Cafe IW: Building Where You Are

Building a successful company outside traditional tech hubs comes with unique advantages and challenges. Join Innovation Works for Café IW, a candid conversation exploring how Pittsburgh and Nashville are competing in today’s innovation economy.

While much of the startup conversation focuses on Silicon Valley, New York, and Boston, emerging innovation hubs across the country are proving that high-growth companies can be built anywhere. This session brings together founders, investors, and ecosystem builders to examine how regional startup communities create advantages and where founders must work harder to compete on a national level.

You’ll hear honest insights on accessing capital outside traditional venture hubs, recruiting top talent in regional markets, building national visibility, and turning geography into a competitive advantage. Whether you’re launching your first company or scaling an existing venture, this interactive conversation will help you understand how to build where you are.