Seven companies will be selected to take the main stage on Monday, September 14 and demo their AI products live to the largest gathering of wealth management decision-makers in the world.
Future Proof, the events company behind Future Proof Festival – the most important annual event for RIAs – announced today that applications are open for the AI Demo Drop at Future Proof Festival 2026. The Festival attracts the largest gathering of senior-level RIA decision-makers and represents more AUM than any other event in the industry.
Seven companies will be selected. Each will get seven minutes to demo live in front of an audience of 5,000+ financial advisors, RIA executives and operators, asset managers, venture and private equity investors, and media. Every demo will be professionally recorded and shared across the RIA ecosystem. Selected companies will also receive a complimentary Festival pass and five hosted Breakthru Meetings with high-value RIA and enterprise decision-makers.
Companies must submit an application to be considered. Applications close Friday, June 19, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET. Finalists will be announced in early July.
“Five years in, I’ve watched a lot of products try to sell themselves to wealth managers and RIAs. The ones that win don’t talk about themselves – they show you what they do, and you get it in about a minute. AI has widened the gap between real products and demos-of-the-future more than any shift I’ve seen. The AI Demo Drop exists to surface the difference. Seven products. Seven minutes each. Live, in front of thousands of the people who make buying decisions for their firms. The companies that earn this stage leave with real momentum, customers, and a story that travels.” – Matt Middleton, Founder & CEO of Future Proof
Any company building AI tools for the wealth management industry is invited to apply. There is no cost to apply or to demo if selected. A panel of industry experts will evaluate applications based on creativity, originality, and the ability to create real impact for the RIA industry.
“The pace of AI adoption in wealth management over the past two years has been unlike anything I’ve seen. We’re past the phase of asking whether AI matters – the question now is which tools are actually built for advisors and which ones aren’t. The Demo Drop at Future Proof is the best showcase I know of for cutting through the noise. It’s a chance to see real products in action, decide for yourself what’s worth a closer look, and walk away with ideas you can actually use.” – Michael Batnick, Managing Partner at Ritholtz Wealth Management
Future Proof Festival 2026 will take place September 14-17, 2026 in Huntington Beach, CA. To learn more or register, visit futureproofhq.com/festival.
