September 15-17, 2026
Columbia, MO
The Small Business Conference
Join small to medium-sized business owners, operators, & Investors from across the Country to discover practical strategies for growth, leadership, & building businesses that last.
Conference Festival Built for the SMB Community
What is Main Street Summit?
We’re a 3 day festival-style small business event bringing 1,200+ folks together in Columbia.
Why Attend?
Get ahead of the curve with insights from industry leaders, successful operators, and investors who are shaping the future of small business across various industries.
See What’s Next for the Small Business Community
Discover the strategies, technologies, and market shifts that will define success in 2026 and beyond. Then apply them to your business to unlock new growth.
Learn about the Trends Impacting Small Business
Make New Connections and Build new Relationships
Connect with 1,200+ fellow owners, operators, and investors who understand your challenges and can become your next partner, customer, or mentor.
WhO Should Attend?
Main Street Summit brings together the people who build, run, and invest in small and mid-size businesses doing $5m-$50+mm in revenue per year.
You built something from nothing, and you're figuring out what comes next - whether that's scaling to your next milestone, professionalizing operations, or planning an eventual exit. You run companies doing $1M–$50M+ in revenue across industries like home services, construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and more.
You'll walk away with new strategies, sharper operations, and a network of owners who actually get it.
Owners, Founders & CEOs
You're the one making it run. You manage the people, the processes, and the P&L - and you're always looking for an edge. Whether you're a GM running a single location or a COO overseeing a portfolio of companies, you're here to learn from operators who've solved the problems you're facing right now.
You'll leave with tactical playbooks and connections that make you better at your job on Monday morning.
Executives & Key Company Leaders
You're looking for your next deal - or your next hundred. Whether you're a first-time searcher, an independent sponsor, or part of a fund acquiring small and mid-size businesses, Summit puts you in the room with owners, operators, and fellow investors who are actively doing deals in the lower middle market.
You'll find deal flow, co-investors, and operating partners all in one place.
Acquirers, Searchers & Capital Allocators
You don't need another team retreat - you need three days that actually move the business forward. Bring your leadership team to Summit to land & expand. Everyone comes home with a shared vocabulary, a unified game plan, and the kind of alignment that takes months to build over Zoom.
You'll return as a sharper, more connected team - and capture 4–5x the insights you'd get sending one person alone.
Leadership & Growing Companies
Passes
Classic Pass
$1,250
$1,500 Retail
Increasing to $1,500 on August 1st
Classic Pass gets you full access to all of the sessions across the various downtown Columbia venues. Plus, you’ll have access to the all-new Classic lounge.
✔ Access to all programming & sessions
✔ Access to Main Stage Sessions
✔ Access to the all-new Classic Lounge
✘ Access to the Atrium
✘ Invites to Field Trips
✘ Priority access to sessions
All-In Pass
$5,500
$6,000 Retail
Increasing to $6,000 on August 1st
All-In Pass is All-Inclusive. It includes everything in Classic, plus access to the Atrium, Field Trip experiences, and exclusive invitations to on-site events.
✔ Full access to all programming
✔ Priority access to book sessions
✔ Full access to the Atrium (free meals, coffee, drinks, and other refreshments)
✔ Special invites to the all-new Field Trips
✔ Special invites to Curated Lunches
All-In Perk: The ATrium
All-In Pass holders receive access to The Atrium, a luxury experience open throughout the event.
You’ll have all-day access to a full espresso and coffee bar and a wide variety of craft snack options. Endless freshly-made food items prepared to grab and enjoy in the lounge or while on the move. An incredible refreshment station including a fun array of sparkling waters, craft sodas, kombuchas, and teas to keep your energy high.
Live music throughout the days will accompany small-group tastings, workshops, and in The Trenches Q&As with select speakers before or after they present.
The Atrium will offer versatile spaces built for conversation and connecting with fellow attendees and speakers. It’s an immersive space to converse, relax, meet, work, eat, play, and reconvene.
