Glaring Gap Summit
Join us on Wednesday, August 26 & Thursday, August 27, for Embarc Collective’s Annual Glaring Gap Summit. The Glaring Gap Summit is a two-day summit designed to maximize learning and connections through inspirational speakers, rigorous curriculum on the foundations of startup investing, and extraordinary networking opportunities.
Glaring Gap Summit Agenda
Wednesday, August 26
8:30 AM – Doors Open & Networking
9:00 AM– Welcome Remarks from Embarc Collective
9:30 AM– Capital is Power: Women, Wealth, & Influence
Speaker: Lisa Dallmer, Former Managing Director of Global Technology and Operations at BlackRock; Former Executive at the New York Stock Exchange
Moderator: Allie Felix, Founder and CEO, Goldia Group
Exploring how investing, wealth creation, and capital allocation shape industries, economies, and opportunities—and why more women participating in these decisions benefits everyone.
10:20 AM – Inside the Networks That Shape Venture Capital
Moderator: Kathleen Osborne, Embarc Collective PR Coach and Founder of Kamel PR
Panelists: Elise Brown, EVP of Marketing, All Raise & Mina Kim, Angel Investor and Founder
A conversation exploring how relationships, sourcing, and trusted networks influence venture investing, what is changing across the ecosystem, and where investors continue to overlook opportunity.
11:00AM – Session 3: From the Sidelines to the Cap Table
Panelists: Raechel Canipe, Founder & CEO, Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship (WTE), Christy Cunningham, Angel Investor and Strategic Advisor + Change Catalyst at inCioX
Moderator: Sue Bevan Baggot, President, Power Within Consulting | Angel Investor, QCA Ventures & Next Wave Impact
A discussion with women who have made the transition from observer to investor and the lessons they learned along the way.
11:45 AM – Networking Lunch
12:45 PM – Demystifying Angel Investing Workshop led by Angela Lee, CEO of 37 Angels
A hands-on angel investing workshop covering venture math, due diligence, valuation, portfolio construction, investment thesis development, and practical frameworks for evaluating founders and early-stage startups with confidence.
4:00 PM – Closing Alumni Reception
Thursday, August 27
9:00 AM – Welcome
9:10 AM – Inside the Investor's Mind: What Makes a Startup Stand Out?
This session will share what today's venture landscape looks like from inside a fund. Rather than teaching the mechanics of investing, this session offer an honest look at how investment decisions are made in practice, what opportunities are emerging across Florida and beyond, and how investors develop conviction in uncertain markets.
9:40 AM – Founder Pitch Showcase
10:55 AM – Founder Roundtables
12:00 PM – Closing
Our mission is to create a forum that closes the Glaring Gap—where traditional investment structures often exclude women, people of color, and otherwise underrepresented investors. We seek to change that narrative by convening 50 current and future women investors to lead, fund, and impact the future of Florida.
NOTE: Applications close on August 12; we are accepting applications on a rolling basis beginning on 7/15!