For founders, creators, students, and anyone joining the conference.
September 23–24, 2026
David J. Prior Convocation Center · UVA Wise
Includes full access to both days, all sessions, and the Pitch Battle.
Set up a booth — choose Small Business (for-profit, special rate) or Sponsor (non-profit) on the next page.
Compete for the $5,000 prize. Applications close September 11, 2026.
CreatorCon is the annual entrepreneurship conference hosted by Do Good Foundation. We bring founders, creators, students, economic developers, and the people building the entrepreneurial ecosystem into the same room — for two days of sessions, conversations, and connections you won't find anywhere else.
The 2026 program will feature working founders sharing what's actually working in their businesses, ecosystem builders discussing how to support entrepreneurs at every stage, and plenty of unstructured time to meet the person you didn't know you needed to meet.
Registration is now open via our event partner, Whova. Save the date — September 23 & 24, 2026 — and we'll see you in the room.
September 23–24, 2026 · The University of Virginia's College at Wise
Sept 23 · The Overlook, Norton
Check-in, tech check, and run-through
Open to all attendees and partners
Six Appalachian founders · 5-minute pitch, 5 minutes of questions each
Winner announced · reception continues
Sept 24 · UVA Wise Campus
Grab coffee and a bite, and explore our sponsor and ecosystem-partner booths before the main sessions begin.
Ryan Jones, President, Do Good Foundation; Founder, Do Good Brands
Chancellor Donna Henry, UVA Wise
Randall Rose, Associate Vice Chancellor, Community & Economic Development, UVA Wise
Michelle Workman (Sr. Destination Development Manager, Visit Virginia) & Andrea Hicks (Owner & Founder, The Coffee Station)
Ryan Hayes, Staff Software Engineer, Hilton Grand Vacations
Visit our sponsors and ecosystem partners
Jessie Stamper, Senior Grants Associate, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
Networking over lunch
Speaker to be announced
Open to everyone — a collaborative conversation about strengthening the ecosystem together. All voices welcome.
Agenda subject to change
The Floor
68 stills from CreatorCon 2025 — speakers, the room, the people. Click any photo to view full size.
Hover to pause · Click any photo to expand
Every year at CreatorCon, founders pitch their businesses live in front of judges and the room. One walks away with $5,000 in non-dilutive prize money — and all of them walk away with the kind of feedback you can't get anywhere else.
Questions? Email dogoodfoundationinfo@gmail.com