Day 1

First day of the Southeast Venture Showcase -  Need more description

Welcome to Nashville!

April 21, 2025 12:45–1:00 PM
Great Room
Session Type
Image of Dr. Cybele Raver and Stephen Miller

Kick off the Southeast Venture Showcase with Dr. Cybele Raver, Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs of Vanderbilt University, and Stephen Miller, Executive Director of New Venture Development and your Host for SVS.

Speakers:

  • Dr. Cybele Raver, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic

    Affairs, Vanderbilt University
  • Stephen Miller, Southeast Venture Showcase Host and Executive

    Director of New Venture Development, Vanderbilt University

Opening Keynote - Regional VC’s Perspective: The Growing Relevance of the Southeast for Investment

April 21, 2025 1:00–1:50 PM
Great Room
Session Type
Regional VC's Perspective - The Growing Relevance of the Southeast for Investment

Venture capital is not new to the southeastern United States.  Hear from the bold leaders who are already investing in this booming region and join in the discussion about opportunities and challenges for future growth in the southern states.

Moderator: Geof Vickers - Nashville Office Managing Partner, Nelson Mullins

Speakers:

  • Marcus Whitney – Jumpstart Nova
  • Jason Kuo – Tech Square Ventures
  • Joe Mancini – Front Porch Ventures
  • Gary Peat – Valor VC

The Mid-South I-Corps Hub Lightning Round Pitch Showcase

April 21, 2025 2:00–3:45 PM
Great Room
Session Type

See the top innovations from the Mid-South Innovation Corps Hub, a group of ten universities that make up a regional coalition of tech-forward institutions to promote innovation, spur economic development and shared prosperity, and transform Mid-South metro areas into growth and commercialization centers for STEM-related technologies.

Moderator: Dr. Charleson Bell, I-Corps Hub Director, Mid-South Innovation Hub at Vanderbilt University

Closing Remarks: Dr. Padma Raghavan, Vice Provost for Research and Innovation and Chief Research Officer at Vanderbilt University

 

UniversityStartupFounder
Meharry Medical CollegeHealth EvolveKim Smith
Jackson State UniversityGen Med Labs, LLCBrandon Newton
University of LouisvilleClareo BiosciencesMelissa Smith
University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleAluminAiryBrian Washington
University of KentuckyBiovalorNing Wei and David Eaton
George Mason UniversityGreat Victory Legends, Inc.Craig Yu
University of MemphisNatureFound BiotechAmber Jennings
University of VirginiaAvant GenomicsRachelle Turiello
Tennessee State UniversityFLOUVDr. Ankit Patras

Showcase: Annoviant, Inc.

April 20, 2026 9:25–9:43 AM
Broadway 3
Sectors
Session Type

Annoviant is advancing patient outcomes in heart disease by delivering innovative, regenerative cardiovascular devices built on its proprietary TxGuard™ soft-tissue technology.

The platform enables durable, off-the-shelf solutions that address critical unmet needs in heart valve disease and coronary artery bypass grafting—helping patients live healthier lives while reducing long-term healthcare costs.

Showcase: Avast Therapeutics

April 20, 2026 9:45–10:03 AM
Broadway 3
Sectors
Session Type

Avast Therapeutics is developing first-in-class, non-invasive peptide therapeutics that safely cross the blood-brain barrier to restore mitochondrial function and protect neurons.

This breakthrough approach targets neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s at their earliest stages, with the potential to halt disease progression and transform brain medicine.