Entrepreneurship Summit

Inspire. Equip. Connect:
The UVA Alumni Entrepreneurship Summit
October 15, 2025
Arlington, Virginia

Entrepreneurship thrives when people are inspired by real stories, equipped with practical tools, and connected to a strong community.

The UVA Alumni Entrepreneurship Summit exists to:

Inspire bold ideas through stories of fellow Hoos,
Equip entrepreneurs with the resources to take action, and
Connect people across the UVA network to spark meaningful growth.

This is where ideas gain momentum, ventures find support, and the UVA entrepreneurial spirit comes to life.

Location

UVA Darden Sands Family Grounds
1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209

Schedule

7:30–9 a.m.: Registration opens- includes Breakfast, Networking & Exhibits
9 a.m.–12:15 p.m.: Main Program including networking breakouts, keynotes and panel sessions.

Program

Registration, Breakfast, Networking, Exhibit Tables7:30–9 a.m.

After registering, attendees are invited to enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast, network with fellow Hoos and learn more from UVA Innovates ecosystem partners.

Presented in partnership with the Young Alumni Council (YAC) and DC Hoos.

Welcome & Introduction of Keynote Speaker9–9:45 a.m.

Alumni Association President & CEO, Lily West (Darden ’12; President & CEO, UVA Alumni Association) and Mike Lenox (Engr ’93, ’94; Tayloe Murphy Professor of Business Administration, University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and Special Advisor to the Provost on Entrepreneurship) will open the summit with a special welcome and introduction of Keynote Speaker, Ben Holmes (Engr ’09; CEO, Nanochon). Join us as Ben shares his inspiring journey of innovation and resilience, how he’s transforming healthcare through cutting-edge biotechnology and what it takes to grow an idea from concept to company.

Networking Break9:45–10:15 a.m.

Take a break and make connections! This dedicated networking session is designed to bring together fellow Hoos in the entrepreneurship space. You’ll have the opportunity to meet peers, exchange ideas, and expand your professional circle. It’s the perfect moment to recharge, grab a coffee, and spark the kinds of connections that fuel innovation and collaboration.

Presented in partnership with the Young Alumni Council (YAC) and DC Hoos.

Paths to Entrepreneurship: From Startups to Acquisitions10:15–11 a.m.

There’s no single way to become an entrepreneur—and each path comes with its own lessons and rewards. In this session, you’ll hear from three founders who took very different routes: spinning cutting-edge research into a biotech startup, launching a venture-backed consumer tech company, and acquiring and growing a local small business. Together, they’ll share their journeys, challenges, and insights to help you explore which entrepreneurial path might be right for you.

Speakers:

Rich Diemer (Com ’80; Managing Director, CAV Angels), Moderator
Annie Page (Col ’17, Darden ’23; Owner, Rudy’s Rug Cleaning; Former CAV Angels Student Member), Panelist
Meg Pryde (Com ’12, Darden ’18; Founder, Brandefy; CAV Angels Portfolio Company), Panelist
Rachelle Turiello (Col ’24; CEO & Co-founder, Avant Genomics), Panelist

Break11–11:15 a.m.

Startup Smarter with AI: From Idea to Prototype in 30 Minutes11:15–12 p.m.

AI is reshaping how entrepreneurs bring ideas to life, transforming what once took months of development into rapid, efficient prototype building. In this interactive session, you’ll see how AI can validate ideas, accelerate product development, and even generate revenue. Watch a live demo turning an audience-submitted idea into a working prototype in just 30 minutes, and walk away with strategies, resources, and inspiration to jumpstart your entrepreneurial journey.

Speakers:

Brian Breslin (Col ’04; Director of Student Entrepreneurship, The Foundry at UVA), Moderator
Billy Howell (Batten ’18; Founder, Stupid Simple Apps; AI Entrepreneur & Content Creator), Speaker

Special opportunity
Be among the first 50 registrants to submit your startup idea for a chance to have it selected for the live build!

Billy also partners with Replit, a leading platform for building and deploying software. Use code BILLY to get 15% off at Replit.com

Billy offers 1-on-1 AI strategy calls. Schedule your call with Billy here:
https://calendly.com/billy-owex/ai-coaching

Closing Remarks12–12:15 p.m.

To wrap up the Summit, Rich Diemer (Com ’80), Managing Director of CAV Angels, will share reflections on entrepreneurship through the lens of CAV Angels’ own journey as a startup. He’ll highlight the resilience required to navigate challenges like COVID-19 and showcase the growth of companies CAV Angels has supported, leaving us with insights and inspiration on the impact of investment in entrepreneurial success stories.

Special thanks to…

We are grateful to CAV Angels for their support of this event. CAV Angels is a non-profit network composed of UVA alumni, faculty, parents, students, and friends of the University whose mission is:

To be recognized as one of the most esteemed and effective angel groups in the country.
To catalyze UVA alumni’s engagement in burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystems and mobilize the highest levels of investment in the most promising early-stage companies through tailored educational programming, hands-on student engagement, and curated access to robust and proprietary deal flow.

Our Purpose

We at CAV Angels have a lofty goal that can only be achieved with your participation and support: “Elevating the entrepreneurial ecosystem for UVA alumni by educating, connecting, funding, and mentoring the extended UVA startup community.” Though CAV Angels is not directly affiliated with or endorsed by UVA, we are focused on helping our fellow alumni.