Robert Smith to Keynote Cleveland VC Fest
VC Fest 2026 brings Robert Smith, founders, investors and corporate leaders to Cleveland for AI, healthtech and curated meetings.
JumpStart has announced NFL veteran and entrepreneur Robert Smith as keynote speaker for VC Fest, taking place in Cleveland on September 29 and 30, 2026. The two-day event brings founders, investors and corporate leaders together for panels, startup showcases and curated meetings. Burton D. Morgan Foundation provides premier support, while Thompson Hine LLP is the presenting supporter. Founders and investors must register by September 7 to be considered for curated matchmaking meetings.
Smith Closes The Event
Smith, a Euclid, Ohio native and former Minnesota Vikings player, will close VC Fest on September 30. As founder of Fan Huddle, a digital health and well-being platform, he will discuss competition, resilience, overcoming the odds and building a business.
AI And HealthTech Sessions
The September 29 program focuses on AI and frontier innovation, with sessions on the founder journey, building enduring AI companies, agentic AI and industrial innovation. Speakers include representatives from Cope Notes, ONAÏ Fertility, Marathon Petroleum, Nationwide, AlignAI, Physna and YNDR.
September 30 shifts to healthtech and the innovation ecosystem. Sessions will examine connected health and the relationship between corporations, startups and capital, with participants from Humana, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University Hospitals, Embarc Collective and Miami University.
Targeted Meetings For Participants
VC Fest will also include startup showcases, a demo zone, investor happy hour, Women in Tech Breakfast and networking. Its curated Venture Connections, Investor Connections and Corporate Connections are designed to arrange targeted meetings between founders, investors and corporate partners.
Kaleigh Gallagher, Vice President of Tech Services and Network Management at JumpStart, said:
“This lineup includes people who are living that story firsthand, legacy industries partnering with startups, corporates and capital converging around the same opportunities. That’s the kind of real-world insight founders, investors and dealmakers don’t often get in one place.”
Building Regional Connections
Dr. Tonjia Coverdale will emcee the event, and JumpStart CEO Lorne Novick will deliver the opening welcome. Additional sponsors include KeyBank, JobsOhio Ventures and JumpStart Ventures.
Lorne Novick, CEO at JumpStart, said:
“Whether you’re raising a round, looking for your next investment or just trying to understand where founders and funders are seeing opportunity, VC Fest is about creating the conversations and connections that move businesses and our region forward. We’re excited to work with our dedicated community partners to create the space for these meaningful exchanges.”
