South Carolina's most ambitious founders, investors, and builders aren't

waiting for the next big thing to come to them. They're already building it.

LOCATION

Columbia, SC

VENUE

DOUBLETREE HILTON

DATE

MAY 4, 2026

TIME

9A-6:30P

ABOUT>>>

BUILD here. LAUNCH HERE.

The Tailwind Tech Summit is South Carolina's premier gathering for founders, investors, and builders who believe the best chapter is still being written.

We bring together early-stage startups ready to scale, active investors looking for their next great bet, and the service providers, mentors, and community leaders who make it all possible.

This isn't another conference where you trade business cards and forget names by Tuesday. Tailwind is designed from the ground up to create real relationships, real deals, and real momentum for the region's most ambitious builders.

We're holding a seat for you.

1

DAY oF

cURATED PROGRAMMING

400+

FOUNDERS, INVESTORS AND

S.C. WAYMAKERS

3

Exceptional

KEYNOTES

15

START-UPS on

the pitch Deck

REGISTER>>>

GRAB YOUR SEAT.

The Tailwind Tech Summit is one day, one room, and a limited number of seats. If you're a founder looking for capital, an investor tracking the Southeast's newest early-stage companies, or a builder who wants to be in the right conversations — this is where you need to be on May 4th. Spots are limited. Don't wait.

On THE MAIN STAGE

Built for practitioners, not pundits. Founders who've raised it, investors who've written the check, and builders who know what it actually takes in the Southeast.

DAN ROSELLI

Co-Founder, RevTech Labs
Co-Founder, Packard Place

JIM ROBERTS

Founder, Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington

JENNIFER BARROWS

Chief Strategy Officer, Barrows Development

TAYLOR MCLEMORE

Founder, Rookery Ventures

BLAKE BLAKEBOROUGH

Sherpa, Launchpad Tech Ventures

AGENDA>>>

THE LINEUP

Every hour is engineered for impact. Here's how the day unfolds.

8:30A - Registration & Networking

Doors open. Coffee is hot. Conversations start here. This is your first window to connect with fellow founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders before the day kicks off. Don't be the one who shows up at 9:29.

9:30A - Keynote: Dan Roselli

More info on the way!

10:45A - Panel: Beyond the Glass Screen: Women Driving Technology Forward

Moderated by Jennifer Barrows. More info on the way!

11:45A - Lunch & Networking

This isn't a passive lunch break — it's structured connection time. Bring your appetite and your pitch and grab a seat next to someone new.

1:00P - JIM ROBERTS

Riverside Chat - Building a top ranked entrepreneur ecosystem in a HURRY
A moderated riverside chat about the SIX things the Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington has done to build a top ranked entrepreneur ecosystem since 2013. Wilmington NC is now a top 15 tech hub in the South. Moderated by Blake Blakeborough.

2:00P - Breakout Sessions

More info on the way!

3:00P - Taylor McLemore

Where to go from here
How to build your community, your company, and your journey as a founder.

3:30P - The Pitch Deck (moderated by Taylor McLemore)

Fifteen South Carolina startups. One stage. Live pitches in front of investors, mentors, and hundreds of peers. This is not a pitch competition where everyone gets a ribbon — this is high-stakes, high-energy, real-deal dealmaking in front of a room that's paying attention.

HOSTS>>>

TAILWIND IS PRESENTED BY:

Tailwind is a product made possible by organizations that believe South Carolina's best days are ahead—and are willing to put their brands on the line for it.

Launchpad Tech Ventures is an exclusive, tech-focused launchpad built for startups that are serious about scaling — fast. Specializing in pre-seed and pre-MVP companies, they meet founders where they are, no traction required. With direct access to early-stage capital, and a deep VC investor network, Launchpad Tech Ventures is where South Carolina's next great companies take shape.

Elysium Creative Collective is a boutique, full-stack marketing firm built specifically for founders and small businesses who are serious about building. They don't just run campaigns — they build the systems underneath them. With a reputation for moving the needle, Elysium brings the strategic firepower most early-stage companies can't afford to hire in-house.

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION >>>

YOUR BRAND BELONGS HERE.

Tailwind sponsors get direct access to South Carolina's most active founders and investors—not just through a logo on a banner, but through curated visibility, speaking opportunities, and on-the-ground activation. Sponsorship packages are limited and fill fast, so if you want to be seen as a builder in this ecosystem, this is how you show up.

THE VENUE >>>

BIG DEALS START HERE.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia brings together style, scale, and convenience in one of South Carolina's premier event spaces. With over 22,000 square feet of flexible event space and capacity for up to 1,500 guests, it's the largest hotel event venue in Columbia. Centrally located off I-20 and I-26 with complimentary parking, it's easy to get to from anywhere in the state — and worth the drive.