Sixth year · Fuse at Mason Square, Arlington

Pitch investors. Meet customers. Recruit talent.

Fifty selected startups pitch to rooms of 100+ regional and national angel investors, venture capitalists, prospective customers, and top talent over two days.

Registration open

November 4 & 5, 2026

Fuse at Mason · Arlington, VA

50 companies selected

INVESTORS & GUESTS

Two days where ideas meet capital

Fifty selected startups from DC, MD and VA pitch to rooms of regional and national angel and venture capital investors, closing with the Gala on the evening of November 5.

Presenting Companies Become a Sponsor

2026 LINE-UP

Speakers & panelists

Andrew-Gamino-Cheong BG Removed — **Andrew Gamino-Cheong**
Co-Founder & CTO
Trustible

Artur-Kiulian BG Removed — **Artur Kiulian**
Co-Founder & CEO
Principle

Brandon-Card BG Removed — **Brandon Card**
Founder & CEO
Terzo

Caleb-Max BG Removed — **Caleb Max**
President & CEO
National Artificial Intelligence Association

David-Rothzeid BG Removed — **David Rothzeid**
Principal
Shield Capital

Dave-Vennergrund BG Removed — **Dave Vennergrund**
Vice President of AI and Data Insights
General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT)

Jason-Rathje BG Removed — **Dr. Jason Rathje**
President, Public Sector @ webAI
Former Director, Office of Strategic Capital, DoW

John-Reardon BG Removed — **John Reardon**
Managing Director
KPMG

Katherine-Hennessey BG Removed — **Katherine Hennessey**
Head of US Government Strategy
Everpure

Kathryn-Dougherty BG Removed — **Kathryn Dougherty**
Chief Growth & Innovation Officer
WellLink

Kristina-Montague BG Removed — **Kristina Montague**
General Partner
The Jump Fund

Leyonna-Barba BG Removed — **Leyonna Barba**
Managing Director
J.P. Morgan

Mike-McGinley BG Removed — **Michael McGinley**
Senior of Counsel
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Ravindra-Shukla BG Removed — **Ravindra Shukla**
SVP, Head of AI
22nd Century Technologies, Inc.

Reggie-Aggarwal BG Removed — **Reggie Aggarwal**
Founder & CEO
Cvent

Shiloh_1-scaled-removebg-preview — **Shiloh Tillemann-Dick**
Director, Research
National Venture Capital Association

Terry-Hsiao BG Removed — **Terry Hsiao**
Adjunct Professor
The George Washington University

Tim-Boltz BG-Removed — **Tim Boltz**
Program Director for Education Technology
Carahsoft

Tom-Weithman BG Removed — **Tom Weithman**
VIPC Chief Investment Officer & Managing Director
Virginia Venture Partners

Wendy-Cofran BG Removd — **Wendy Cofran**
Founding Partner & CEO
Novosity

See last year’s line-up →

confirmed for 2026

Venture funds in the room

Angel groups, seed funds and venture firms confirmed to attend across November 4 & 5.

Companies pitching

Angel Groups + Investors

0 +

Days + gala

THE MAIN EVENT

What happens on November 4 & 5

Investor presentations from the region’s top tech startups, investor panels, and national-level keynote speakers.

DAY ONE · NOV 4

Company pitches

Fifty selected early- to mid-seed companies present to rooms of angel and venture capital investors, alongside investor panels.

DAY TWO · NOV 5

Speakers & keynotes

Accelerate brings together the Mid-Atlantic’s most influential investment and corporate leaders - the visionaries shaping the future of business, capital, and innovation.