Get Ready for the 2026 Innovation Summit!

The Innovation Summit is Alaska’s premier innovation event, bringing together a powerful mix of entrepreneurs, business and industry experts, policymakers, researchers, and influential change agents from around Alaska and beyond to focus on the collective goal of Building Alaska’s Capacity to Innovate. Experience popular components of this national award-winning event including the Alaska Airlines Pitch Contest, Alaska Innovators Hall of Fame Ceremony, Innovation Tours, Deep Dives, Innovation Shorts, and much more!

2026 Theme:

Forces at Work: Alaska's Push-Pull Paradox

This uniquely immersive experience will examine how shifting demographics, an aging population, entrepreneurship, and quality of life considerations all combine to create both the challenges and opportunities that define Alaska’s future. 

Features this year will include: 

• Keynote addresses on the data and human stories behind migration, demographic change, and the push-pull factors that shape where people choose to live and work from Dr. Thomas Cooke, a nationally leading researcher on domestic migration and Melody Warnick, author of This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are.

• Additional speakers: Alaska Writer Laureate Ernestine Hayes, Molly Pyle from the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), State of Alaska Demographer David Howell, Legislative Fiscal Analyst Alexei Painter, and others will share related insights and expertise.  

• The Innovation Lounge, sponsored by Hansen Gress, will allow you to test current developments in generative AI with a rare opportunity for in-depth comparison. 

• The Alaska Airlines Pitch Contest will feature several Alaskan startups pitching to an expert panel of judges as well as Innovation Summit attendees. The winner takes home bragging rights, a crowdfunded cash prize, and a plane ticket for anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. 

• Innovation Shorts, 10-minute presentations, akin to TED Talks, will offer attendees a glimpse into the new ideas and innovations taking shape on the horizon.

Plus, engage with business and community leaders and experts in various fields being impacted by changing demographics, including eldercare (workforce, quality of life, caregiving, new products/services), housing (built environments, inventory, modifications, universal design), demographics (migration, cohort dynamics), finance (wealth transition, exit strategies), entrepreneurship, and more!

Be part of the conversations shaping Alaska’s next chapter at the Innovation Summit!

PROMOTE your business!

EXCHANGE ideas!

BUILD relationships!

JEDC sincerely appreciates our sponsors for their dedication and contributions to the Innovation Summit! Your funding plays an integral role in igniting discovery and making new connections among our attendees.

Check out our helpful 2026 Sponsorship Toolkit to explore impactful benefits that will enhance your company's exposure throughout the event.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Hear from aspiring Alaskan entrepreneurs!

Co-hosted with the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, the Alaska Airlines Pitch Contest brings together aspiring entrepreneurs who will pitch their business venture to a panel of experts, as well as the ultimate panel – Innovation Summit attendees! Pitch contestants will have 5-6 minutes to pitch their business plan in front of attendees who will crowdfund a cash prize for the winner to take home at the end of the session.

Pitch Contestants* will have access to materials and resources on how to make a pitch as well as have the opportunity to practice and be coached by a seasoned entrepreneur.

Application Deadline EXTENDED: 

Apply ASAP!

Engage around original ideas and forward-thinking topics!

JEDC is seeking thirty (30) presenters to showcase their original ideas through 10-minute “Innovation Shorts” presentations at the 2026 Innovation Summit. Innovation Shorts offer conference attendees a glimpse into a host of topics that surround the larger conference theme. Each short is just enough time to pique the attention of the audience. Presenters gain experience speaking publicly on their chosen topic while growing their network and creating buzz.

Application deadline: 
February 16

We proudly present the 2025 edition of the Juneau & Southeast Alaska Economic Indicators and Outlook report to our community. The report is an annual publication exploring trends in employment and earnings, demographics, education, construction, business and industry, and much more.

Through this and all of our other research, we hope to increase awareness and engage citizens in local and regional economic issues.

As part of the rollout of this year’s report, JEDC is pleased to give presentations to business and community groups on the state of Juneau's economy. If you would like to schedule a presentation, send Brian an email at bholst@jedc.org or Amy at arautiainen@jedc.org.

JEDC Platinum Investors

Following the October 7, 2025 Regular Municipal Election, significant reductions in sales tax revenue due to the passage of Proposition 2 are expected to necessitate service-level cuts to the city’s annual budget. These cuts may translate to service reductions to the community. With the Fiscal Year 2027 budget process gearing up, the City & Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Assembly seeks to understand community funding priorities and values to inform their decision-making both this year, and into the future. 