Connect with Speakers
Speaker Q&A in The Trenches
exclusive tastings & activites
food & Drinks
space to converse
build relationships
2026 Speakers
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Peter Mallouk
President & CEO of Creative Planning and the new majority owner of Major League Soccer team, Sporting KC
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Sassie Duggleby
Co-Founder & CEO of Venus Aerospace, building rocket engines that could fly you from San Francisco to Tokyo in under two hours
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Jim McKelvey
Co-founder of Square (Block) who built a payment system now serving 4 million merchants and processing $228 billion annually
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Kanyi Maqubela
Managing Partner at Kindred Ventures who backed Reddit, Upstart, and Coinbase before their IPOs
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Dupree Scovell
Third-generation CEO of Woodbine Development, the $7 billion real estate firm behind iconic hotels like The Driskill and Hotel Emma
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Shane Parrish
Former spy turned Wall Street influencer, whose million-subscriber Farnam Street newsletter and NYT bestseller teach decision-making to Fortune 500 CEOs
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John Linehan
President of Irresistible Foods Group, the portfolio company behind King's Hawaiian, Grillo's Pickles, and Killer Brownie—brands that grew from family recipes to $500M+ businesses under his leadership
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Todd Peterson
Former NFL kicker turned serial entrepreneur who co-founded a $160M Bible translation alliance and owns multiple small businesses
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Bryce Roberts
Founder & Managing Director of Indie.vc, champions "permissionless" founders who prioritize profitability over the VC treadmill
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Isaac French
Founder of Live Oak Lake & Experiential Hospitality; built a 7-cabin Texas micro-resort from scratch, sold it for $7M ($1M/key), now teaches the craft
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Nathan Barry
Founder & CEO of Kit (formerly ConvertKit); bootstrapped a $50M+ email platform for creators to millions in revenue with no venture capital
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Shegun Otulana
Founder & CEO of Harmony Venture Labs and Copysmith AI; built TheraNest/Therapy Brands and exited to KKR for $1.2B, now backing the next wave of founders
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Rina White
Partner at Twain Capital; bought, scaled and sold Laundry South Systems & Repair (Inc. 5000); former McKinsey consultant with a Harvard JD and Wharton degree
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John Coleman
Co-CEO & Managing Partner of Sovereign's Capital; author of five books including HBR's "Good Money," frequent HBR contributor, and ex-McKinsey & Invesco
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Jamie Shah
President of Chem-Impex, her family's research-chemicals company; Chicago Booth entrepreneurship professor and Polsky entrepreneur-in-residence; ex-Goldman
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Bill D'Alessandro
VP of Corporate Development at FoodScience, where he acquires and scales pet brands; 4x founder who built and sold 8 DTC/SaaS companies; Acquanon host
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Cris Burnam
CEO of StorageMart, the world's largest privately owned self-storage company; 35-year industry veteran who has closed over $9B in deals across the US, Canada & UK
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Jenni Catron
Founder & CEO of The 4Sight Group, a leadership and culture consultancy; USA Today bestselling author of "Culture Matters" and host of the LeadCulture podcast
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Justin Forman
Co-Founder & President of Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor, global movements equipping 1M+ leaders to build businesses with purpose
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Lindsay Mullenger
Founder & CEO of Petite Keep, the bootstrapped heirloom keepsake-trunk brand she scaled to $10M+; landed a Shark Tank deal with Cuban & Corcoran
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Nichole Wagner
Partner at East Rock Capital, the $3.5B+ multi-family office backing emerging fund managers and private deals; ex-Director of Investments, SF Capital
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Sal Churi
Founder & General Partner of Trust Ventures, the Austin VC firm backing startups in regulated markets—energy, housing, healthcare
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Dan Rasmussen
Founder & Managing Partner of Verdad Advisers, the $1.5B firm replicating private-equity returns in public markets; author of "The Humble Investor"
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Devin Mathews
Co-Founder & Partner of ParkerGale Capital, a Chicago PE firm buying bootstrapped B2B software companies from founders
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Nick Chow
Entrepreneur in Residence & Director of Research at Altos Ventures, building an AI playbook for the next generation of software companies
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Scott Barstow
Technology & Software Operating Partner at Pacific Lake Partners, helping search-fund-acquired software companies modernize and grow
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Stever Garber
Founder of the Washington Institute for Faith, Vocation & Culture; Senior Fellow at the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust; author of "Visions of Vocation"
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Steve Graves
Founder & Owner of Cornerstone, a top-tier executive coaching firm; CEO advisor and author of 20 books on strategy, leadership, and faith at work
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Jesse Bodine
Co-Founder & President of Scout & Nimble, a national online designer home-furnishings retailer; founder & principal designer of sister brand Bodine White
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Mac Lackey
Founder of ExitDNA and 6-time exit entrepreneur (KYCK→NBC Sports, Mountain Khakis→Remington); owner of Spanish soccer club Algeciras CF
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Tim Paulson
Co-CEO of ESS Companies (Emery Sapp & Sons), the Columbia, MO-based $1B+ heavy-civil construction firm that's been 100% employee-owned since 2010
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Cris Valerio
Founder of Main Street Operator, bringing enterprise operating rigor to $1–50M local service businesses; ex-product leader at Uber, Instacart & IDEO
