Columbus Founders Fair

Founders Fair is a summit series dedicated to connecting, inspiring, and mentoring student founders across the Midwest. Through single-day convenings hosted in cities throughout the region, Founders Fair brings serious student builders into direct contact with the operators, mentors, and institutions capable of accelerating their work.
For its second iteration, Founders Fair convenes in Columbus at The Loom, the Columbus Fashion Alliance's 43,000 square foot fashion innovation center located in a former Columbus College of Art & Design building adjacent to the college's campus. Developed as a hub for education, brand development, retail innovation, and community activation, The Loom offers a fitting environment for a day centered on creativity, entrepreneurship, and early-stage building.
The summit will convene more than 250 attendees, including 150 student founders and 100 mentors, operators, and investors, for a single day of structured programming designed to produce substantive connection.
**Programming includes:**
**Student-only networking sessions.** Dedicated time for founders to build relationships with peers across Midwest campuses, in a setting reserved exclusively for students.
**Interactive stations.** Hands-on activations positioned throughout the venue and running across the course of the day.
**The Hop.** Founders Fair's signature programming block, where we match student founders with mentors in a small group setting.
**Student demos.** Student founders present their ventures to an audience of mentors, investors, and peers.
**Fireside chat.** A candid conversation with an amazing Columbus-based operator. To be announced.
Food and beverage will be provided throughout the day.