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How to Fund a Startup in 2026: Beyond Angel Investors and Venture Capital
Practical strategies for founders seeking capital, customers, and commercialization opportunities.
Chris Petrella, Founder of SC Forge, is a nationally recognized commercialization strategist focused on venture execution, non-dilutive capital formation, and economic development. His work has helped founders, researchers, and technology companies secure millions of dollars in capital, commercialize innovation, and build scalable enterprises.
Chris founded SC Forge to address a critical gap in the innovation ecosystem: the lack of structured venture execution infrastructure capable of transforming innovation into measurable economic outcomes.
Chris' presentation will cover:
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Why the traditional VC model only fits a small percentage of startups
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The “Funding Stack” approach (grants, SBIR/STTR, government contracts, strategic capital, revenue-based growth)
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How founders can leverage universities, federal programs, and commercialization resources
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Common mistakes that prevent startups from accessing funding
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How SC Forge helps companies move from innovation to commercialization
SC Forge helps founders commercialize technology, stack funding, and build investable companies without relying on traditional venture capital.
SC Forge is a nonprofit commercialization and capital formation platform serving founders, universities, agencies, and economic development partners through structured execution and measurable outcomes.
Presenter: Chris Petrella, Founder of SC Forge
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Time: 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM
Registration: Click here to register
