Napa – October 13, 2026 -- Summit Napa has opened with a program spanning AI, deal-making and brain health, staged by an invitation-only community that reports more than $2.3 billion in capital raised, over 300 Series A through C rounds and over 150 co-founder pairings.
Summit, now part of Events.com, built the event around gathering professionals from business, media, technology, sports and the arts for "conversations that matter," CEO Chris Stakich said. Stakich, formerly chief experience officer at YPO, said the agenda targets people building, scaling and exiting businesses.
AI sessions run through the business track
Brandon Powell, founder and CEO of HatchWorks AI, leads a hands-on session in which attendees build a working AI agent on their own laptops. Geoff Woods leads "The AI-Driven Leader."
Marketing sessions address how machines read brands. Jon Zacharias, co-founder and president of GR0, presents "The GEO Playbook: Winning in the Age of AI." Robert Stephens, founder of Geek Squad, speaks on building a brand machines cannot copy.
Doug R. Harrison, author of "The Rise Framework," closes the conference on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 10:30 a.m. PT. His hands-on hour covers aligning the identity presented to people with the one AI engines find and cite.
Deal structuring and exit strategy anchor the capital track
Denise Lambertson, managing general partner at Constellation Capital, covers structuring celebrity partnerships. Ryan Lewendon of Giannuzzi Lewendon LLP addresses equity, investors and exit strategy. Justin Gold and Peter Burns discuss the story of JUSTIN'S in a session moderated by Jody Levy, Summit's founder and former CEO.
Angela Mwanza, managing director and private advisor at Rockefeller Global Family Office, examines the unconscious beliefs behind financial decisions.
Performance psychology opens the program, and music science closes it
Dr. Michael Gervais, a performance psychologist who worked with the Seattle Seahawks and with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on leadership culture, opened with "The Psychology of High Performance."
The final day features a live taping of the Get Real podcast. Host Jim Weiss of Real Chemistry speaks with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and neuroscientist Dr. Adam Gazzaley on how rhythm and music affect memory, emotion and recovery.
Other sessions include Apple product manager Neal Mueller on decisions under pressure at 28,000 feet and Alli Schaper, co-founder and CEO of SUPERMUSH, on mushrooms and mental performance. Yoga, strength training, an evening cacao ceremony, DJ sets, live bands and a stand-up set run alongside the business sessions.
Summit's 2008-founded community extends into membership and three more experiences
Summit was founded in 2008 and joined Events.com in August 2025. Its community counts more than 70 marriages alongside its funding and co-founder results.
Summit Membership offers over 100 gatherings a year in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Austin, New York and San Diego, plus curated introductions and priority registration.
Three experiences are scheduled next: Summit Sarara in Kenya, Oct. 13-20, 2026; Summit Basecamp in Lake Tahoe, Feb. 4-7, 2027; and Summit at Sea, April 29-May 2, 2027, departing Miami aboard Virgin Voyages. Summit at Sea was first chartered in 2011 for about 1,000 entrepreneurs. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2027 experiences are open.