Capital Innovation & Access Summit

Unlocking potential via better capital alignment.

Equipping investors and founders with a shared toolkit to accelerate deal-making and ecosystem development.

April 17, 2025 • Encore @ Interlock • Atlanta, GA

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What is Align Capital Innovation & Access Summit?

The Summit brings together capital decision-makers and entrepreneurs to solve funding challenges, redefine capital access, and refine investment strategies.

📅 April 17, 2024
📍Encore @ Interlock • Atlanta, GA

Investors &
Capital Allocators

Angels, VCs, Economic Developers, and Family Offices refine your investment or fundraising thesis that aligns with real-world capital needs.

Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs & Founders

Expand your capital literacy and build stronger connections with investors and policymakers committed to unlocking capital for you.

Policymakers &
Ecosystem Builders

CDFIs, NGOs, state & local economic development leaders learn about new capital structures that extend beyond equity and debt to accelerate business growth in your communities.

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Why Align?

For too long, investors and founders have operated in silos—misaligned on deal structures, funding strategies, and long-term expectations. This summit is designed to bridge that gap by fostering a shared language, an expanded capital toolkit, and new collaborative approaches to deal-making.
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Summit Agenda*

📅 April 17, 2024 📍 Encore @ Interlock • Atlanta, GA

01.

Registration & Networking

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Kick off your day by connecting with fellow investors and founders. Enjoy themed networking that sparks conversations around capital philosophies and funding challenges. Each attendee will receive a Thesis Development Worksheet to capture key insights throughout the day.

02.

Opening Keynote & Interactive Exercise – “Aligning Capital: A Shared Language”

11:00 AM – 11:20 AM

Misalignment between founders and funders is common—but solvable. In this session, you’ll learn:

  • Why misalignment happens and how to fix it.
  • The power of shared language in capital negotiations.
  • How capital flexibility can lead to better outcomes.
03.

Workshop: “Expanding The Capital Toolkit: The Right Structure for the Right Deal”

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
This hands-on session introduces you to four innovative financial instruments that go beyond traditional equity and debt:

  • Revenue-Based Financing (RBF): Leverage recurring revenue models to fuel growth.
  • Redeemable Equity: Align investor and founder returns with business trajectory.
  • Profit-Sharing Agreements: Structure non-dilutive returns that scale with performance.
  • Equity Crowdfunding: Unlock community capital to de-risk investments.
    Action Item: Identify one tool that could fit your next deal and draft a scenario where it applies.

Action Item: Identify one tool that could fit your next deal and draft a scenario where it applies.

04.

Fireside Chat & Networking Lunch – “Creating Aligned Capital Strategies”

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Join a dynamic discussion featuring experienced investors and entrepreneurs who share real-world insights on co-creating financing structures that protect investor interests while driving growth. Key topics include:

  • Negotiating alternative structures that align incentives.
  • Defining what makes a “good deal” versus a “misaligned deal.”
  • Unlocking new funding pathways with hybrid capital models.

Action Item: Draft your “capital stack” wishlist outlining the features that make a deal founder-friendly and investor-smart.

05.

Workshop: “Founder-Investor Playbook: Building Deals That Work”

2:15 PM – 3:30 PM

Break down traditional silos by creating a shared framework for deal structuring that balances growth, risk, and returns. You’ll explore:

  • What investors wish founders understood about capital strategy.
  • What founders wish investors recognized about business growth realities.
  • How to craft term sheets and funding conversations that foster alignment.

Action Item: Develop a negotiation framework to align deal terms with long-term success.

06.

Thesis Refinement Session – “What Did I Learn?”

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

After a day filled with workshops, panels, and interactive discussions, it’s time to revisit your initial thesis.

  • How has your capital thesis changed?
  • What’s one capital tool you’re now excited to explore further?
  • What conversation shifted your perspective the most?

Synthesize the day’s insights into a clear, actionable capital strategy.

07.

Closing Mixer – “Capital Conversations in Action”

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

End the day with an optional, relaxed networking event. Here, you can continue discussions, exchange insights, and explore potential partnerships. This is the perfect opportunity to solidify connections made throughout the summit.

*Please note that the agenda is subject to change without notice, though we’ll make every attempt to share any significant deviations.

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Host & Speakers That Inspire

Jonathan Bragdon

Jonathan Bragdon, Co-host

Capital Strategist & Managing Partner @ Capacity Capital
Justin Dawkins

Justin Dawkins, Co-host

Capital Entrepreneur &
Partner @ Capacity Capital

Melissa Withers

Melissa Withers

Managing Partner & Co-Founder, RevUp Capital
Read Ezell @ Wefunder

Read Ezell

Director, Venture Partnerships and Fundraising @Wefunder
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Get Your Ticket to the Southeast’s Only Summit Dedicated to Capital Innovation

Entrepreneurs
& Ecosystem Builders

$99
Early Bird Pricing Ends April 11th

Full Access to Align Summit

Complimentary Capital Strategy Session

Investor Match*

Purchase Now

*Entrepreneurs must provide an investor deck (data room preferred), and complete registration before April 8th. Due to attendee dynamics and preferences, matching is not guaranteed and is limited to 20 founders and ecosystem builders.

Investors & Capital Allocators

$199
Early Bird Pricing Ends April 11th

Full Access to Align Summit

Complimentary Capital Allocation Assessment

Priority Access to Post-Event Deals

Early Access to Post-Summit Cocktail Hour

Purchase Now

Students
& The Curious

$49

Only 10 Passes Available

Attendees Must Apply First

Full Access to Align Summit

Complimentary Entry to Post-Summit Cocktail Hour

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