Yale Ventures is pleased to announce the launch of the Civic Track at the Yale Innovation Summit on May 28 and 29, 2025, designed to bring together builders, innovators, advocates, and community members working to strengthen communities, improve governments and address unmet societal needs.

Programming for the Civic Track is being led by Caroline Tanbee Smith, ’14, MBA ’25; Alder, Ward 9, New Haven. The Civic Track will explore critical issues such as housing, workforce development, deep tech, and inclusive economic growth, with engaging panels, a Pitch Competition open to the Yale and Connecticut community, and a Funder Reverse Pitch Competition.

“I believe innovation plays a crucial role in addressing some of the biggest civic challenges of our time,” said Smith. “ The Civic Track will be a space for collaboration — bringing together leaders from government, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and community to share insights and build solutions for a more engaged, equitable future.”

Programming will feature a Deep Tech panel led by Connecticut Innovations, a Housing panel moderated by Professor Kate Cooney (Yale SOM), and a Workforce Development panel led by Professor Judy Chevalier (Yale SOM). Additionally, Daniel Geballe, ‘06, YSE ‘07, Managing Director at SJF Ventures, will host the Funder Reverse Pitch Competition, where investors share insights on funding civic innovation and public impact ventures.

The new Civic Track will also host a Civic Pitch Competition, co-hosted by Smith and entrepreneur Miles Lasater ’01, inviting Connecticut-based and Yale innovators to submit ideas addressing the theme: How do we build more civically engaged cities? Connecticut-based and Yale innovators are welcome to apply with their ventures, civic ideas, and other public innovations to enhance civic engagement in cities.

The full agenda for the Yale Innovation Summit, the Northeast’s premier innovation and entrepreneurship event, will be released in April. 

About the Yale Innovation Summit

The Yale Innovation Summit, taking place on May 28-29, 2025, is the Northeast's premier event for innovation and entrepreneurship. Held on Yale University's campus, the Summit brings together visionaries, investors, founders, and industry leaders for two days of discovery, connection, and opportunity. Featuring six programming tracks—arts, biotech, civic, climate, health, and technology—the event showcases panels, keynotes, pitch competitions.