ORGANIZERS of Southeast Venture Showcase II (SVS) have announced that investors, deeptech professionals and members of early-stage startup teams that are determined to take breakthrough technologies into commercial markets will convene April 20-21 at Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
SVS describes the event as exclusively designed for venture investors and early growth-stage entrepreneurial teams, with content and networking opportunities curated to ensure that "visionaries, investors and breakthrough technologies collide."
SVS II attendees are projected to include at least 200 investors and at least 40 squads from academic-affiliated startups that aspire near-term to raise a combined $200MM or more in investment capital from healthcare, biotechnology, renewable energy, advanced materials, and engineering sectors.
SVS II Registration is available via this path. There is no charge for startup presenters and investors are accorded a sharp discount. Special networking sessions are for invited investors and founders, only.
Investors are to be drawn from healthcare, biotechnology, renewable energy, advanced materials, engineering sectors and related sectors.
Showcase 2026 features Keynote Speaker Chris Monroe PhD, who is co-founder and chief scientific advisor of IonQ Inc. (IONQ), based in College Park, Md.
Two separate VC panel sessions will address (a) the active roles of regional funds in relation to southeast startups; and, (b) the reasons the southeast is attracting VC attention.
Other speakers and panelists include:
- Maura Cunningham, Rock The Street, Wall Street
- Derek Dedeker, Frist Cressey Ventures
- Eller Kelliher, TTDC dba Launch Tennessee
- R.J. Forbes, Lilly Ventures Therapeutic Investments
- Chris Garabedian, Xontogeny
- Ben Scruggs, Hatteras Venture Partners
- Nadim Shohdy, Deerfield Discovery & Development
- Mateo Vargas, Santé Ventures
More than 40 startups (listed below) are slated to present. They represent sectors grouped in the table at right.
The event's itemized agenda is here and a PDF brochure here.
| Falcomm PolyPV ThorafiX DermiSense Imagine Devices, Inc. Corvivo Cardiovascular SkyNano Kifa Therapeutics, Inc. InTailor Bariatrics, LLC Avast Therapeutics, Inc. SARC Solutions Plaid Semiconductors Soteria Formulations, Inc. TPM Research, Inc. PHIOGEN Cervu Nemea Therapeutics Myosin Therapeutics ImageAssist, Inc. Fibarcode Nhu Energy Mobius AI, Inc. |
Vibrapower LLC Ground Control Robotics Rahm Sensor Development Inc. Annoviant, Inc. SonoVascular, Inc. COG Learning, Inc. iNOvodel, Inc. Vocalis Care Aspira Medical SelSym Biotech EndoLimb Orthoplastic Sols. Inc. Atomistic Insights Vasowatch, Inc. Clarus Labs Moonlight Therapeutics, Inc. COULOMB TECHNOLOGY Ecoatex Bluegrass Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Marker Therapeutics, Inc. TNT Eco Materials Company Neurodiverse Technologies, Inc. ArtyShield |
The SVS series is backed by participation of 25 institutions listed here.
Execution of the first two consecutive SVS events has been the responsibility of management of Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization (CTTC).
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| Stephen Miller |
Working most closely from CTTC with the project are Assistant Vice Chancellor for Technology Transfer Alan Bentley and Stephen Miller, executive director of new venture development.
Going forward, the event's execution will shift each cycle to one or more other SVS consortium members.
SVS II's Presenting Sponsor is Nashville-based ORACLE Corporation (ORCL).
Its Premier Sponsors are Holland & Knight and Pinnacle Financial Partners (PNFP), as well as with Ecosystem Partner Tennessee Technology Development Corporation dba Launch Tennessee and its proprietary Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC).
Also sponsoring: Baker Donelson, JP Morgan, Polsinelli, The University Financing Foundation and Brown Advisory.
Note: IonQ Director of Partnerships and Alliances Ryan Harring is scheduled April 16 to address quantum issues of greatest interest to capital allocators before the Greater Nashville Private Capital Association (GNPCA). Oracle is also listed by GNPCA as sponsor of the Harring event. VNC
. last edited 1600 29 March 2026