MoneyFEST 2026: Connecting Gulf Coast Entrepreneurs with the Funding They Need to Grow

Mobile, AL — Innovation Portal will host MoneyFEST 2026 on May 7, 2026, a free, full-day event in its fourth year designed to connect Gulf Coast entrepreneurs with diverse sources of capital. The event aims to bridge the gap between founders and funding by bringing together lenders, investors and grant experts across bank lending, angel investment, grants, pitch competitions and bootstrapping strategies. Presenting sponsors Merchants & Marine Bank and Voyager Lending have made the event free to the community.

"Access to capital remains one of the biggest obstacles for entrepreneurs in our region," said Todd Greer, Executive Director of Innovation Portal. "MoneyFEST creates a space where business owners can not only learn about funding options, but actually connect with the people and organizations who can help turn their business ideas into reality."

Event details and speakers

Organizers say the program will feature speakers with experience on both sides of the funding table. Gia Wiggins, a Mobile entrepreneur and Innovation Portal board member who recently closed a $2 million seed round with participation from Halogen Ventures, Innovate Alabama and Techstars, will share firsthand lessons about raising capital as a Gulf Coast founder. She will be joined by JD Jernigan, a multi-time founder who now leads gBETA Gulf Coast — a collaboration between Innovation Portal and gener8tor — and Mary Wallace Hannon of Regions Foundation. Regions Foundation has awarded more than 400 grants totaling over $36 million to organizations across the region since 2018.

Participants can expect expert-led sessions grouped into three specialized tracks — Lending, Investment, and Social Impact & Nonprofit — along with practical breakout workshops and structured networking. Innovation Portal describes Capital Conversations as one-on-one time with actual lenders and investors, intended to give entrepreneurs candid, actionable feedback in a no-pressure setting.

Program highlights

• Three specialized tracks: Lending, Investment, and Social Impact & Nonprofit
• Breakout sessions on business credit, financial preparation, pitch strategy and grant writing
• Real-world funding stories from Gulf Coast entrepreneurs
• Capital Conversations — structured one-on-one meetings with lenders and investors
• Networking opportunities and a closing happy hour

Innovation Portal describes itself as a nonprofit incubator and innovation hub that accelerates startup growth across southwest Alabama and the central Gulf Coast, offering workspace and a community for entrepreneurs, innovators and creatives. Additional speakers for MoneyFEST 2026 will be announced at innovationport.al/moneyfest.

Outlook

By packaging practical workshops, peer stories and direct access to capital providers into a single day, MoneyFEST aims to reduce informational and logistical barriers that founders face when seeking funding. Organizers encourage entrepreneurs to reserve a spot in advance at innovationport.al/moneyfest. For inquiries, contact Nick Hampton, Program Director, at programs@innovation-portal.com or 251-202-7165.