VIA Summit FAQ

Why is VIA being canceled?

As partners and champions of higher education institutions, we recognize the current climate: marked by funding constraints, resource challenges, and an increased demand on institutional capacity. Over the past few months, we’ve listened closely to our community and seen firsthand how these challenges affect event attendance and participation across the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

While we remain deeply committed to empowering institutions to lead the future of innovation, we must also be responsive to the moment. We believe this is a time to prioritize alignment with our partners’ immediate needs, including direct support, flexibility, and new models of engagement that match today’s climate.

VIA Summit Information

Will the conference be rescheduled?

We will not be rescheduling the VIA 2025 conference at this time. We do look forward to sharing some of our planned content with the VentureWell community soon, so please stay tuned for ways to participate and network! Sign up to stay in the loop.

What should I do about my registration? Do I need to cancel my registration?

You will receive a VIA 2025 conference registration cancellation email within 24 hours. This cancellation email will be sent to the email address you registered with; please check your spam folder if you do not receive the notification. No action is needed on your part to cancel your VIA registration.

Will I receive a refund for my registration fee? When will my refund be processed? Will I receive a full refund for my ticket?

Any payments you’ve submitted will be refunded. Most refunds will be issued to your original form of payment within 5-7 business days. If your payment was made before February 1, 2025, a member of our Finance team will contact you directly to process the refund.

What should I do about my hotel reservation? Will I receive a full refund for my hotel room?

If you have reserved a hotel room through our room block at the InterContinental Hotel New Orleans, the hotel will cancel your reservation for you. You will receive a hotel cancellation email by the end of the day on Thursday, April 17, 2025. If you don’t see the email, please check your spam folder.

If you reserved a hotel room outside of our room block and/or at another hotel, you will need to cancel your reservation.

I am an Ecosystem Futures Fellow scheduled to attend the pre-conference session at Dillard University June 9-10. Is that event still happening? Do I need to register again?

Yes, the On Campus Immersive Experience (OCIE) is still happening. As an Ecosystem Futures Fellow, there is no need to register again—we already have your information on file through the VIA 2025 registration form.

I am an Ecosystem Futures Fellow attending the pre-conference session at Dillard University. Will I need to rebook my hotel reservation under a new room block?

Yes. As an Ecosystem Futures Fellow attending the OCIE at Dillard University, you must rebook your hotel reservation under a new room block.

If you previously booked a hotel room using the VIA 2025 room block at the InterContinental Hotel New Orleans, that reservation has been canceled. If you made a reservation outside of our room block or at a different hotel, you are responsible for canceling it directly.

Details about the new room block will be shared with you in the coming weeks.

I was scheduled to speak or present. What happens now?

We are deeply grateful for your planned participation. Our team will follow up with you directly regarding future opportunities to present, including potential virtual sessions or inclusion in future events.

Will any content or sessions be available online?

We are exploring ways to share select content virtually. Stay tuned for updates via email and on our website.

I was a sponsor/exhibitor. What are my next steps?

Our team will contact you directly with options, including refunding sponsorship fees or discussing visibility opportunities in future programming. If you have immediate questions, please contact via@venturewell.org.

Who do I contact with questions?

Please reach out to us at via@venturewell.org with any questions, and we will respond promptly.