If you were at the first Innovate Summit in Owensboro last year, you know it wasn’t just another conference. And if you missed it, now’s your chance to see what happens when innovation meets intentionality in a city you probably never expected.
Innovate 2025 kicks off May 20–22 at the Owensboro Convention Center in the heart of Kentucky’s $200 million riverfront revitalization. With a 4:30 PM CT start on the waterfront of structured networking and three days of programming, the Summit is continuing its mission to be more than a transactional meet-and-greet. Instead, it’s ushering professionals to connect, create, and collaborate in ways that actually matter.
That sense of anticipation is already building. “I’m looking forward to connecting with old and new friends,” said last year’s keynote speaker and this year’s co-MC, Herbert “Flight Time” Lang, President and CEO of Swagball. “And to bringing some of the brightest and innovative minds in the world to the stage.”
From the Ground Up
Innovate was never about name tags and networking scripts. As co-founder Brian Wallace puts it, this is a summit that works for you. It’s curated with the kind of people you’d actually want to build a company with or go halfway across the world to launch a new market.
That philosophy has translated into tangible impact for many returning attendees. “Thanks to Innovate, I’ve built long-term friendships, closed multiple strategic deals, and experienced the power of connecting with intentional, authentic leaders across industries,” said Blake Weissman, founder of BackpackVC. “We no longer have to build in isolation.”
Why Owensboro? Because charm, affordability, and vision don’t always come wrapped in big-city packaging. Wallace and his team were drawn in by the story behind the city’s transformation, and they’re helping shape what comes next. The Innovate Summit is now part of a broader movement to reimagine what overlooked cities can offer in a shifting economy.
Human Stories, Global Reach
The 2025 event will lean even harder into the personal, real, and raw. Expect stories of resilience that stick with you, like the LinkedIn trainer who also battles agoraphobia, or the Ironman athlete who lost his foot in an accident. These aren’t side notes, they’re center stage.
It’s that mix of vulnerability and depth that keeps people coming back. “The Innovate Summit is a truly unique experience that combines authentic connection with substantive, high-impact learning,” said Alina Doran, two-time speaker and CEO of Highline Leadership. “I’m looking forward to reconnecting with visionary, go-giver leaders and learning from new voices on timely topics.”
And then there’s Israel. With international travel disrupted and financial pressure mounting, Innovate is doubling down on its commitment to showcasing Israeli innovation and building bridges between global markets, right from the Bluegrass State.
A Different Kind of Growth
This isn’t about filling the room. It’s about who’s in the room. Innovate’s go-to-market strategy is just as unconventional as its programming. There are no aggressive email campaigns, just word of mouth, in-person connection, and the slow reveal of speaker lineups like they’re fine art.
That kind of design is intentional and refreshing. “I’m excited for a different kind of conference — one that breaks us out of our silos,” said David Armes of Terra Nova Capital Management and the Earthlight Foundation. “The most powerful ideas come from exploring new perspectives and applying them in unexpected ways.”
Music, culture, and creativity remain key players too. You’re not coming to Owensboro to just talk tech, you’re stepping into a cultural ecosystem where the arts help power economic development. After all, you don’t host a summit steps away from the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame by accident.
Small Cities are the Undiscovered Country
Innovate isn’t just hosted in Owensboro, it’s helping to reintroduce the city to the world. From curious outsiders who’ve never set foot in Kentucky to locals with a renewed sense of pride, the Summit is reshaping how people think about place, purpose, and possibility.
For more information and tickets, visit The Innovate Summit website.
