LAS VEGAS — This year’s Agent Summit will include the inaugural Startup Symposium, a new, half-day event presented in partnership with Automotive Ventures. Scheduled to kick off the morning of Tuesday, April 14, at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, organizers said the event was designed specifically for agents.

F&I industry veteran and Automotive Ventures Operating Partner Brian Reed said Startup Symposium will help Agent Summit attendees get up to speed on new and upcoming AI-driven, dealer-facing solutions.

“The agent is the most influential person at the dealership — more than vendors, lenders or OEMs,” Reed said. “AI is altering the F&I ecosystem, and agents are in a unique position to help their dealers understand how AI will change everything from financing and product sales to training and compliance.”

General Partner Steve Greenfield noted that Automotive Ventures, an early-stage technology and mobility venture capital fund, counts numerous agents and dealers among its investors.

“We love agents both as limited partners and, more broadly, for all they do to drive the spirit of innovation that defines our industry,” Greenfield said. “Our goal is to equip agents who want to lead the charge with the tools they need to do it.”

Startup Symposium will kick off with a 7:30 a.m. breakfast, followed by a keynote address and educational sessions divided by a mid-morning break. The event will conclude in time for lunch, which starts at 12:10 p.m. in the Agent Summit exhibit hall.

“We are so pleased to add this event to the Agent Summit agenda, and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner than Automotive Ventures,” said David Gesualdo, Agent Summit show chair and president of Bobit’s Dealer Group. “All registered attendees are welcome to join us, and we can’t wait to see you there.”

To learn more or register for Agent Summit, visit the event’s website.