Sower Summit
Sower Summit 2026
Join us for the Second Annual Sower Summit, an invitation-only educational forum for investors, entrepreneurs, executives, founders, and business leaders interested in venture capital and innovation.
Hosted by Sower Ventures, the Summit offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from experienced venture capital investors, accomplished founders, and executives building and investing in the next generation of innovative companies. Through a series of educational presentations and panel discussions, attendees will gain insight into venture capital investing, emerging technologies, company building, and the trends shaping industries such as healthcare, life sciences, deep technology, defense, and artificial intelligence (AI).
The Summit is intended to make venture capital and innovation more accessible, whether you are an active investor, business owner, entrepreneur, or simply interested in understanding how breakthrough companies are financed, scaled, and brought to market.
Following the educational program, guests are invited to continue the conversation during a networking reception featuring cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
We look forward to welcoming you to an afternoon of learning, meaningful conversations, and new connections at the 2026 Sower Summit.
Join us for the Second Annual Sower Summit, an invitation-only educational forum for investors, entrepreneurs, executives, founders, and business leaders interested in venture capital and innovation.
Hosted by Sower Ventures, the Summit offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from experienced venture capital investors, accomplished founders, and executives building and investing in the next generation of innovative companies. Through a series of educational presentations and panel discussions, attendees will gain insight into venture capital investing, emerging technologies, company building, and the trends shaping industries such as healthcare, life sciences, deep technology, defense, and artificial intelligence (AI).
The Summit is intended to make venture capital and innovation more accessible, whether you are an active investor, business owner, entrepreneur, or simply interested in understanding how breakthrough companies are financed, scaled, and brought to market.
Following the educational program, guests are invited to continue the conversation during a networking reception featuring cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
We look forward to welcoming you to an afternoon of learning, meaningful conversations, and new connections at the 2026 Sower Summit.
Date
October 15, 2026
Program
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Cocktail Reception
5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Program
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Cocktail Reception
5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
DRESS CODE
Business Casual
Meet Our Venture Capital Partners
The Sower Summit is built around relationships.
Sower partners with specialized venture capital managers whose teams bring deep expertise to the
industries and technologies in which they invest. These are not simply firms participating in a one-day
event; they represent investment relationships that Sower has developed through our broader venture
capital platform.
Through these partnerships, Sower gains access to differentiated venture opportunities and develops
relationships with the founders and executives building innovative companies. The Summit brings members
of that network together in Omaha to share their experience directly with investors, entrepreneurs,
executives, and business leaders.
Life Sciences | Chattanooga, Tennessee
Solas BioVentures is a venture capital firm investing exclusively in the life sciences, with a focus on biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and digital health.
The firm's investment team brings experience spanning medicine, biotechnology, operations, and finance, complemented by a network of limited partners who contribute specialized domain expertise. Solas takes a founder-centric approach to partnering with entrepreneurs, clinicians, and scientists developing breakthrough therapies and technologies with the potential to transform the standard of care and improve patient outcomes.
Solas BioVentures represents one of Sower’s most established venture capital relationships. Over several years, Sower has invested alongside Solas across multiple investment vehicles and portfolio company opportunities, building a significant relationship centered on healthcare and life sciences innovation.
The firm's investment team brings experience spanning medicine, biotechnology, operations, and finance, complemented by a network of limited partners who contribute specialized domain expertise. Solas takes a founder-centric approach to partnering with entrepreneurs, clinicians, and scientists developing breakthrough therapies and technologies with the potential to transform the standard of care and improve patient outcomes.
Solas BioVentures represents one of Sower’s most established venture capital relationships. Over several years, Sower has invested alongside Solas across multiple investment vehicles and portfolio company opportunities, building a significant relationship centered on healthcare and life sciences innovation.
Francis Medical is developing a minimally invasive water vapor therapy designed to treat prostate cancer while reducing the potential side effects associated with traditional treatments.
Vektor Medical is commercializing an AI-powered technology to help physicians identify and treat cardiac arrhythmias.
AI, Deep Technology & Defense | Austin, Texas
Oxcart Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on deep technology companies developing foundational infrastructure for economic resilience and national security.
The firm invests in businesses across artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, space technology, defense, energy, and sovereign supply chain innovation, partnering with founders whose technologies address complex, mission-critical challenges.
