2026 Agenda
The 2026 Summit celebrates the innovation and growth of the early-stage ecosystem through the power of angel investing! Just as you would your next investment, we invite you to study the emerging agenda, check-in on our frequent additions to the available sessions, and plan your next crucial conversation with colleagues in the room.
| Women's Hike powered by Lighter Capital - Registration Closed - Waitlist Available | Networking | 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM |
| CU Anschutz Innovation Forum for Life Sciences - Required / Capped / Complementary Registration | Networking | 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM |
| $$ Ann & Bill Payne Angel University - Angel Group Formation | Ann & Bill Payne ACA Angel University | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
| $$ Ann & Bill Payne Angel University - Angel Returns & Portfolio Strategy | Ann & Bill Payne ACA Angel University | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
| $$ Ann & Bill Payne Angel University - Startup Board Basics | Ann & Bill Payne ACA Angel University | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
| EcoVG Investment Syndication Network Luncheon – Empowering the Next Generation of Innovation | 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM | |
| Welcome to the 2026 ACA Summit | Plenary | 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM |
| Keynote - Peter Walker: Pre-Seed Investing in the AI Age | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Navigating the Liquidity Crisis | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM |
| Innovation Funders Showcase | Plenary | 3:45 PM - 4:30 PM |
| Angel Investing 101: The Thrill, the Risks, and the Returns | Timeless Education | 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM |
| International Investing - This Moment in our Market Place | Ecosystem Development & Integration | 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM |
| Investor Organizations - Smart Practices for Group Management (The Unconference) | Investor Group Management | 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM |
| Preview of ACA 2026 Angel Funders Report and Latest Data Insights | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM |
| Private Credit & The Gray Wave - A New Asset Class for Angel Investors? | Advanced Investing Topics | 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM |
| Opening Reception Powered by V Vodka | Networking | 5:45 PM - 7:15 PM |
| ACA Summit Fun Run Hosted by the Diligent Observer | Networking | 6:00 AM - 8:30 AM |
| Morning Mindfulness: Grounding, Focus, and Presence to Start the Day | Networking | 7:15 AM - 8:00 AM |
| Breakfast Briefing - Beyond the Spreadsheet: How AI Is Bringing Real-Time Transparency to Angel Portfolios Powered by GoodStream | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| Breakfast Briefing - DeRisking Hardtech: Powered by Siemens | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| Breakfast Briefing - What If You Could Score a Company the Way FICO Scores a Borrower? The Case for a Risk Standard in Angel Investing: Powered by TrueSpace | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| Connection Breakfast : Setting the Future of ACA – We Want You | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| Data Breakfast | Networking | 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
| Growing Women's Capital Breakfast | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| Morning Connections Breakfast | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| 2026 ACA Summit Welcome Back! | Plenary | 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM |
| Keynote: Angel Gambino - Built It. Backed It. Exited It. Lessons in Liquidity from Both Sides of the Table | Plenary | 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM |
| ACA Member's Meeting & Awards | Plenary | 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
| Innovation Funders Showcase | Plenary | 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM |
| Networking Break | Networking | 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM |
| Networking Lunch | Plenary | 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM |
| Keynote: Panjak Kedia: The Unprecedented AI Investing Opportunity: An Operator-Turned-Investor Perspective | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM |
| Celebrate! 2026 ACA Luis Villalobos Awards | Plenary | 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM |
| Networking Break | 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM | |
| Ask Him Anything: Panjak Kedia | Networking | 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM |
| From Pitch to Portfolio: Real AI Implementations Across the Deal Lifecycle | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM |
| The Board in the Red Zone: What Angels Do in a Crisis | Advanced Investing Topics | 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM |
| The Great Debate V | Timeless Education | 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM |
| The Hockey Stick Also Goes Down | Ecosystem Development & Integration | 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM |
| Two Decades, Top Quartile Returns: Lessons from Building a Global Angel Group - Powered by Seraph Group | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM |
| From Volatility to Opportunity: Cleantech in 2026 and Beyond | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM |
| Recruiting the Next Generation of Angels: Building Programs that Attract and Retain Investors | Investor Group Management | 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM |
| Tax, Policy and Retirement Planning Opportunities that Angels find Heavenly – but the Devil is in the Details | Public Policy | 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM |
| The Future of SaaS in an AI-First World; Is SaaS Still Investable—or Just a Feature in the AI Stack? | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM |
| Angel Tracker: The Engine Driving Engagement and Membership Success | Investor Group Management | 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM |
| Deal Flow Alpha: How Top Angels Source, Screen, and Win the Best Investments in the Age of AI | Timeless Education | 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM |
| Liquidity Curious? RBF to the Rescue! | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM |
| Stop Waiting for Exits: A New Playbook for Structured Angel Investor Liquidity: Powered by Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM |
| Networking Reception - Venture Bucks Game: Powered by Alumni Ventures | Networking | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM |
| Women's Reception: Powered by Foley Hoag | Networking | 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM |
| $$ 2026 AIF Texas Hold 'em Poker Tournament: Powered by Fox Rothschild - Additional Registration Required | 7:30 PM |
| Morning Tai Chi: Centering the Mind and Body for the Day Ahead: Powered by Rockies Venture Club | Networking | 7:15 AM - 8:00 AM |
| CleanTech/Impact Breakfast | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| Life Sciences Investors Breakfast | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| Morning Connections Breakfast | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| Networking Breakfast - Soliciting feedback on Angel Funders Report | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| University Investor Groups Breakfast | Networking | 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM |
| Welcome Back to the 2026 ACA Summit! | Plenary | 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM |
| Keynote - X. Eyeé: From Pattern to Prediction: AI’s Impact on Early-Stage Investing | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM |
| Community as Capital: Growing Angel Trust Networks and Activating Untapped Capital | Ecosystem Development & Integration | 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM |
| Tapping the $48 Trillion in U.S. Retirement Accounts: Powered by Directed IRA | 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | |
| Term Sheets, Valuation, and Beyond the Basics | Timeless Education | 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM |
| Demystifying Aerospace & Defense Investing for Angels | Industry Trends Moving Forward | 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM |
| How to Improve Due Diligence ROI | Advanced Investing Topics | 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM |
| The Ecosystem Advantage: Activating Local Data & Collaboration for Angel Success | Ecosystem Development & Integration | 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Grab and Go Lunch with Networking Tables Available | Networking | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
| Setting the Future of ACA – We Want You | Networking | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
TRACKS:
- Advanced Investing Topics
- Ecosystem Development and Integration
- Industry Trends Moving Forward
- Investor Group Management
- Public Policy
- Timeless Education