Premier Event · InnovateLocal
Explore what’s next for local business.
InnovateLocal brings local business leaders together for a day of new ideas, emerging opportunities, and connection with others navigating the same changes – next up 2027 in Richmond, VA.
Join us for InnovateLocal.
Each year, we bring local business leaders together to explore new ideas, emerging opportunities, and what they mean for the year ahead.
Open to members and the public – members register at a discounted rate. Full details and both registration paths are on the event page.
What InnovateLocal is
InnovateLocal is InUnison’s annual Premier Event – a day for local business leaders to explore new ideas, changing business practices, and emerging opportunities, while connecting with others navigating the same changes. It’s larger than a typical InUnison event, held in person, and built around a different focus each year.
Why it matters
See what’s changing
Get a clear-eyed look at the ideas, tools, and trends shaping local business right now.
Learn from other local leaders
Hear directly from other business owners and experts – not textbook theory.
Leave with something practical
Walk away with real inspiration and ideas you can put to work in your own business.
The event
InnovateLocal happens once a year in the Richmond region – in person, about a half day, with roughly 80 local business leaders in the room. Each edition centers on a different focus chosen for what matters most to local businesses at that moment; recent years have explored innovation, growth, and culture. Programming may include speakers, expert conversations, demonstrations, workshops, or panels, depending on the year.
Explore InnovateLocal
A few ways to keep the ideas going, any time of year.
Video Library
Watch recordings of past sessions and expert conversations, when they’re available.
Open the Video Library →Learning Lab
Read related articles and practical guidance any time.
Visit the Learning Lab →Workshops
Go deeper on a topic with a focused, member-included session during the year.
Browse workshops →Common questions
Owners and professionals at local independent businesses of any kind who want to explore emerging ideas, find new approaches to business challenges, and connect with other forward-thinking local leaders. You don’t need to be a member to attend.
No. InnovateLocal is a Premier Event, open to both members and the public. Members register at a discounted rate at every membership tier; everyone else registers at the public rate.
Pricing is set per event and varies by year. Members always pay a discounted rate compared to the public price. The current price and registration link are on the event page for the next InnovateLocal.
No. Premier Events are ticketed separately and do not count against your included Standard Events. On Core, that means attending InnovateLocal doesn’t use up any of your 4 included Standard Events for the year.
InnovateLocal is an in-person event held once a year in the Greater Richmond area. The next one is 2027. Check the event page for the current date, venue, and schedule.