Roadrunner Venture Studios Hosts Largest Deep Tech Event in the Southwest

Albuquerque, N.M.-30 September 2026-Roadrunner Venture Studios, the country's leading deep tech venture studio, today convenes more than 400 registered leaders in science, industry, government, and venture capital at the fourth annual Roadrunner Technology Forum. The gathering is a celebration of New Mexico's growing national importance as a hub for deep tech research and company creation.

"When we hosted the first RTF, New Mexico had only just declared itself as a nexus for deep tech company creation," said Adam Hammer, CEO and Co-Founder of Roadrunner Venture Studios. "Since then, New Mexico has flourished: the State Investment Council continued to back the best venture funds in the world, the Governor backed a quantum initiative of nearly half-a-billion dollars through the Technology and Innovation Office and other agencies, and new deep tech companies are cropping up every year. RTF26 is a celebration of that progress."

The fourth annual forum brings together founders, scientists, investors, corporate leaders, and public officials working across deep technology. The RTF agenda includes the following topics and speakers:

A View from the C-Suite: Corporate Leadership and Deep Tech

A discussion about deep tech featuring Pat Gelsinger (General Partner, Playground Global) with Miranda Nazzaro (Senior Technology Reporter, The Hill).

Future of Venture: Investing in the Deep Tech Cycle

Moderated by Kendra Perlitz (COO, Playground Global) a conversation with Brian Wilcove (Partner, America's Frontier Fund), Alex Harstrick (Partner, J2 Ventures) and Howard Koh (Partner, Morpheus).

National Lab, National Advantage: Partnering on Quantum

Moderated by Cristina Killingsworth (Co-Founder, Start, Grow, Remain) with Nate Gemelke (CTO, QuEra), and Noel Goddard (CEO, Qunnect).

Remarks by the New Mexico State Investment Council

Introduced by Jon Clark (New Mexico State Investment Officer), Chief Investment Officer Kristin Valeria will deliver remarks.

Working with the SIC: How New Mexico's Sovereign Wealth Front Operates

Eric Smith (Co-Founder, Start, Grow, Remain) will interview Chris Cassidy (Director of Private Equity and Venture Capital, New Mexico State Investment Council), Richard Pugmire (Partner, Mercer), and Erik Sebusch (Global Strategy Leader Venture Capital & Growth Equity, Mercer) about how the SIC makes investments, conducts diligence, and sees the future.

Since 2023, Roadrunner has partnered with founders, scientists, investors, and state leaders to turn scientific breakthroughs into commercial businesses. Founders working with Roadrunner now secure an average of nearly $1 million in non-dilutive funding during their tenure in the studio and are backed by leading deep tech investors. These efforts give entrepreneurs the platform they need to build companies in New Mexico and turn the state's research strengths into economic opportunity.

RTF26 takes place the day after Roadrunner and Economic Development New Mexico launched the Roadrunner Quantum Lab (RQL) Powered by the State of New Mexico. The RQL is a 35,000-square-foot quantum facility tailor built to the needs of quantum information science companies and researchers.

About Roadrunner Venture Studios

Roadrunner is the nation's first venture studio purpose-built for hard science company creation. The studio works with national labs, research institutions, and venture capital firms to turn research in advanced energy, robotics, precision manufacturing, and quantum into scalable, venture-backable companies. For more information, visit www.roadrunnerventurestudios.com (opens a new window).

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