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Frequently Asked Questions | Innovate South Lafayette Conference 2026

Planning to attend Innovate South? Find answers about tickets, schedule, sessions, networking, speakers, travel, and coordinating with Festival International.

  • Registration opens on February 2, 2026.

  • The 2026 speaker lineup will begin getting announced in early February.

  • The full 2026 schedule will be announced in early March.

  • The Tech Tank Pitch Competition is only open to startups that have participated in Opportunity Machine (OM) programming. Not there yet? Attending as an audience member gets you in the room with emerging founders, lets you see what's being built, and gives you a chance to connect with the OM team about programs that could get you on that stage next year.

  • Since this event takes place right before Festival International in the heart of Downtown Lafayette, we encourage attendees & speakers to dress casually. Smart casual attire with a little festival flair is totally appropriate for this event!

  • While you are welcome to attend the entire conference, each day is intentionally designed to serve specific interests within our community:

    • Day 1: Tech Professionals - Brought to you by the Lafayette Regional Technology Council (LRTC), this day is specifically curated for local tech professionals (from developers, to engineers, to students aspiring to tech careers).

    • Day 2: Startup Founders & Entrepreneurs - Curated by Opportunity Machine, this day is hyper-focused on the founder's journey. If you are building a company or thinking about diving into the startup world, this is the day for you.

    • Day 3: The Innovation Ecosystem - This is our "grand finale" designed to bring together the entire innovation ecosystem — tech pros, founders, mentors, & community supporters. Day 3 features our headline keynote speaker, the Tech Tank Pitch Competition, and our closing celebration.

  •  While each day has a specific focus, the real magic of Innovate South happens when our entire innovation ecosystem connects. Attending the full series gives you the most complete experience and the best opportunity for networking. If you can only attend 1 or 2 days, check out the "Which day of Innovate South should I attend?" question to help you plan your schedule around the content and connections that are most relevant to you.

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