Capital Catalysts - Pathways to Funding Growth

Access to capital has always been the fuel of innovation. But who receives it, and how they access it, is shifting in ways that are opening doors for founders and markets that traditional venture capital largely ignored. This panel from the 2025 Big Dipper Innovation Summit brings together investors and capital ecosystem builders to examine what is driving that shift. The conversation explores how investment theses are evolving in a more cautious funding environment, what alternative pathways beyond traditional venture capital are actually gaining traction, and how diversity within the investor community is surfacing opportunities that have long gone overlooked. It also addresses what entrepreneurs need to understand about what investors are prioritizing today and how to build a compelling case in a market that demands more than a great idea. For founders navigating the funding landscape or investors rethinking how and where capital should flow, this session delivers candid perspective from practitioners who are actively reshaping the playbook. FEATURED GUESTS: Jeff Beck (Moderator), CEO and Co-founder, AnswersNow | Soo Kim, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Standard General | Calvin Butts Jr., General Partner, East Chop Capital | Aurelia Flores, Director, Virginia Invests