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Patrick Montgomery
Founder & CEO of KC Cattle Company, the veteran-owned American Wagyu brand he built from scratch as a former Army Ranger; founder of Valor Provisions
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Will Acuff
Co-Founder of Corner to Corner, a Nashville nonprofit equipping underestimated entrepreneurs to launch businesses
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Aubrie Pagano
General Partner at Alpaca VC, backing founders reshaping the real world
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Vinny Pujji
Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Left Lane Capital, a $2.5B+ global VC backing high-growth consumer & internet tech
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Anu Hariharan
Founder & Managing Partner of Avra, a VC empowering growth-stage founders to scale
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Ram Parameswaran
Founder & CIO of Octahedron Capital, a concentrated crossover fund investing in the world's leading tech across public & private markets
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Sara Storck
Executive Director of Red Wagon Ventures, Chick-fil-A's corporate venture arm; 10+ yrs in Chick-fil-A brand strategy & innovation
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David Farmer
VP of Red Wagon Ventures, Chick-fil-A's incubation & investment arm (Daybright, Acrew); 30+ yr Chick-fil-A leader who built its innovation practice & menu
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Luke Burgis
Founder/director of the Cluny Institute; entrepreneur-in-residence & business professor at Catholic University; author of "Wanting" & "The One and the Ninety-Nine"
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Joe Magyer
Founder & Managing Partner of Seaplane Ventures (solo-GP VC backing subscription & network-effect startups); ex-CIO of Lakehouse Capital; host, Investing In Startups
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Jeremy Giffon
Founder of Octave; investor and dealmaker known for spotting special situations and mispriced assets in private markets
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Gabe Douek
Founder of Vantage Point Travel, a luxury agency turning loyalty points & miles into world-class trips; 25-yr digital-media exec & EY Entrepreneur of the Year
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Stafford Palmieri Sievert
Founder & Managing Principal of Fidens Strategy, guiding founders to scale and exit; GP at AEC-tech VC Foundations
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Dug Song
Founder & Funder at Song United; co-founder & chair of the Michigan Founders Fund and Song Foundation
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Cam Doody
Co-Founder & General Partner at Brickyard, the Chattanooga seed-stage VC firm & residency built for radical focus
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Elliot Parker
CEO of Alloy Partners (formerly High Alpha Innovation), co-creating advantaged startups with corporations; author of "The Illusion of Innovation."
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Shazor Kahn
Co-Founder of Scaylor, an AI-powered data unification platform for mid-market enterprises
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George Munguia
Co-Founder & CEO of Harmony AI, the AI operating system for American manufacturing
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Jonathan Gubbay
Co-Founder & CEO of Plaza, building vertical AI for multi-family residential & real estate PE firms
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Donna Harris
Founder & CEO of Builders + Backers, a VC firm investing in early-stage founders nationwide
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Rick Buhrman
Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Sator Grove Holdings, a permanent-capital investor backing top entrepreneurs
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Greg Dugard
Co-Founder & COO of Sator Grove Holdings, a permanent-capital investor backing top entrepreneurs
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Paul Buser
Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Sator Grove Holdings, a permanent-capital investor backing top entrepreneurs
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Paul Blaschko
Philosopher, educator & author; co-created Notre Dame's famed "God and the Good Life" course and co-wrote "The Good Life Method"
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Kristen Graham Brown
Founder & CEO of Hoot Design Company, a culture-driven branding agency building brands from the inside out
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Carl Edwards
NASCAR Hall of Famer (Class of 2025) and NASCAR on Prime Video analyst; 28-time Cup Series winner and 2007 Xfinity champion
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Brett Calhoun
Co-Founder & General Partner at Redbud VC, a top-decile pre-seed fund backing "outsider" founders across the heartland
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Sakib Jamal
Co-Founder & Managing Partner of a stealth early-stage investment firm; Forbes 30 Under 30 VC, author of "The Young VC's Handbook”
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Bryan Papé
Founder & CEO of MiiR, the Seattle-based B Corp drinkware brand and "product-to-project" social enterprise that has given over $5M to global causes
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Ash Marsh
Co-Founder & CEO of Marsh Collective, the Opelika, AL firm redeveloping downtowns through "redemptive" real estate, hospitality and community-building
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John Marsh
Co-Founder of Marsh Collective and host of the Redemptification Podcast; investor stewarding ~$2B of redemptive real estate across small-town America
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John Garrett
Founder & CEO of Community Impact, the hyperlocal newspaper he launched in 2005 that grew into Texas's largest local news organization
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Jordan Strebeck
Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Fortress Energy, the Midland, TX private-equity firm investing in Permian Basin minerals and royalties since 2017
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More Speakers Coming...
We're bringing in operators and builders who've done the work — not just talked about it. More speaker annoucements coming soon!
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Want to refer a speaker?
Do you know someone who would be a great addition to our speaker lineup? Nominate a speaker by filling out the form below.
