement opportunities at the event with overlap to conference.
Benefits include:
• Live Speaking Opportunity at selected event
• 10 tickets to Signature Event
• 6 Conference Tickets
• Logo lock-up on Signature Event Comms
• Pre-recorded Sponsor Message at Conference
• Sponsor Booth at Conference
• Logo on Event Tee
• And more …
Available Events: Alumni Event, Investor Dinner, Investor Only (Events), Day 1 Reception, Day 2 Reception, and more …
Primary Audience Reach:
Investors Startups
Connection Sponsor
Ecosystem Partners
$15,000*
Our conference prioritizes 1:1 meetings throughout the conference that is driven through mobile event app and onsite spaces for private connection opportunities. This is your opportunity to be front and center and own this engagement experience.
Benefits include:
• Premier Mobile App Branding
• 2 tickets to Alumni Event
• 4 Conference Tickets
• Logo placement on all meeting room signage/ tables
Primary Audience Reach:
Investor
Sponsor
• Opportunity to participate in meeting space check-in
• Sponsor Booth at Conference
• Logo on Event Tee
• And more …
$6,000*
Investors are a primary attendee at Venture Connect, make sure your experience is maximized by securing an exclusive meeting table and priority access to ancillary events around the conference.
Benefits include:
• Logo exposure on all conference media
• Private meeting table for your fund
• 4 conference tickets
• Spot on the Screening Committee
• Investor Dinner tickets (varies)
• Alumni Dinner tickets
• Opportunity to participate in the Reverse Pitch session
• First access to the mobile app
• Customized company list with profile
Primary Audience Reach:
Booth Sponsor
Ecosystem Partners
$6,000*
Reserve a space to promote your brand, connect with potential partners and create an experience for attendees across two-day. Booth is centrally located on the networking floor.
Benefits include:
• 2 conference tickets
• Booth
• Logo on venue signage, website, and print
Primary Audience Reach:
Investors Startups Startups
Company Sponsor
• Sponsor profile on website + link
• Early access to attendee list
• Video testimonial opportunity
$3,000*
If you are passionate about creating access for early stage companies to attend and participate in Venture Connect, this package acts as a scholarship that covers the attendance for 4 founders to attend.
Benefits include:
• 4 passes for early stage startups
• 2 general admission conference tickets
• Logo placement on shirt
• Early access to attendee list
Contact CED to secure your sponsorship today
Brennan Barber
Head of Business Development (315) 436-0755
bbarber@cednc.org
Sanjana Bharadwaj
Business Development Lead (984)-789-7684
sbharadwaj@cednc.org
Payments
Sponsors are required to remit payment to Center for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) 30 days prior to the Event. Acceptable forms of payment include: ACH, Credit, or Check. Additional service fees are added to all Credit Card Payments.
Logos
We expect all sponsors to send us their current logo to use in print or web. Please be sure to send a digital version (.png or .jpeg) and print version (.eps or .ai).
