Bridging Innovation Week 2026 Registration Now Open: West Virginia’s Premier Entrepreneurship Event Heads to Morgantown

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bridging Innovation Week 2026 Registration Now Open: West Virginia’s Premier Entrepreneurship Event Heads to Morgantown

MORGANTOWN, WV – February 10, 2026 – The West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (WVEE) is proud to announce that registration is officially open for Bridging Innovation Week 2026. This year’s week-long celebration of innovation, small business, and economic growth will take place from April 27 to May 1, 2026.

Now in its fifth year, Bridging Innovation Week has become the cornerstone event for the state’s entrepreneurial community. The 2026 program features a robust lineup of educational programming, pitch competitions, hands-on workshops, and networking activities designed to connect business owners with the resources they need to scale.

“Bridging Innovation Week is more than just an annual event; it’s a movement that proves West Virginia is a national leader in grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Amber Ravenscroft, WVEE Director. “Our strong partnerships help us provide a world-class stage for West Virginia entrepreneurs to shine. We invite every dreamer, builder, and leader to join us in Morgantown this April.”

Bridging Innovation Week 2026 in Morgantown is coordinated in partnership with the Morgantown Area Partnership. The Partnership is joined by an incredible planning committee committed to entrepreneurship growth, including Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and West Virginia University. Its partners invite you to discover Morgantown’s growing metropolitan area as a destination of choice for small business, advanced technology, and healthcare.

“On behalf of the Morgantown Area Partnership and Visit Mountaineer Country CVB, we are honored to host Bridging Innovation Week 2026,” said Russ Rogerson, President & CEO of the Morgantown Area Partnership. “We welcome all entrepreneurs to explore the energy of Morgantown and join us in shaping the future of West Virginia’s economy.”

2026 Program Highlights:

● Local Tours: Immersive experiences highlighting the best of Morgantown’s entrepreneurial community, including the West Virginia University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem tour and the Main Street Morgantown Downtown Opportunity Tour,

● The WV Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference: An engaging day of main stage sessions, impact workshops, and networking opportunities to build West Virginia’s entrepreneurial future,

● High-Stakes Competitions: Live pitches and demos for major state competitions and programs, including SparkWV, Vantage Venture’s Validation Day, LG NOVA’s Grand Challenge and IgniteWV.

● Networking Activities: Extensive networking, from Monday’s Welcome Reception at WVU Chambers College to events for veterans, artists, outdoor enthusiasts, and more on Tuesday evening, and,

● Youth Entrepreneurship Education Day: Dedicated programming for local high school students, including experiential learning and hearing from guest speakers running local businesses and startups.

“As Co-Chair of the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, it means so much to see this event come to Morgantown for the first time in its five-year history. It’s been incredibly special to help bring West Virginia’s entrepreneurs, students, educators, and ecosystem builders together in my own community,” said Tara St. Clair, Director of the WVU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. “Bridging Innovation Week is about connection, opportunity, and celebrating the incredible talent across our state, and hosting it in Morgantown this year feels like a powerful reflection of how far we’ve come and where we’re headed.”

Registration & Full Agenda: Attendees can now view the full 2026 program and secure their tickets via the event website: Bridging Innovation Week Event Website

Bridging Innovation Week’s 2026 Diamond Sponsors include the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, and WVU’s Vantage Ventures. The week is also sponsored, in part, by the Monongalia Tourism Advancement Fund, courtesy of the Monongalia County Commission and the Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitors Bureau. The full line-up of speakers and sponsors is available via the event website.

About the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: The West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem is a collaborative network of organizations and individuals dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation across the Mountain State.

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Media Contact: Amber Ravenscroft, Director of the West Virginia Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, connect@wveshipecosystem.org, (301)-268-162

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