Startup Week Louisville returns this Fall
Five days for founders, their teams, and the community that backs them, right in the heart of Global Entrepreneurship Week.
Designed by the community
Shaped by the community from day one. Here’s how the week came together, and how to take part in what’s left before November 16.
Organizers lay the foundation
The volunteer organizing team unites on the goals and direction of the event.
Explore the mission →Call for input & engagement
Thank you! Ideas, speaker nominations and applications, and volunteer availability came in through September 1.
Submit ideas & interest →Call for timely ideas
We've saved a few session openings to ensure we have the most timely content - suggest ideas during this window.
Last chance to submit →Schedule & registration live
Claim your spot and build your personalized schedule for the week.
Register for free →Startup Week
Meet your community, engage in workshops, celebrate our region, and grow your startup!
See the schedule →A week for founders & those that support them
Startup Week Louisville is a week-long, community-built gathering for founders and business owners, and for anyone ready to turn an idea into a business. From November 16–20, 2026, more than 50 free events take over NuLu and Southern Indiana: workshops, keynotes, pitch events, and a few surprises, all designed to help you take your next step.
Across tracks like Funding & Capital, Go-to-Market, and more, you’ll hear from founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem builders who’ve actually done the work. It’s a chance to get practical help on questions like “Where is the money going to come from?” and “How do we reach our next 100 customers?” while meeting the people who can help you answer them.
What every attendee can expect.
No matter what session or event you attend, it was created with one of our four pillars in mind.
Inspire
Hear stories and lessons from founders who have scaled and overcome, launched and failed, and everything in between.
Equip
Our sessions aren't just another talk you can watch on YouTube. Get equipped and activated in our hands-on workshops.
Connect
Meet potential cofounders, future team members, possible investors, and passionate community members.
Celebrate
Demo days, awards, and after-hours moments that honor how far this community has come and the growing momentum.
Beyond the workshops.
The week is stitched together with gatherings you won’t find on a normal conference agenda.
Vogt Awards Demo Day
The region’s standout startups take the stage to show what they’ve built.
Vogt Demo DayTues, Nov 17, 2026Fire & Ice
KYX swaps “networking” for a 49°F plunge followed by a 190°F sauna. Shock the system, then trade ideas while your endorphins spike.
Fireside chats
Candid, close-up conversations with the people who’ve actually built it.
Happy hours
The unscheduled hours where the real connections tend to happen.
Divided by a river, united by community
Startup Week reflects how this ecosystem actually works — it doesn’t stop at the river.
Louisville's NuLu NeighborhoodNuLu, Louisville
Four days in the heart of Louisville’s densest startup district — workshops, talks, and gatherings spread across NuLu’s businesses and restaurants.
New Albany & Southern IndianaSouthern Indiana
We cross the river to close the week — celebrating one connected regional community that builds together, on both sides of the Ohio.
In the end, it’s about the people in the room.
The workshops and sessions matter. But what makes Startup Week work is simpler — founders showing up for one another, and a community that bets on its own.
Catalytic collisions between community members
Activating workshops and speakers
Inspiring and engaging keynotes
Afterparties & activationsMade possible by the community.
Startup Week Louisville is 100% locally run and organized by community members who are betting on the region.
The organizers
A volunteer crew of local founders and community builders who make the week happen.
Contributing members
The companies and organizations making Startup Week possible.
Save your spot.
It's free to attend. Register now, then build your week from the schedule.
Be first to know when registration opens.
Schedule drops, speaker announcements, registration — a handful of emails between now and November. No spam, ever.
By signing up you agree to hear from us about Startup Week. Unsubscribe anytime.