EMCEE – VC Fest 2026
Tonjia Coverdale
Tech Leader, 3x CXO, Board Director, Speaker / Emcee, Educator
Conversations That Connect Vision to Venture
- Investor & Founder Registration Ends: Sep 7
2026 Event Agenda*
Plan ahead to make the most of your VC Fest experience. Designed to bring founders, investors, corporate leaders, and policymakers together, the agenda features scheduled 1:1 venture meetings, on-stage startup pitches, panel discussions, and networking events. Explore the conversations, connections, and opportunities driving innovation across the Midwest.
*Indicative agenda, subject to change.
Welcome Note + Host
Lorne Novick
CEO, Jumpstart
Keynote Speakers
Robert Smith
Former NFL Running Back & Minnesota Vikings Star, Sports Media Analyst, Author, Founder of Fan Huddle
Day 1
September 29th
9:00-11:00am
Level 1 | Atrium
Registrations + Demo zone + Sponsor Walkthrough
11:00-11:45am
Level 1 | Atrium ballroom
Welcome Note + Building Without Breaking
Lorne Novick
CEO, Jumpstart
Johnny Crowder
Founder & CEO, Cope Notes
Lindsay Stencel
Partner, Thompson Hine Co-Founder, BOLD Ventures
12:00-1:30pm
Level 1 | Atrium ballroom
Trailblazer Startup Showcase | Lunch
1:30-2:00pm
Level 1 | Venture Connections Zone
Venture Connections
The AI Equalizer: Why the Next Wave of Innovation Won’t Be Built Only in Silicon Valley
Yon Raz-Fridman
CBO – AEYE Health Co-founder & Chairman – ONAÏ Fertility
Dinesh Maheshwari
Founder/VC, xCTO-Groq, Cypress
Tyler Mantel
General Partner, Rolltack Ventures
2:00-3:15pm
Level 1 | Venture Connections Zone
Venture Connections
The New American Industrial Economy: Where Legacy Industries Meet Frontier Innovation
Casey Klein
Sr. Business Development Advisor, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
3:15-4:00pm
Level 1 | Venture Connections Zone
Venture Connections
Level 1 | Atrium ballroom
Beyond the Hype: Building AI Companies That Endure
Rehgan Beliele
Founder, AlignAI
Paul Powers
Founder, Physna
Stephen McHale
CEO, Graici
4:00-5:00pm
Level 1 | Venture Connections Zone
Investor Connections Corporate Connections
Level 1 | Atrium ballroom
Agentic AI: The Next Frontier of Business Transformation
Chris Thomas
Founder, YNDR
5:00-6:30pm
Level 2 | Patio Rooftop
Networking Reception
6:00-7:30pm
OFFSITE
Investor Happy Hour
Day 2
September 30th
8:30-9:30am
Level 2 | Suite 201
Women in Tech Breakfast
9:30-10:00am
Level 1 | Atrium ballroom
TBD
10:00-11:00am
Level 1 | Venture Connections Zone
Venture Connections
Level 1 | Atrium Ballroom
The Connected Health Ecosystem: How the Midwest is Building the Future of Healthcare
Brett Hudspeth
IT Vice President & Segment CIO-Medicare, Humana
Nicholas Archer
President – Healthcare Venture Studio, Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Melissa Cohen
Vice President – Ventures, University Hospitals Ventures
11:00am-12:00pm
Level 1 | Venture Connections Zone
Venture Connections
Level 1 | Atrium Ballroom
The Innovation Flywheel: How Corporates, Startups, and Capital Create the Next Wave of Companies
Kaleigh Gallagher
VP-Tech Startup Services, JumpStart
Tim Holcomb
CEO, Embarc Collective
Suraj Maraboyina
Executive Director, Entreprenuership, Miami University
12:00-1:30pm
Level 1 | Atrium Ballroom
Startup Pitches X 10 | Lunch
2:30-3:30pm
Level 1 | Venture Connections Zone
Investor Connections
Level 1 | Atrium Ballroom
Panel – TBD
3:30-4:15pm
Level 1 | Atrium Ballroom
TBD
4:30pm
Level 1 | Atrium Ballroom
Event Concludes