Summit AGenda
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12:00 PM
Arrive, settle in, and begin exploring the heartbeat of Main Street Summit.Pass pick-up at The Depot (until 7:00 PM)
The Atrium open (until 7:00 PM)
The General Store open (until 7:00 PM)
12:30 PM
Gathering spaces come alive with curated activations, immersive brand moments, and unexpected discoveries woven throughout the day.Activations (All-In Only)
Culinary Experiences (All-In Only)
Field Trips (All-In Only)
6:00 PM
The community comes together for the official Main Street Summit kickoff — an energetic Welcome Gathering filled with music, connection, incredible food, and the unmistakable feeling that something special is about to happen. -
7:00 AM
Morning movement and wellness experiences offer attendees a chance to recharge before the day begins. After that, the coffee flows, breakfast is ready, conversations spark early, and the Summit hums with anticipation as attendees ease into the day.The Atrium open (until 7:30 PM)
The General Store open (until 7:30 PM)
The Depot open (until 7:30 PM)
Sponsored Breakfasts Available
9:30 AM
Main Street Summit programming officially begins with thought-provoking conversations, big ideas, and inspiring moments from the Main Stage at Missouri Theatre, designed to challenge and energize.11:30 AM
Continued conversation and connection over curated lunches happening at all the best eateries throughout downtown.1:00 PM
Attendees choose their own adventure as they explore a wide range of Summit Sessions, workshops, activations, and collaborative spaces tailored to every kind of owner, operator, and investor. Unexpected moments and spontaneous connections wait around every corner.4:00 PM
The Main Stage at Missouri Theatre returns with dynamic conversations, insights, and can't-miss Summit moments.5:30 PM
Curated happy hours and lively dinner experiences unfold across downtown, each offering its own atmosphere, flavor, and energy.6:30 PM
An evening dinner experience filled with immersive food stations, music, cocktails, and memorable surprises — reserved exclusively for All-In passholders.8:00 PM
For those not ready to call it a night, late-night experiences continue across the Summit, from games and storytelling to spirited debates, off-the-record conversations, and unforgettable hidden gems. -
7:00 AM
The final day begins with wellness experiences, casual gatherings, and opportunities to reconnect before the momentum of the day takes over. Attendees gather once more over coffee, breakfast, and conversation, setting the tone for a final day full of ideas and opportunity.The Atrium open (until 5:00 PM)
The General Store open (until 5:00 PM)
Sponsored Breakfasts Available
9:30 AM
Attendees dive back into Summit Sessions and workshops designed to spark collaboration long after the Summit ends.11:30 AM
Continued conversation and connection over curated lunches happening at all the best eateries throughout downtown.1:00 PM
Final Summit Sessions round out the afternoon.3:00 PM
Fresh perspectives, bold conversations, and closing insights take center stage at Missouri Theatre, bringing lasting lessons to all attendees.5:30 PM
The Summit winds down with celebratory happy hours and dinners, final conversations, and one last opportunity to connect before everyone heads home inspired, energized, and already looking forward to what comes next.
Partner with Us
We’re avoiding the traditional business expo feel and instead cultivating opportunities for authentic interactions between attendees and sponsors.
On Main Street, lasting relationships and community are built through real moments, conversations, meals, coffeehouse meet-ups, and Happy Hours. We want to work with you to craft a brand experience that targets your top priority.
Past Sponsors
Frequently Asked Questions
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Main Street Summit 2026 takes place September 15-17, 2026 in Columbia, Missouri. All sessions and events are held in downtown Columbia within walking distance of hotels and restaurants.
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Main Street Summit is designed for small business owners, operators, and investors across seven industry tracks. Whether you're running a $2M business or a $50M business, if you're building, buying, or investing in small businesses, this event is for you.
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Absolutely. Many attendees bring key team members to maximize learning and ensure everyone is aligned on new strategies and insights. Email team@mainstreetsummit.com to learn more about Team Pass Packages.
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Yes! We know that for many small business owners, your spouse is your biggest supporter. We offer a Spouse Pass for $750 that you can add-on during registration.
Your Spouse Guest gets access to the social events each evening at Main Street Summit:
Kickoff Dinner Event — Tuesday Night Street Festival
Wednesday Night Exclusive Dinner
Thursday All-In Finale Dinner at The Atrium
A few things to know:
This pass is designed for spouses only; we’re not able to extend it to business partners, colleagues, or friends.
Guest access is limited to evening social events. Daytime programming, sessions, and The Atrium are not included.
Passes are non-transferable and tied to the primary pass holder.
Available to All-In Passholders only.
If your spouse is actively involved in running the business and wants full access to sessions and content, we'd recommend a regular attendee pass instead.
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We recommend staying in downtown Columbia for easy access to all venues. Hotel details and special rates will be shared with registered attendees closer to the event.
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Email us at team@mainstreetsummit.com and we'll get back to you shortly!
Testimonials
