If you’re building, investing, or trying to plug into the Southeast’s startup scene, the next few weeks are stacked with events you need to have on your calendar.
Here are a few events actually worth showing up for…
Tailwind Tech Summit in Columbia, SC: May 4
The Tailwind Tech Summit is South Carolina’s premier gathering for founders, investors, and builders who believe the best chapter is still being written. 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.
Early-Stage Venture Summit in Tampa: May 6-7
If you’re building and raising, Tampa is calling. The Early-Stage Venture Summit brings together founders and angel investors for two days of serious momentum-building. Expect hands-on sessions, sharp insights into what investors actually look for, and a room full of people ready to make moves. Bonus: it kicks off with a reception designed to get conversations flowing early.
Who is the Early-Venture Summit for?
The Early Stage Venture Summit, Powered by Florida Funders is designed for founders who are actively building and preparing to raise. This event is a strong fit if you are:
- Making less than $1M in ARR
- Working full-time on your startup
- Preparing to raise a Pre-Seed or Seed round in the near future
Innovation Night in Knoxville: May 13
Get ready for an event that combines the best of tech and sports. Innovation Night in Knoxville includes a $100K pitch opportunity, a day of coworking…and ends with a live soccer game at the One Knoxville SC’s stadium.
Seed the South in Charlotte: May 18-19
Big ideas deserve a big stage—and this one literally delivers. Hosted at Bank of America Stadium, Seed the South gathers the region’s top founders and investors for high-impact connections. Highlights include a $100K pitch competition, curated investor meetings, and deep dives into market trends shaping the Southeast.
If you’re looking to raise capital or spot the next breakout startup, this is the place to be.
TiE Connect in Sandy Springs, GA – May 18
Forget awkward networking. TiE Connect is engineered for results.
This is a curated, high-density room where the right introductions happen fast. This is where founders meet investors and operators meet the community. Think of it as a month’s worth of networking compressed into one night. If you’re serious about scaling in Atlanta, this is where you show up.
Want to see all the events happening this month? Check out Hypepotamus.
(Featured photo generated by AI)