CBJ’s goal is to involve as many community voices as possible over the next three months, including those that you represent. This effort will include an online survey, in-person workshops, and Assembly listening sessions exploring how CBJ revenue will be impacted by these propositions and what CBJ services are most important to the community; where residents are willing to make tradeoffs and what is critical to their quality of life in Juneau. 

CBJ is committed to ensuring that this survey accurately represents the diverse perspectives across all of Juneau's communities, and that the voices of all constituents are meaningfully incorporated throughout this process. You can also share your thoughts at boroughassembly@juneau.gov any time.  

JEDC Gold Investors

Current Promotion:

Among other deals, our "Get $10 After Spending $100" promotion is currently running for Mar y Sol, Coppa, Seong's Sushi, Imagination Station, and Forno Rosso. Rewards accumulate in the app and can be spent at any local businesses that accepts TLF dollars.

Local Change:

Remember to round up in the app for a non-profit of your choice! New options include the Downtown Business Association, Juneau Animal Rescue, and Cancer Connection. 

*Sponsorship Opportunity*

This closed-loop spending initiative keeps dollars circulating among Juneau businesses. If you share JEDC's commitment to local reinvestment, economic resilience, and the long-term health of the businesses that anchor our community, let us know for more info.

JEDC Silver Investors

JEDC Bronze Investors

PHOTO: Competition at last year's FTC State Championships

at University of Alaska-Anchorage

Focused on developing talent to support Alaska's future workforce, JEDC is proud to be a leading provider of high-quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programming throughout our great state. This includes the internationally recognized FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) program, which engages thousands of Alaskan youths in exciting mentor-based programs that foster teamwork and critical thinking skills, inspire innovation, and build well-rounded, informed individuals. As the official FIRST® Program Delivery Partner for Alaska, JEDC organizes 20+ energy-filled youth robotics events annually for all age levels: FIRST® LEGO League (FLL) Explore (grades K-4), FLL Challenge (grades 4-8), and FIRST® Tech Challenge (grades 7-12).

Call for FIRST® State Championship Sponsors

The FLL and FTC State Championships are the culmination of months of hard work for teams across the state. Teams will compete with the goal of representing Alaska at the World Championships in April in Houston, TX. These exciting events are essential for growing experience and skills through the FIRST® in Alaska program.

Each event will be a pivotal day for young participants, and we need local business and community support to make them happen! Your sponsorship will not only provide your company with increased reach and recognition; it will also have a direct positive impact on Alaskan youth.

By pledging* $1,000, your company will recognized as a “Lead Sponsor” for the State Championship of your choice (or $2,000 for both) and receive the following benefits:

• Your company listed in the official event program (“Presented by…”)
• Your company logo on FIRST® in Alaska website and Facebook page
• Your company logo in tournament software
• Shout-out during opening/closing ceremonies and throughout the day
• Sponsor signage at event

*We welcome and appreciate any amount of support! Packaging is customizable. We look forward to connecting with you about an option that best fits your company's goals!

Invest in Juneau in 2026!

The JEDC Investor Program is specifically designed to engage businesses and organizations who support economic development in Juneau. By becoming a JEDC Investor, you will directly contribute to programs and initiatives that foster a healthy and sustainable economy: help make Juneau a great (capital) city; strengthen key regional industries; promote entrepreneurship and small business; develop next generation talent; and, deliver core economic development services.

Your investment will provide vital, flexible funding enabling us to act where the need is greatest: conducting timely and relevant research, responding to emergency situations, convening partners to address housing and workforce challenges, supporting small business startup and expansion through our lending and investment programs, and much more!

With our comprehensive and consistent marketing, your business or organization will be recognized on the JEDC website and all presentations, publications, newsletters, and collateral materials. Investment levels* range from $700 to $10,000+ with increasing benefits. Additionally, your sponsorship of specific JEDC programs and events, such as FIRST® in Alaska, the Innovation Summit or the Juneau Maritime Festival, will increase your overall Investor recognition level.

*All packaging is customizable, and we look forward to connecting with you to discuss your company's goals, so you get the most return on your investment!

JEDC Investors

JEDC Affiliate Investors

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