Georgetown’s Venture in the Capital Summit Signals Where Policy, AI, and Venture Capital Are Heading in 2026

As emerging technologies move deeper into regulated markets, the line between innovation, investment, and public policy is becoming harder to ignore. That shift will be front and center on January 30, when Georgetown Entrepreneurship hosts its fourth annual Venture in the Capital Summit in Washington, D.C.

The student-led summit brings together startup founders, venture capitalists, defense leaders, and policy executives for a full-day discussion on how AI, defense technology, and investment trends are being shaped by regulatory and geopolitical forces.

For founders, the event reflects a broader reality: policy is no longer a background issue — it’s part of the operating environment.

Why founders should pay attention

Startups building in AI, defense, infrastructure, fintech, and other high-impact sectors increasingly face markets where government plays multiple roles at once — regulator, customer, and strategic partner.

At the same time, investors are factoring policy exposure and regulatory clarity into decisions much earlier in a company’s lifecycle. What once surfaced at late-stage fundraising is now influencing seed and Series A conversations.

The Venture in the Capital Summit is designed around that intersection.

What’s on the agenda

The 2026 summit will feature leaders from venture firms, emerging startups, defense technology companies, and public-policy organizations discussing:

• How AI regulation is influencing capital allocation

• Why defense and dual-use startups are drawing renewed investor interest

• Where founders are encountering friction — or opportunity — in regulated markets

• How public-sector engagement is shaping go-to-market strategy

Speakers include executives and investors from firms such as Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, Anduril Industries, Booz Allen Ventures, Spectrum Equity, and a range of early-stage technology companies operating at the intersection of innovation and national priorities.

Several speakers will participate virtually ahead of the in-person event, with the full summit hosted at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

The 2026 speakers List:

* = These speakers are presenting virtually prior to the 1/30 in-person event

A signal beyond the event

The growing prominence of forums like Venture in the Capital reflects a structural shift in the startup ecosystem. Innovation is no longer shaped solely by market demand or technical breakthroughs. It is increasingly shaped by how founders navigate regulation, public trust, and government engagement.

For startups building in sensitive or strategic sectors, understanding those dynamics early can influence everything from product design to fundraising strategy.

The takeaway for founders is clear: the startups best positioned for scale in 2026 will be those that understand not just their customers, but the systems they operate within.