Whether you’re joining as an investor, founder, sponsor, or ecosystem partner, this FAQ is your guide to the 3rd Coast Venture Summit (3CVS).

Learn how Investors’ Day and Founders’ Day are structured, what types of companies participate, and how the summit is designed to facilitate meaningful investor-founder connections through curated programming and networking.

If you don’t find what you need here, reach out at hello@thirdcoastventuresummit.com.

General faq

  • 3CVS companies are Seed to Series A startups. Startups are actively raising or planning to raise follow-on capital and are selected for being innovative, disruptive, or rapidly scaling, with a connection to the Gulf South.

  • Yes. Investors’ Day (Tuesday, March 10, 2026) is an investor-only day, designed for venture capital leaders to share market outlooks, trends, and capital movement. Sponsors with investor access may also attend, depending on ticket type. Investors can compare notes on this day and strategize and network ahead of Founder’s day with investor-focused programming. 

  • No. Founders’ Day (Wednesday, March 11, 2026) is open to founders, investors, sponsors, and ecosystem partners. The day is designed around founder pitches, investor-founder connections, and curated networking.

  • In 2025, 107 investors attended, representing 71 venture firms.

  • In 2025, 60 founders attended, representing 34 startups.

  • Founders span a broad, industry-agnostic mix, including:

    • AgTech

    • AI

    • B2B SaaS

    • Climate Tech

    • Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)

    • FinTech

    • Hardware

    • Health Tech

    • Property Tech

    • Research Tech

    • Travel Tech

    &  Beyond!

  • 2025 sponsors include a mix of:

    • Venture firms

    • Corporates

    • Law firms

    • Healthcare systems

    • Economic development organizations

    Examples include Halliburton Labs, United Airlines Ventures, Ochsner Health, Jones Walker, Silicon Valley Bank, JP Morgan Chase,  LA.IO, and others.

  • Yes. A full list of 71 venture firms that attended the 2025 Summit is included in the 2025 Wrap Deck.

  • The confirmed thematic focus for Investors’ Day includes:

    • American Dynamism

    • Energy, infrastructure, climate resilience, and defense-adjacent innovation

    • AI (including vertical AI and edge AI)

    • Deep tech, logistics, maritime, and supply chain innovation

    • Liquidity, exits, and evolving venture-return structures

  • No. The 2026 schedule is in draft form. Core structure, dates, and formats are confirmed, but speakers, panels, and some sessions are still being finalized.

  • Startups and founders are recruited from across the Gulf South, with representation from:

    • Texas

    • Louisiana

    • Mississippi

    • Alabama

    • Florida

    Exact state-by-state percentages are not published, but recruitment partners in each state support regional representation.