The 2023 Yale Innovation Summit was the northeast’s biggest gathering of entrepreneurs, investors and creators, held from May 31 – June 1, 2023 welcoming over 2,100 innovators to Yale’s campus. Five tracks across the arts, biotech, climate, health and tech formed the core programming for two days of inspiring conversations, pitch contests, workshops, performances, keynotes, and awards.

“Connecticut is the original American startup state with Eli Whitney inventing the cotton gin. For those of you that are here in Connecticut, stay. Those of you who are visiting, you don’t know what you’re missing,” said Governor Ned Lamont, ’80 SOM in his opening remarks.

Joining Governor Lamont in attendance was New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker ’10 SOM/FES, Yale President Peter Salovey, ’86 PhD and several Yale Deans including Jeffrey Brock (Dean, Yale School of Engineering and Applied Sciences), Nancy Brown (Dean, Yale School of Medicine), Kerwin K. Charles (Dean, Yale School of Management), Tamar Gendler (Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences), Megan Ranney (Incoming Dean, Yale School of Public Health), and Julie Zimmerman (Yale School of the Environment, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs). The ninth annual event was hosted at the Yale School of Management. 
 

“We are thrilled that the Yale Innovation Summit has been so widely embraced by innovators looking to inspire and be inspired. Over 2,100 entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and Yale students and faculty convened to make new connections that will result in future investments, new mentors, and potential partnerships,” said Josh Geballe, managing director for Yale Ventures, the host of the annual Yale Innovation Summit. “This year’s expanded programming reflects the growing and vibrant of community of innovation across Yale, here in New Haven, and in the Northeast.”

Over 30 panels and keynotes discussed industry trends, challenges, and opportunities facing entrepreneurs today, including the creative economy, health equity, sustainable innovation, and the impacts of artificial intelligence. The event’s keynote featured former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers in conversation with Yale SOM Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, joined by AI investor Sarah Fay and technology founder Tarek Sherif YC ’84 discussing cross-sector perspectives on the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence.

A special feature of this year’s summit was the addition of live performances curated by Midnight Oil Collective for the Arts track, including a live arts showcase featuring Yale students and faculty to a stunning pre-Broadway workshop of Shimmer staged at Schwarzman Center.

About Yale Ventures

Launched by Yale University in 2022, Yale Ventures seeks to foster and accelerate a vibrant entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem that increases support, resources, and opportunities for Yale innovators—faculty and students—as they translate their ideas and discoveries into new ventures that will positively impact the world's greatest challenges.