fnSummit 2026 (October 21 - 23, 2026)

Some members will tell you they didn’t fully understand Founders Network until their first Summit. This is our 11th annual — three days each fall when members leave the daily grind for the hills of Sonoma and the one room where founders at their caliber talk straight, off the record, from the opening toast to the closing hike. Many come back year after year, and a lot of them go on to become Lifetime members. That is not a coincidence.

Summit is the shortcut to the value of FN. Membership is built on peer mentorship and the lifelong relationships you form with founders like you — and nothing delivers that faster than three immersive days together. The people you meet here are the same ones you’ll trade notes with in the forums and see at virtual events all year; Summit is what makes those relationships real. If you want to realize the full value of your membership, make Summit a tradition — treat it as a fixed point on your calendar, a priority you protect every year, not a someday.

Relationships, not business cards. The founder you debate strategy with over dinner becomes the person you call at 11pm six months later. Members describe fnSummit as “the start of deeper relationships, friendships, and partnerships.”

Candor you can’t buy. Real fireside chats with founders who’ve been through it, keynotes from serial entrepreneurs on what actually worked, and panels and office hours where the hard questions — fundraising, hiring, the co-founder conversation you’re avoiding — get answered honestly, because everyone signed up for the same trust.

Investors as people, not gatekeepers — built for real conversation, not a 30-second pitch.

Room to actually think. Morning meditation and a closing hike, wine and spirit tastings, the opening champagne sabrage. Sonoma was chosen on purpose — the setting is what lets the guard come down.

“The most worthwhile business event I’ve ever been to.” — Carla Riggi, Founder
“The connections and learning more than paid for itself. Everyone felt genuine.” — Joe Deobald, Founder

On the time and the cost, do the math — it’s less than you think, both ways.

Time: one full day, one evening, one full day, and one morning. You’re away from your family, your startup, and your inbox for barely two working days — and you spend them with members you already work alongside the rest of the year.

Cost: the bulk of your ticket is Room & Board, passed to the venue at cost — two nights at the Flamingo Resort & Spa, every meal, and every drink. A hosted wine-country weekend that would run about $2,000 on its own. The conference itself — production, speakers, three days of programming — is a $1,499 value that guests pay in full. As a member you pay a fraction of that: it’s bundled free with the Lead plan and discounted on Scale.

Who it’s for. Summit is designed for Lead and Scale members getting the most out of their membership, and it’s open to everyone. Wherever you are, if you’re ready to invest a few days in the relationships that outlast any single round, this is where it happens.

The agenda. Three days, built to move — here’s how it runs.

Day 1 · Wednesday, Oct 21
3:00 PM — Arrival & Check-In
5:00 PM — Opening Sabrage Ceremony
6:00 PM — Hosted Bar
7:00 PM — Dinner
8:00 PM — Fireside Chat

Day 2 · Thursday, Oct 22
7:00 AM — Morning Meditation
8:00 AM — Breakfast
9:00 AM — Keynote
11:00 AM — Workshop
12:30 PM — Lunch
1:30 PM — Office Hours
3:00 PM — Team Building
5:00 PM — Wine & Spirit Tasting
6:00 PM — Dinner
8:00 PM — Fireside Chat

Day 3 · Friday, Oct 23
7:00 AM — Morning Meditation
8:00 AM — Breakfast
9:00 AM — Keynote
11:00 AM — Closing Remarks
11:30 AM — Closing Hike

Confidentiality. Everything shared at Founders Network stays off the record. We’re built on trust, and the community protects it — investors, members, and staff speak openly because they know it stays in the room. Members model our values: Reciprocity, Humility, Authenticity, and Inclusivity.