Oxcart Ventures represents a newer and growing relationship within the Sower Ventures platform.
Sower has partnered with Oxcart to provide investors access to its specialized investment strategy, broadening Sower’s venture exposure across artificial intelligence, deep technology, defense, advanced infrastructure, and technologies critical to economic resilience and national security.
Oxcart Ventures represents a newer and growing relationship within the Sower Ventures platform.
Sower has partnered with Oxcart to provide investors access to its specialized investment strategy, broadening Sower’s venture exposure across artificial intelligence, deep technology, defense, advanced infrastructure, and technologies critical to economic resilience and national security.
WebAI is building artificial intelligence infrastructure that enables organizations to develop and deploy AI on local devices, private networks, and distributed environments, providing greater control over data, models, security, performance, and costs.
Healthcare Innovation | Cambridge, Massachusetts & Salt Lake City, Utah
SpringTide Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm focused exclusively on healthcare innovation. The firm partners with entrepreneurs developing technologies that improve the quality, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare, investing across digital health, medical devices, diagnostics, healthcare infrastructure, and related technologies.
SpringTide combines capital with a broad network of experienced operators, clinicians, healthcare executives, and venture partners to help founders navigate the unique challenges of building and scaling healthcare companies. Its investment philosophy centers on supporting exceptional founders addressing meaningful problems throughout the healthcare ecosystem.
SpringTide Ventures represents a growing relationship within the Sower Ventures network. Sower has invested its own capital alongside SpringTide and continues to explore opportunities to expand the relationship.
SpringTide combines capital with a broad network of experienced operators, clinicians, healthcare executives, and venture partners to help founders navigate the unique challenges of building and scaling healthcare companies. Its investment philosophy centers on supporting exceptional founders addressing meaningful problems throughout the healthcare ecosystem.
SpringTide Ventures represents a growing relationship within the Sower Ventures network. Sower has invested its own capital alongside SpringTide and continues to explore opportunities to expand the relationship.
PathologyWatch pioneered an AI-enabled digital pathology platform integrating laboratory operations, digital imaging, and diagnostic workflows before being acquired by Sonic Healthcare in 2024.
Schedule
12:30 PM
Registration & Sign-In
1:00 PM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
1:10 PM
Opening Keynote
1:40 PM
Meet the Managers and Their Companies
2:20 PM
Networking Break
2:35 PM
Panel I: Venture in a Portfolio
Host: Ted Bridges, CFA
Chief Investment Officer, Omaha-Based Family Office
Ted has over 40 years of experience in investment management and spent 41 years at Bridges Trust, including serving as CEO and CIO. He brings extensive professional investment experience to the panel.
Chief Investment Officer, Omaha-Based Family Office
Ted has over 40 years of experience in investment management and spent 41 years at Bridges Trust, including serving as CEO and CIO. He brings extensive professional investment experience to the panel.
3:15 PM
Panel II: Backing the Founder, Building the Company
Host: Matt Christensen
Co-Founder, CEO & Managing Partner, Rose Park Advisors
Matt co-founded Rose Park Advisors with his father, Clayton Christensen, applying the theory of disruptive innovation to investing. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and serves on portfolio company boards.
Co-Founder, CEO & Managing Partner, Rose Park Advisors
Matt co-founded Rose Park Advisors with his father, Clayton Christensen, applying the theory of disruptive innovation to investing. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and serves on portfolio company boards.
3:55 PM
Networking Break
4:10 PM
Panel III: Inside the Deal
Host: Bart Dillashaw
Managing Partner, Lincoln Office · Co-Chair, Venture Best · Michael Best
Bart has more than 20 years of experience in venture financings and M&A, working with founders, funds, and angel groups. He also serves on the SEC’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee.
Managing Partner, Lincoln Office · Co-Chair, Venture Best · Michael Best
Bart has more than 20 years of experience in venture financings and M&A, working with founders, funds, and angel groups. He also serves on the SEC’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee.
4:50 PM
Closing Remarks
5:00-6:30 PM
Cocktails, Hors d’oeuvres & Networking
Hotels
For guests traveling to Omaha, the following hotels are conveniently located near the Tenaska Center.
Join us on October 15th