CPG Growth & Capital Conference 2026
The CPG Growth & Capital Conference is a full-day summit designed to bring together consumer brands, retailers, investors, media, and operators shaping the next generation of consumer packaged goods.
Hosted at Verizon’s 5G Labs in Playa Vista, this immersive conference blends strategic panels, fireside conversations, live brand showcases, and meaningful networking—all inside a space purpose-built for innovation, cultivation, and connection.
Throughout the day, attendees will explore:
How CPG brands scale across DTC, retail, and omnichannel
What retail buyers and grocery partners are actually looking for
How capital, storytelling, and distribution intersect
How emerging brands win attention, shelf space, and mindshare
The experience is intentionally designed for movement—attendees can engage with exhibitors, demos, and sampling activations throughout the venue while participating in curated programming on the main stage.
Who Should Attend
CPG founders & brand operators
Grocery buyers & retail partners
Investors, VCs & family offices
DTC & e-commerce leaders
Media, creators, influencers, and brand builders
Strategic partners across the consumer ecosystem
What to Expect
Curated panels and fireside chats
Dedicated exhibitor & sampling areas
Retailer and investor participation
1-hour hosted lunch
Open-flow networking throughout the day
Evening reception immediately following the conference
Draft Agenda (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
9:00 – 9:45 AM
Arrival, Registration & Morning Networking
Coffee, light bites, exhibitor walk-throughs, and informal networking
9:45 – 10:00 AM
Opening Remarks
Welcome from the hosts + overview of the day
10:00 – 10:45 AM
Panel: The Modern CPG Growth Playbook
DTC, Retail, and Omnichannel in 2026
How leading brands balance direct-to-consumer growth while unlocking retail distribution and partnerships.
11:00 – 11:45 AM
Panel: Retail & Grocery Insights
What Buyers Want — and What Gets You on the Shelf
Retailers and grocery partners share what they look for in emerging brands, from product readiness to storytelling and supply chain execution.
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Hosted Networking Lunch
An open-flow lunch experience designed for relationship-building across brands, retailers, investors, and exhibitors.
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Fireside Chat
Building, Scaling, and Exiting a Consumer Brand
A candid one-on-one conversation with a founder or operator who’s successfully built and exited a CPG business.
1:45 – 2:30 PM
Panel: Capital Meets Consumer
How Investors Evaluate CPG Brands Today
A look at what investors care about right now—from margins and velocity to distribution leverage and brand narrative.
2:45 – 3:30 PM
Panel: E-Commerce, Marketing & Performance Growth
Tactical insights on scaling online sales, paid acquisition, retention, and leveraging data to drive profitability.
3:45 – 4:15 PM
Fireside Chat
Storytelling, Media & Earned Attention
How brands generate press, partnerships, and organic visibility through authentic narratives and purpose-driven storytelling.
4:15 – 5:00 PM
Open Networking & Exhibitor Engagement
Final opportunity to connect, sample products, and build partnerships before the evening reception.
5:00 PM onward
Evening Networking Reception
Cocktails, conversation, and continued connection immediately following the conference.
About Mission Matters
The Mission Matters platform is a media outlet designed to give voice to the stories of entrepreneurs, entertainers, enterprises, executives and experts. In the coming years, we will continue this mission by adding to our current 50,000+ content catalogue of shows, podcasts, media and books in an effort to tell meaningful stories that will inspire current and future generations.
Mission Matters Podcast by the numbers
25 million+ views
Reach 1 million+ people monthly
100,000+ pieces of content published
6,000+ interviews distributed
1,500 + CEOs interviewed
About Navigator Lighthouse Foundation
In the midst of the civil unrest of 2020, Navigator Sales & Marketing owners Allen and Subriana Pierce saw both a challenge and a calling. They founded the Navigator Lighthouse Foundation to expand access for underrepresented and emerging entrepreneurs. What began as a response to inequity quickly became a movement—creating real pathways to education, opportunity, and visibility on grocery store shelves. When retailers began reaching out asking for stronger connections to women- and minority-owned brands, it was clear: the industry needed a more intentional bridge. We stepped in to build it.