Set for Friday, Sept. 26, 2nd Annual Newport Investor Summit to bring 60+ top investors for a one-day showcase of New England’s startup ecosystem
NEWPORT, R.I. – Now less than two weeks away, the agenda for the 2025 Newport Investor Summit is locked – and it features a diverse lineup of guest speakers working at the epicenter of America’s innovation economy.
Presented by RIHub and scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26 at the Newport Beach House in Middletown, R.I., the 2nd Annual Newport Investor Summit will bring together more than 60 top investors operating across the Northeast to hear pitches from 36 highly curated companies looking to grow in the healthcare, ocean technology and high-tech sectors. Each of the companies presenting at this year’s Summit are seeking to raise between $750,000 – $2 million in funding to support their Seed or Series A rounds.
At the inaugural Newport Investor Summit in 2024, roughly 40 percent of participating startups entered due diligence with investors they met during the event.
“The Newport Investor Summit is where capital meets breakthrough innovation with ‘win-win’ deals,” said RIHub Board Chairman and founder Pete Rumsey. “RIHub is catalyzing the innovation and Entrepreneurship ecosystem for industry and for startups here in Rhode Island and Southern New England.”
Beyond the curated pitch presentations, the Newport Investor Summit is designed to serve as a one-day showcase of the New England region’s economy. The event’s speaking lineup aims to provide attendees with opportunities to share insights, explore co-investment opportunities and connect with the broader startup ecosystem here in the southeastern New England region.
Guest speakers headlining the 2025 Newport Investor Summit include:
- Jinane Abounadi, executive director of the MIT Sandbox Fund, who will focus her keynote address on how MIT identifies and supports early-stage startups.
- Tim Welter, senior fellow, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, who will share insights on the national-security-driven innovation frontier and what it means for investors.
- James Buescher, general manager, Maritime U.S., Anduril Industries, who will discuss how Anduril is building its leadership position in the fast-growing national security sector, while highlighting Anduril’s new 150,000-square-foot autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) manufacturing facility at Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown.
“As the Newport Investor Summit evolves, we are aiming to prove that this is more than a pitch event; it’s a relationship-building catalyst for investors and entrepreneurs alike,” said RIHub Managing Director Annette Tonti. “We thank our guest speakers in advance for taking the time to share that expertise and experiences with our audience, and we look forward to helping deals get started in Newport next week.”
The full agenda and information on last-minute registration opportunities for the Summit can be found at www.NewportInvestorSummit.com.
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About the Newport Investor Summit
The Newport Investor Summit is Rhode Island’s premier gathering of early-stage investors and high-growth startups, curated and produced by RIHub. Now in its second year, the Summit accelerates investment and innovation across Southeastern New England by connecting capital with opportunity in an intimate, high-impact setting.
About RIHub
RIHub serves as the pivotal regional nexus for innovation across Rhode Island and neighboring communities. Functioning as an innovation catalyst, this hub equips founders of high-potential growth startups with essential tools and support to establish and expand their ventures. Serving as the driving force of the ecosystem, RIHub offers a spectrum of initiatives encompassing programs, mentorship, business planning, investor connections, and access to an extensive network and corporate liaisons for startups in their early and mid-stages.
Central to its mission is the orchestration of collaboration among key stakeholders in the region, including corporations, universities, government bodies, investors, entrepreneurs, and other prominent innovation-driven entities. RIHub is committed to nurturing the aspirations of innovators and facilitating the realization of successful startup enterprises by paving the commercial pathway for them to originate, thrive, and scale within the region.
Learn more at www.RIHub.org.