Conscious Collisions Summit Kicks-off
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.
Capital Pathways for Inclusive Ecosystems
Join us for a provocative conversation with four resourceful entrepreneurs whose assessment of the funding landscape shaped innovative approaches to unlocking capital for 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.Day 2 Starts at 3 p.m. (Eastern Standard)
Day 2 Welcome: Finding Your People
One Size Does Not Fit All: Unlocking Funding Beyond VC
Despite the emphasis on venture capital, capital is not one-size-fits-all. We’ll set the stage for the rest of today’s sessions 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.
Lightning Talks: The Architects of Alternative Capital
This series of short presentations highlights innovative or non-traditional approaches to business funding. We are bringing attention to these models as part of the solutions for unlocking more capital for more small business owners, entrepreneurs, and founders.
Fireside Chat: Why I'm Betting on Camels
This must-see fireside chat challenges the prevailing "growth-at-all-costs" 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.
Capital Access Reimagined
In this session, we’ll reflect on the models shared during the day and discuss how inclusive capital can increase access to capital for more entrepreneurs while generating strong returns for more investors. We welcome the audience to contribute insights and ideas as we work together to find solutions.Day 3: Starts at 3 p.m. (Eastern Standard)
Day 3 Welcome: The Currency of Trust
Data Matters & Fireside Chat: 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, we discuss how high-performing metros grow capital from within, making angels the essential first believers in a startup ecosystem.
PANEL: Community and Place as Innovation Drivers
This panel will explore exemplary place-based entrepreneurial support programs that harness the power of community. We’ll discuss the key objectives of their programs, what’s working, lessons learned, and what they are still trying to figure out.
Capstone Conversation: Capital Circles in Action
Join us as we explore how a community-first approach can provide a potential 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.
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.
Summit Day 2
Item Title
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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.
