AED Backs 2025 Accelerate Investor Conference

October 30, 2025 | By Business Investment Group

Arlington’s startup scene is getting another major boost this fall. Arlington Economic Development (AED) is sponsoring the 2025 Accelerate Investor Conference, coming to George Mason University’s Arlington campus Nov. 5–6, bringing together investors, founders and innovators from across the Mid-Atlantic for two days of connections, capital and conversation.

Hosted by Mason Enterprise at George Mason University, Accelerate is all about bridging the gap between startups ready to scale and investors looking for the next big thing. Expect a mix of company pitches, industry panels, networking sessions and awards — all focused on helping founders move from the late Seed stage to Series A funding.

“The Accelerate Investor Conference came about as the result of input from the tech community, investors, and entrepreneurs, acknowledging a market gap – the need for capital at the late Seed to Series A funding stage and opportunities for the tech community to convene,” said Paula Sorrell, Associate Vice President of Innovation & Economic Development at Mason Enterprise.

Entrepreneurs Welcome

This year, Accelerate is opening part of its program to the wider entrepreneur community. A limited number of complimentary tickets are being offered to founders and startup supporters to attend a Venture Capital Fireside Chat, Silicon Valley Investment Panel and networking reception on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

What’s Happening at Accelerate

Throughout the conference, attendees will hear from investors, university innovation leaders and founders who’ve successfully scaled their businesses. The agenda includes sessions on dual use technologies and the new era of the venture capital industry, among many others, company pitches and networking meetups designed to connect startups directly with venture capitalists.

The event wraps up with a gala dinner and awards celebration, sponsored by AED, recognizing standout startups and student teams from across the region.

Building Arlington’s Innovation Hub

For AED, the sponsorship is part of a larger effort to strengthen Arlington’s innovation ecosystem — connecting entrepreneurs with the resources, investors and partners they need to thrive.

“The energy around events like Accelerate shows just how much momentum Arlington’s startup community has,” said Michael Stiefvater, Arlington Economic Development’s Director of Business Investment. “We recently saw an Arlington startup get the final investment check to close their round at an Accelerate event, which tells us these events are bringing together the right people to fuel results.”

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