Washington and Lee University to Host 2026 Entrepreneurship Summit The two-day program will be held on campus March 20-21.

Washington and Lee University has opened registration for its 2026 Entrepreneurship Summit, to be held on campus March 20-21. The summit is a two-day event designed to encourage innovative business ideas and strategies, while providing the perfect opportunity to connect, learn and grow participants’ entrepreneurial spirit. The Entrepreneurship Summit is open to the entire W&L community, and interested guests, students, alumni, faculty and staff can register online.

The event, which brings together students and alumni interested in entrepreneurship and varied business ventures, features presentations and panels offering deep dives into topics such as bringing products to market, investor information, transitioning from employee to entrepreneur, and artificial intelligence (AI) tips. Additional highlights include a student showcase and a student pitch competition, as well as updates on the Connolly Entrepreneurship Society and talks on entrepreneurship at W&L.

“The E-Summit is an incredible opportunity for our community to learn from experienced founders, develop their entrepreneurial mindset and build connections that extend well beyond the classroom,” said Jay Margalus, Johnson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and director of the Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship. “This year’s programming is designed to inspire action and equip participants with practical skills they can apply immediately.”

Jay Coen Gilbert, social entrepreneur and co-founder of B Lab, will serve as the keynote speaker in conjunction with W&L’s Institute for Honor Symposium.

B Lab is a nonprofit organization behind the global B Corporation movement, which now encompasses thousands of certified companies across more than 100 countries committed to using business as a force for good. Along with his co-founders, Gilbert launched B Lab with the vision of redefining success in business so that companies prioritize the well-being of workers, communities and the environment alongside shareholder returns. Prior to B Lab, Gilbert co-founded AND 1, a basketball footwear and apparel company, where he led product and marketing and served as chief executive officer.

A Stanford University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian studies, Gilbert currently serves as executive co-chair of Imperative 21, a cross-sector coalition focused on redesigning economic systems to create value for all stakeholders, and he is also a co-founder of White Men for Racial Justice, reflecting his commitment to anti-racism work. Along with his B Lab co-founders, Gilbert is a recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the McNulty Prize at the Aspen Institute, where he is a Henry Crown Fellow.

Nine W&L alumni will speak during the two-day event, including Athena Meyers ‘00, chief product officer of Niche, who will present a modern playbook for bringing products to the market.

“Returning to W&L to share what I’ve learned is a full-circle moment,” said Meyers. “The curiosity and honor-centered culture I experienced as a student shaped how I lead teams and build products today. In an era where innovation is accelerating at warp speed with AI, I’m excited to talk about how enduring principles — problem clarity, disciplined experimentation and ethical judgment — still drive sustainable growth.”

Since its inception in 2012, the summit has grown into what it is today because of its many benefits to program participants. For alumni, it is an opportunity to rekindle friendships and strengthen professional networks. For students, it is an opportunity to meet successful entrepreneurs and learn from their real-world experiences. The summit has also generated tangible professional outcomes as the interaction between alumni and students has resulted in internships, job offers and lifelong mentoring relationships.

Other featured alumni presenters include Matt Bartini ’12, founder and CEO of Mayor Clothing. He will team with Cory Allison ’94, P’26, P’29, founder and CEO of KelCor, for a panel titled “Making Real Stuff.” Bartini regularly attended the summit as a student and has been a mainstay at the event ever since.

“I began attending the Entrepreneurship Summit when Mayor was just an idea in my head,” said Bartini. “Speaking with one alum after another about the successful businesses they built inspired me to create my initial shirt designs, find a manufacturer and start making custom print clothing.”

Registration to the summit includes attendance to all programming, including breakfast, lunch and a networking reception and dinner on March 20, as well as breakfast, lunch and a celebratory closing reception on March 21. For a full schedule of events, please visit the schedule online.

The Entrepreneurship Summit is an initiative co-hosted by the Office of Alumni and Career Services and the Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship. Questions regarding the summit should be directed to alumni@wlu.edu.

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