Entrepreneurs, Investors Convene At ConvergeSouth 2026

By Kathy Neal, NCBiotech

Startups across healthtech/biotech, AI/B2B SAAS and food/agtech sectors competed for investment and connections at a two-day Southeast gathering in Winston-Salem's Innovation Quarter, drawing more than 500 entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem leaders. Panel discussions covered practical territory often missing from startup playbooks: how to build relationships with strategic pharma partners, how to navigate Department of Defense funding programs that most biotech founders overlook, and what differentiates companies that successfully scale from non-traditional life sciences hubs. Executives from Johnson & Johnson detailed how their global incubation network evaluates and supports emerging companies, while founders of early-stage ventures shared firsthand accounts of pitching, networking, and securing first meetings with funders. Investors, portfolio company leaders, and ecosystem builders offered perspectives on what it actually takes to move a biotech venture from regional promise to global relevance.

Explore the strategies and connections shaping this growing innovation corridor.