Tough Tech Summit 2026

Tuesday October 27, Boston

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For the builders turning bold science and engineering into enduring companies, and the funders helping bring them to scale.

  • About the Summit

    Join Tough Tech founders, funders, and ecosystem leaders for a day of founder pitches, timely conversations, and high-value connection. Discover the companies and technologies shaping what’s next, and meet the people helping move breakthrough science and engineering from lab to lasting impact.

    A cornerstone of Tough Tech Week (October 26–30, 2026), the Summit brings together the builders and backers advancing Tough Tech across climate, health, advanced systems, and beyond.

  • The Details

    Tuesday, October 27, 2026
    8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
    Hotel Commonwealth
    500 Commonwealth Ave

Boston, MA 02215

    The Tough Tech Summit is by-invitation only.


Co-hosted by The Engine and the Tough Tech Summit Host Committee: Breakthrough Energy, DCVC, Engine Ventures, RA Capital, and SOSV, whose insight and leadership helped shape this year’s agenda, nominate the companies pitching, and strengthen the Tough Tech investor community.

2025 Tough tech summit at the glance

VCs and Investors
160+
Startups
250+
Investor-Hosted Roundtables
21
Startup Pitches
28
Read: Seven Trends That Defined the 2025 Tough Tech Summit

2026 Pitch Tracks

40 fundraising-ready companies will take the stage across four pitch tracks this year, 12 more than in 2025. Twelve more first looks at the science and engineering moving from the lab toward market, and a wider view of where Tough Tech is heading.

Featured Speakers

Agenda

9:00 AM | Opening Remarks

9:15 AM | Opening Fireside Chat: The Physical AI Frontier: Where Digital Intelligence Meets Hardware

9:45 AM | Panel: IPOs in Tough Tech: Paths to Public

  • Lucy Brash, Managing Director & Head of Energy, Power & Renewables Equity Capital Markets, J.P. Morgan
  • David Ulrey, CFO, Fervo Energy
  • John Rudy, Member / Co-chair, Securities & Capital Markets Practice, Mintz (Moderator)

10:45 AM | Founder Pitches

  • Track 1A: AI Infrastructure & Next-Gen Computing
  • Track 1B: Climate Tech, Decarbonization & Clean Energy

12:20 PM | Founder-Funder Networking

1:00 PM | Lunch

2:00 PM | Founder Pitch Tracks

  • Track 2A: Future of Health & Biotech
  • Track 2B: Sustainable Manufacturing & Frontier Infrastructure

3:40 PM | Dual Use Panel: Building for Civilian and Military Purposes

4:20 PM | Fireside Chat: Engineering Our Brains: Neurotechnology & Neuro-inspired AI

5:00 PM | Closing Remarks & Reception

tough tech summit 2026

thank you to our sponsors

    Join More: Tough Tech Week 2026

    Tough Tech Summit is the flagship event of Tough Tech Week, a week-long convening of the investors, founders, and leaders advancing breakthrough science and engineering. Hosted by The Engine and more than 50 partners across Greater Boston and beyond, the week creates opportunities to meet emerging companies, explore technologies across critical sectors, and engage with the networks helping move Tough Tech from lab to market.

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    By requesting an invitation or registering for this event, you consent to having your contact information shared with event organizers, attendees, and sponsors, acknowledge that photography and videography may be taken during the event and used in future promotional materials, and agree to follow The Engine’s event guidelines and privacy policy.

    Submission of a Tough Tech Summit registration request does not guarantee attendance. All requests are subject to review and approval by The Engine.