Two days. Two venues. Endless momentum.
May 18-19, 2026 in Charlotte, NC. Join 600+ founders, investors, and innovation leaders for the Southeast's premier capital summit.
Day 1: Founder Day at Northeastern University
Day 2: Capital Summit at Bank of America Stadium
Seed The South 2026 spans two days across Charlotte's innovation ecosystem. Founder Day (May 18) kicks off at Northeastern University with tactical workshops, opening keynotes, and networking receptions designed for early-stage operators. The Capital Summit (May 19) takes over Bank of America Stadium, activating premium spaces—from the Panthers Den main stage to One Carolina Club to field-level celebrations—for an elevated capital summit designed for real connections and deal-making.
Over two days, you'll pitch, learn, connect, and celebrate alongside 600+ founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders from across the Southeast. This isn't a typical conference. It's where Charlotte's innovation momentum meets the energy of a stadium event.
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Whether you're raising capital, deploying it, or building the ecosystem around it, this is where you need to be.
Watch Companies Compete & Showcase
The Big Pitch puts 10 seed-to-Series A companies + 1 Wild Card on the main stage competing for $100K in investment from The Charlotte Fund. The Charlotte Spotlight features rapid-fire 6-minute pitches from the Queen City's most promising startups. The Growth Showcase highlights growth-stage companies in 20-minute investor features.
The Agenda: Big Pitch, Charlotte Spotlight, Growth Showcase, Startup Alley at Bank of America Stadium
Learn From the Best
Level up your business through founder masterclasses, investor panels, keynote speakers, and sponsor-led workshops. Walk away with actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
The Agenda: Founder Day Masterclasses at Northeastern University, keynote speakers, lightning panels, fireside chats
Connect With 600+ Leaders
Expand your network strategically with founders, active investors, and ecosystem partners in spaces designed for real conversations—not just business card exchanges.
The Agenda: Investor dinner, kickoff celebration, lunch sessions, Startup Alley, field-level reception
Celebrate Innovation
Experience the energy of entrepreneurship at a stadium-scale event. From the opening kickoff to field-level awards to The Vault closing party—this is how the Southeast celebrates its founders.
The Agenda: Kickoff celebration, Big Pitch awards on the 50-yard line, closing celebration at The Reserve at Bank of America Stadium
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Monday, May 18 | Northeastern University Charlotte
Built as a tactical half-day ahead of Opening Night, Founder Day is designed for early-stage operators navigating growth in real time. Product, fundraising, sales, positioning, AI workflows, and the decisions that matter early.The day kicks off at The LINE building (8th floor) in South End with masterclasses, keynotes, and networking—before transitioning to Opening Night and the Investor Dinner at Bank of America Stadium.
Location: Northeastern University Charlotte
Kick off Founder Day at Northeastern University Charlotte. Registration opens on the 8th floor of The Line building in South End. Grab lunch, settle in, and get seated before opening remarks begin at 12:25 PM.
Location: Northeastern University Charlotte
Welcome from Juan Garzón, Executive Director of Innovate Charlotte, Thomas Mastro, Assistant Dean of Northeastern University Charlotte, and Jenny Tacka, Executive Director of gWen.
Included with: All Summit Passes
Location: Northeastern University Charlotte
Why I Started Over
Alex Smereczniak, Co-Founder & CEO, Franzy
Moderated by Lauren Goodell
After building 2ULaundry and LaundroLab into a venture-backed franchise platform, Alex Smereczniak stepped away to start Franzy, the AI-powered “Zillow for franchises.” A candid conversation on starting over, founder instincts, and what changes the second time around.
Included with: All Summit Passes
Location: Northeastern University Charlotte
Four concurrent workshop tracks designed to help founders scale smarter. Choose the sessions most relevant to your stage, challenges, and growth goals.
Masterclass Topics
Included with: All Summit Passes
Location: Chapter 6
Hosted by Nelson Mullins and Lavoie CPA
Kick off Seed The South ’26 with drinks, bites, and meaningful time connecting with the founders, investors, and operators shaping the Southeast startup ecosystem.
Included with: All Summit Passes
RSVP Required for Entry
Presented by McGuireWoods, co-sponsored by Stifel
An invitation-only dinner for active investors, fund managers, and family offices deploying capital across the Southeast.
By Invitation Only
RSVP Required for Entry
Location: Bank of America Stadium (North Gate)
Badge pickup and continental breakfast in the North Club. Startup Alley opens at 8:30 AM inside One Carolina Club.
Opening remarks from Juan Garzón, Executive Director of Innovate Charlotte. Official Summit Emcee David Hunt takes over to lead the day's programming.
Every Startup City Needs a Mafia: How One Breakout Company Creates the Next Generation of Founders
Khristian Gutierrez, CEO, Passport
Khristian Gutierrez shares how startup ecosystems compound through talent, trust, and repeated success—and why Charlotte’s next generation of founders is already being built.
No Shortcuts: How Three Founders Built Category-Leading Companies
Three founders from very different industries discuss what it actually takes to build durable companies that scale.
Quick, 4-minute pitches featuring emerging Southeast companies presenting live in front of investors, founders, and operators. Vote for your favorite to win the Wild Card spot!
Beyond the Hype: What AI Means for Founders Raising in the Southeast
A candid conversation on AI investing, inflated valuations, capital concentration, and where venture capital is actually moving in 2026. The panel will explore what investors are looking for right now, what founders continue to get wrong, and how the AI boom is reshaping early-stage investing.
Enjoy lunch inside North Club alongside additional stage programming, founder conversations, and regional innovation spotlights.
Building in the South: How State-Backed Capital Is Fueling the Next Wave of Startups
Featuring the South Carolina Research Authority with startups Bildit and Virtual Business 360. Short presentations highlighting the organizations, platforms, and partnerships helping drive innovation and startup growth across the Southeast.
Donisms: 30 Years of Venture in One Conversation
Don Rainey, Good Human Investment Partners
Moderated by Ashley Gautreaux, Partner, CreativeCo Capital
A candid conversation with one of the Southeast’s most experienced investors on founder pattern recognition, enduring lessons, market cycles, and what it actually takes to build lasting companies.
The main event begins. The first 5 companies take the stage with 5-minute pitches to compete for up to $100K in investment from The Charlotte Fund.
Presented by LaunchCLT
Thom Ruhe, NC IDEA Tweener Fund
A brief announcement on the statewide expansion of the NC IDEA Tweener Fund and what it means for founders across North Carolina.
The final 5 companies pitch. The remaining 4 companies + the winner of the Startup Alley Wild Card round out the Big Pitch before the judging panels make their decision.
Presented by LaunchCLT
Service First Presentation
A spotlight on veteran-led startups and the organizations supporting the next generation of mission-driven founders.
Quick wrap up then head downstairs to the field-level venue.
Head to the field for the moment you've been waiting for.
Two $50K awards announced live:
One company may win both awards for up to $100K total investment
Photo opportunities. Trophy presentation. Oversized checks.
Location: The Reserve + Stadium Field
The official after-party. Celebrate on the field and inside The Vault with drinks, music, and the full summit community. This is where deals get made and relationships get built.
Reserved bar. Field access. DJ. Plenty of time to connect.
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