Two of Rhode Island’s signature innovation events—Rhode Island Startup Week and the Newport Investor Summit—concluded this last week with record-setting participation, signaling the state’s growing reputation as a magnet for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders from across the U.S. and beyond.
Now in its 6th year, Rhode Island Startup Week brought together the region’s startup community for nine days, featuring 47 sessions across 13 statewide venues. The event drew over 1,000 attendees and logged more than 5,000 session attendees, marking its most successful year yet. For the first time, the week spotlighted two new thematic days—HLS Day (Health and Life Sciences) and Ocean Tech Day, further underscoring the state’s strengths in these rapidly growing sectors. Longtime traditions also thrived, with the 6th Annual Calamari Tank continuing to showcase local entrepreneurial talent in a fast-paced pitch format.
“Each year, Rhode Island Startup Week showcases the extraordinary breadth and depth of innovation happening across our state,” said Annette Tonti, Managing Director, RIHub. “This year’s record-breaking attendance and programming prove that Rhode Island is not just keeping pace but setting the standard for regional collaboration in entrepreneurship.”
At the end of the week the spotlight shifted to Newport for the 2nd Annual Newport Investor Summit, a curated, invite-only gathering of investors and entrepreneurs at the Newport Beach House. This year, the event attracted over 200 registered participants, including 59 investors (up from 51 last year) and 77 entrepreneurs (up from 61).
The Summit received more than 200 pitch applications—more than double last year’s total—with Health and Life Sciences leading the way, representing over half of all applicants. In the end, 33 startups were selected to pitch, including 12 HLS companies, 9 Ocean Tech ventures, and 12 Open Tech startups, representing 11 U.S. states (CA, CT, FL, MA, MN, NH, NY, PA, RI, TX, WA) and two international companies from Ireland and Australia. Notably, 10 of the pitching companies were founded or co-founded by women, and 9 had roots in Rhode Island—including Adoptee Identity, Arctura, Just Breathe, Lenoss, Light Frame, PathMaker Neurosystems, Reach Neuro, VeinTech, and Zmanti.
The Summit also highlighted deep connections to academia, with startups linked to nine universities, including Brown University, Harvard, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Michigan.
“The Newport Investor Summit demonstrates that Rhode Island can convene world-class investors and entrepreneurs in an intimate, high-quality setting that fosters real deal-making,” said Pete Rumsey, RIHub’s Chairman. “With applications doubling in just one year, it’s clear this event is becoming a must-attend for startups and investors alike.”
“ I’d like to express my thanks for the opportunity to network and pitch at the Newport Investor Summit, I’m excited about the new connections I made there”, said Zoe Hansen-DiBello, Founder & CEO of Adoptee-Identity, a startup that pitched during the event.
Together, these two events underscore Rhode Island’s momentum as a premier destination for entrepreneurship and innovation—leveraging its strengths in health and life sciences, ocean technology, and dual-use innovation to drive economic growth and opportunity.
About Rhode Island Startup Week
Rhode Island Startup Week is the state’s largest annual celebration of entrepreneurship, featuring events across universities, incubators, and innovation hubs. Now in its 6th year, the event unites entrepreneurs, investors, students, and business leaders to highlight the state’s growing startup ecosystem.
About Newport Investor Summit
The Newport Investor Summit is an annual, curated gathering of investors and entrepreneurs in Newport, Rhode Island. Focused on presenting highly-vetted startups across Ocean Tech, Health and Life Sciences, and Showcase sectors, the Summit connects founders with capital and fosters cross-regional investor collaboration.
Media Contact:
Michelle Henning
michelle@rihub.org