Small Business Summit '26 - Richmond, VA

Small Business Summit ’26: From Startup to Scale-Up in the Decade Ahead

All roads lead to our 20th Annual Small Business Summit (SBS26) in Richmond, VA.

Sponsored by Capital One and the Metropolitan Business League, SBS26 brings together entrepreneurs, corporate partners, and community leaders to chart the path from startup to scale-up, building the partnerships and capital that turn small businesses into major economic engines.

Through keynotes, workshops, and networking, this two-day summit gives you the tools to grow with intention and scale with confidence.

#FROMSTARTUPTOSCALEUP #SBS26

Small Business Registration ($99)

Corporate Registration ($249)

╰┈➤ Agenda

1:40 PM – 3:10 PM

RING Conversation

Join fellow small business owners and corporate partners for an open conversation about what’s working in The Council today and how we can build a stronger 2027 together.
Alex Moore + RING Leadership

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM

Business Breakfast: Wealth Building with Insurance

Presented by Atlanta Life Insurance Company
Courtney Johnson, Vice President, Business Development
Terence Sims, Director of Agency Partnerships and Distribution Strategies

8:40 AM – 10:10 AM

Business Workshops (Concurrent)

Workshop A: Supplier Fundamentals
Allison Kube and Kim Taylor, Capital One
Workshop B: AI: Automating, Networking, Prompting
Jasmine Beard

10:20 AM – 11:50 AM

Business Workshops (Concurrent)

Workshop C: HR: Contracting for Your Business
Nikki Pounds
Workshop D: Mergers and Acquisitions
Speaker to be announced

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM

Student Workshop: Level Up: Building Your Skill Stack

Presented with the Metropolitan Business League (MBL)
Jai Simpson-Joseph, author of And How My Spirit Soars

12:00 PM – 1:45 PM

Success Luncheon

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Lunch
12:30 PM – 1:45 PM: Live Intentionality with Dominique: From Startup to Scale-Up in the Decade Ahead
Host: Dominique Milton, President and CEO, CVMSDC
Guest: Charis Jones, Owner, CEO and Chief Designer, Sassy Jones

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM