Day 1 Conscious Collisions Summit Kicks-off at 3 p.m. (Eastern Standard)
Day 1 Welcome: Beyond the Handshake
The Journey Unfiltered
This opening session presents a personal, unfiltered account of how one entrepreneur has navigated the highs, lows, and unknowns of building a business, as well as the impact of relationships within and with the community on their journey. This story provides the "why" behind the "how" of Community as Capital as our Summit theme.
Presenter: Meagan Pitcher, Bairitone Health
Capital Pathways for Inclusive Ecosystems
Join us for a provocative conversation with three resourceful entrepreneurs who leveraged their communities or other innovative approaches to fund their businesses. Gain insights from their real-world journeys as they detail how they secured capital and provide a blueprint for a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Presenters: Q. Nicole Vanderhorst, WH Farms Co.
Ashley Crafton, Galena Innovations
Domingo Valadez, Homebase
Why Who’s Writing the Checks Matters: Insights from Pipeline Angels
Pipeline Angels has been changing the face of angel investing for 15 years. Based on the insights gained through the training of more than 500 new angels, we’ll discuss why who’s writing the checks matters, and how the Pipeline Angels approach fosters community that opens doors.
Presenters: Juliana Marques, Anthropic PBC
Colleen McLaughlin, SBX Ventures
Kina Guyton, RAPP - an Omnicom agency
La Keisha Landrum Pierre, Emmeline Ventures
Closing Remarks
Virtual Mixer: Creating ConnectionsDay 2 Starts at 3 p.m. (Eastern Standard)
Day 2 Welcome: Finding Your People
One Size Does Not Fit All: Unlocking Funding Beyond VC
Capital is not one-size-fits-all. We’ll start today conversations with a discussion about how diversification in the capital stack can lead to a lower cost of capital for entrepreneurs and stronger returns for investors.
Presenter: Stephanie Fowler, IFEL
Lightning Talks: The Architects of CapitalThis session highlights novel approaches to unlocking more capital for entrepreneurs. Following a few brief presentations, our discussion will reflect on these models and how inclusive capital can bridge access gaps while generating strong returns for investors.
Presenters: Alisha Griffey, Daintree Capital
Mac Conwell, Rarebreed Ventures
Marvin Francois and Jennifer Gomez, The Founders' Pool
Fireside Chat: Why I'm Betting on Camels
This must-see fireside chat challenges the prevailing "grow fast at any cost" narrative. Instead of chasing unicorns, veteran investor Ed Dugger shares how he finds strong investor returns in cultivating camels – founders who prioritize capital efficiency, resilience, and sustainable business models.Presenter: Ed Dugger, Reinventure Capital
Democratizing the Deal: How Fans & Small Dollars Are Validating Community Capital Models.In this session, we'll hear from leaders in the growing crowdfunding sector as we explore how more innovators are putting community-as-capital into action. These platforms are proving that neighbors, friends, and fans can be the key to unlocking meaningful capital for networked entrepreneurs.
Presenters: Lyndsae Peele, Kiva Microfunds
George Cook , Honeycomb Credit
Closing Remarks
Crowdfunding Showcase
Day 3 Starts at 3 p.m. (Eastern Standard)
Day 3 Welcome: The Currency of Trust
Why Ecosystem Building MattersThis year’s Summit explores the strategic intersection of social networks and resource mobilization. During this fireside chat, Angelique Johnson will share insights learned from her work at InBIA, one of the largest and oldest entrepreneurial ecosystem builders.
Presenter: Angelique Johnson, Vissionaireum
Data Matters and Conversation: Angels are the Key
This session, "Data Matters and Conversation: Angels are the Key," explores the critical role angel investors play in sparking innovation in regional entrepreneurial ecosystems. Drawing on the 2025 Advancing Regional Innovation Economies (ARIE) Report backed by JPMorgan Chase and NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center, we discuss how high-performing metros grow capital from within, making angels the essential first believers and first capital in the startup ecosystem.Presenters: Nicola Corzine, NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center
Annie Spencer, JPMorgan Chase
Community and Place as Innovation Drivers
This panel will explore place-based entrepreneurial support programs that lean into the power of community. Panelists will share information about their respective programs, what’s working, lessons learned, and what they are still trying to figure out. Our hope is that attendees gain insights that they can use to implement a strategy that addresses the needs in their own community.Presenter: Sharonda Hill, TruFund Financial Services
Kelli Saulny, Corridor Ventures
Capstone Conversation: Capital Circles in Action
Join us as we explore how a community-first approach can provide a blueprint for a future where the entire ecosystem works together to unlock more capital for more entrepreneurs, leading to more businesses that create more jobs and drive community wealth.
Capital Circles Ecosystem Mixer: Launching Collective Action
Closing the Conscious Collisions Summit with purpose, this session marks the official launch of Capital Circles. Moving beyond the "talk" of capital access, this program by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) operationalizes collaboration to bridge the wealth gap.
This is your chance to connect with changemakers—investors, champions, and ecosystem builders—who are committed to activating new angel capital in our pilot regions: NY/NJ, Philadelphia, DC, New Orleans, and Houston. We are replicating high-wealth "informal networks" to create scalable, relationship-based pathways for underrepresented founders.
How to Prepare:
Come ready to engage! Whether you are a seasoned investor or a community advocate, we want to know how you can contribute to our regional working groups. Have your LinkedIn URL and a brief intro ready to share. Let’s build the connections that turn "community" into "capital."
Closing Remarks
About the Summit
The Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) invites investors, allies, executives, and policymakers to join us at the Conscious Collisions Summit 2026. This is an invitation-only virtual gathering focused on understanding the systemic barriers to capital access, learning best practices from ecosystem thought leaders, and discussing the actions we can take to increase the flow of capital to small business owners, entrepreneurs, and founders who struggle most to secure it.
This year's theme, Community as Capital, will highlight how communities can create more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems by strengthening know-like-trust relationships between people whose paths would not otherwise cross. Strong relationship connectivity can open more doors for more people. Attendees will leave with a selection of pathways for making a difference for the entrepreneurs, causes, and communities they care about.
Day 1
"The arena isn't even, but community steadies you."
Meagan detailed how leaning into the IFEL community enabled her to build relationships that led to $380,000 in funding for her company, Bairitone Health.
"When you look at the ways we’ve been shut out of funding, you have to really lean into your why...Whatever mountain I have to climb, I have to be willing to climb it."
- Ashley Crafton
During this “no-holds-barred” session, Q. Nicole Vanderhorst, Founder, WH Farms, Domingo Valadez, Founder, Homebase, and Ashley Crafton, Founder, Galena Innovations, detailed how they navigated the funding landscape and how critical grit and tenacity are for founder success.
"Did I get exposure to deals? If I didn't have access to Pipeline Angels, then absolutely not!" - La Keisha Landrum Pierre
Juliana Marques, Kina Guyton, Colleen McLaughlin, and La Keisha Landrum Pierre highlighted the critical role Pipeline Angels played in jumpstarting their angel investing activities and the personal benefits they have experienced as a result.
Summit Day 2
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Summit Day 1
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Summit Day 3
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
Item Title
This is a paragraph area where you can include any information you’d like. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about the business or describe a special service or product it offers. You can use this space to share the company history or highlight a particular feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Let the writing speak for itself. Keep a consistent tone and voice throughout the website to stay true to the brand image and give visitors a taste of the company’s values and personality.
