Greensboro Startups Take the Stage: A Live Pitch Event for Founders and Investors

Greensboro’s entrepreneurial community is growing, and Greensboro Startup Week is where that growth gets its moment in the spotlight. Every spring, founders, investors, operators, and business leaders gather for one of the region’s most dynamic innovation events — five days of real conversations, hands-on sessions, and direct access to the people and capital shaping what comes next.

If you haven’t attended before, review our guide to everything you need to know about the week before you register.

Capital Connects: A Live Pitch Event for Startups

The week’s signature event, Capital Connects gives Greensboro startups a live stage at the Carolina Theater on April 30 to pitch bold ideas to investors and community leaders and compete for prizes. Similar to Shark Tank, this Greensboro-based pitch event has run for more than 20 years, launching some of the region’s most recognized companies, with past winners including Sarilla, F3TCH, Blue Recruit, Storage Scholars, and LivWell.

Picture the energy of a live pitch competition television show, applied to the startups shaping your own backyard. High-energy, high-stakes, and free to attend.

Badge registration is free, so there’s no reason not to claim your spot early.

If you’re building something, this event is for you. Startup Week as a whole draws early-stage founders, seasoned operators, venture investors, corporate leaders, and professionals from manufacturing, legal, finance, and beyond.

Students exploring entrepreneurship and experienced executives looking to connect with Greensboro startups are equally at home here. Anyone curious about the Greensboro startup investing scene will find the region’s most promising companies under one roof, alongside the investors and mentors already backing them.

What Is Greensboro Startup Week?

Greensboro Startup Week is a five-day summit built around the theme “Startups That Build Things, Industries that Matter.” Programming focuses on providing entrepreneurial and startup advice at the intersection of advanced industry, with sessions covering aerospace, advanced manufacturing, battery technology, and tech commercialization.

With 400+ attendees and 40+ sessions across the week, the event is designed for people doing the work. Conversations here turn into partnerships, pitches, and next steps. Whether you’re scaling a company, exploring a new venture, or looking to plug into the region’s growing innovation ecosystem, Startup Week was built with you in mind.

Greensboro Startup Week 2026 runs April 27 through May 1 at Launch Greensboro, 111 Bain St, Greensboro, NC. Most sessions take place at Transform – BAIN, the coworking and event space serving as home base for the week.

4 Other Key Events to Attend at Greensboro Startup Week 2026

With 40+ sessions on the calendar, these five are worth putting on your radar first:

• The Future of Tech Transfer in NC: Kicking off the week on Monday, April 27, NCInnovation CEO Michelle Bolas, NC IDEA President Thom Rhue, and NC IDEA VP Tom Snyder discuss how research institutions and startups are collaborating to turn breakthrough ideas into fundable, scalable companies.
• The Founders Panel: On Tuesday, April 28, Andy Zimmerman of AZ Development, Detara Williams of Made For Locs, and Matt Hanan share honest perspectives on building and scaling ventures within Greensboro’s ecosystem, covering everything from national retail expansion to downtown revitalization.
• Fundraising Rules for Raising Capital: Paul Clark of Venture South takes attendees inside the venture capital process on Tuesday afternoon, covering what investors actually look for and how to move from first pitch to closed deal in today’s market.
• Triad Women in Manufacturing: Leaders from P&G, Honda Aircraft Company, and Banknote Corporation of America gather on Wednesday, April 29, to discuss how modern manufacturing teams drive results across safety, quality, delivery, and beyond. This session is among the week’s sharpest panels for women operating or investing in the region’s industrial sectors.

Register for Greensboro Startup Week

Learn more about Greensboro Startup Week today. If you’re interested in attending, please book your free tickets online.