If you’re a founder, a small business owner, or simply someone curious about what AI can actually do for your work, this weekend’s Founders’ Innovation Summit & Tour (FIST) is worth clearing your schedule for.
- Now in its third year, FIST returns to Pensacola on April 17–18, under the theme Advancing Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Mobility. Organized by the Kukua Institute and the Black Innovation Leaders of Florida, the summit brings together entrepreneurs, investors, educators and nonprofit leaders for two days of real, practical conversation about building businesses in an AI-driven world, and it’s completely free to attend.
Day One: Community and Connection
The weekend opens Friday evening at the Kukua Institute, 300 N. Reus St., with a reception from 5 to 8 p,m. Expect founder product demos, meet-and-greets with public officials and ecosystem leaders, and remarks from city and county figures on local economic development and the role of Black-led innovation in community transformation. It’s less a pitch competition, more genuine relationship-building.
Day Two: The “Founder OS” Boot Camp
Saturday is where things get serious. The action moves to DeVilliers Square, 321 N. DeVilliers St., starting at 8 a.m. for a full day of hands-on sessions built around one idea: moving from motivation to execution.
- The lineup is strong. A keynote panel called Are You Coachable? features former world-class athletes Jermaine Anugwom, Fred Robbins, Randy Watson, and Ash Miller tackling resilience and the founder mindset. Rose Lejiste leads a practical session on getting your business AI-ready. Dr. Valencia Belle shares her case study on scaling a test prep company globally as a non-technical founder using AI. There’s also a hands-on workshop with Servola Frazier on building your own AI agent, a funding panel featuring investor Wanda Eugene, and a closing session on using AI responsibly—without falling into the traps that sink a lot of early-stage founders.
Why This Matters for Pensacola
FIST isn’t a generic tech conference. It’s specifically designed for early-stage and non-technical founders who need tools, not theory. With partners like Clark Partington, the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce, and Renasant Bank behind it, the summit reflects a growing local ecosystem that’s serious about closing the opportunity gap in entrepreneurship.
Registration is required but free at innovation.kukuainstitute.org.