October 26-27, 2026 | Cary, NC
A summit centered around the people in the room, building solo businesses together.
Solo Together Summit is a two-day, in-person, interactive, workshop-driven summit for self-employed freelancers, solopreneurs, and creatives in the NC Triangle.
Build your solo business skills, build real connections, and build a bigger boat together.
Build Solo
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Build Connections
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Build Together
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Build Solo → Build Connections → Build Together →
Running a solo business requires a lot.
And most entrepreneurial events aren’t build for us.
You work for yourself.
You’re the CEO making all the decisions, the operator delivering all the goods, and the person figuring out the behind-the-scenes details so you can file your estimated taxes.
You know your craft. You just need guidance about all the things you need to know as a solo business owner.
You’re a soloist, not a startup or team.
You’re playing the long-game business plan to fund your life with meaningful work as a self-employed soloist.
It’s not a burnout fueled, investor-funded start-up looking to scale hard and exit quickly.
Nor are you looking to build a company full of employees, payroll, and the bureaucratic responsibilities required for that overhead.
You need connections.
You need supportive relationships and a vibrant network of clients, peers, and connections that spill outside the stack of business cards and LinkedIn connections you keep collecting and then do nothing with.
You've been exploring the entrepreneurial ecosystem of events and nothing quite fits your needs.
“I’m my own boss and a skilled, smart person. I have lots of ideas, tons of research, and strong google skills... [whispers] But how do I do this thing though? ”
About the Solo Together Summit
What if a summit was actually built for the way we work?
Solo Together Summit is two full days of interactive workshops, real connection, and practical skill-building for self-employed folks in the NC Triangle.
Lightening talks, not keynotes.
Interactive workshops, not panels.
Facilitated networking, not random chit-chat.
Maximum application and minimum viable slides.
I’m building this around the way solo operators actually learn: by trying things, watching demonstrations, asking questions of peers in the same boat, and leaving with something you can use on Wednesday.
This is a summit centered around the people in the room not the people on stage.
The purpose is simple: Build Solo. Build Connections. Build Together.
Because a rising tide raises all boats, and we'd rather build a bigger one together than paddle alone.
Let’s do this.
Build Solo
Sharpen the skills that you need to build your business. Become the CEO and your own best boss. Build Connections
Meet other solo operators through interactive workshops and curated experiences. Walk out with names, numbers, and next steps.Build Together
Find collaborators, referral partners, and peers to help each other grow with outside of the summit container. What You’ll Walk Away With
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Actionable Insights
Choose your own adventure across the 12-16 workshops, or follow a single track to deep dive into one theme.
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Skills You Can Use the Next Day
Every session is workshop-style, not lecture-style. You'll leave with templates, drafts, decisions, and tactics you actually applied in the room, not a notebook full of theory you'll never revisit.
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Real Connections
You'll meet other freelancers, creatives, and founders running businesses your size, in your region, with your kind of problems. The kind of people who become referral partners, collaborators, and the texts you send when something breaks.
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All the Things You Now Know You Need
Discover the skills, tools, and frameworks that aren't on your radar yet, because nobody told you they existed. Spot what's missing from your operation.
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Momentum on a Project That's Been Stuck
Bring the thing you've been putting off. Workshop it in a room of people who get it. Leave with a draft, a decision, or a plan you'll actually follow through on.
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A Rising Tide Raising All Boats
Self-employment doesn't have to be solo all the way down. Two days with peers in your ecosystem will give you the cross-pollination, encouragement, and abundance mindset that make a one-person business feel a lot less lonely.
What’s included?
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Super short talks to spark creativity and immediate conversation with the people sitting next to you.
Cultivating connections is a built-in activity, not crammed into the mass exodus after sitting in an hour long keynote.
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Hands-on workshops on the skills that move a solo business forward: biz basics, positioning, sales, systems, content, relationship building, money, mindset, and more.
This is not passively listening to a panel of people talk. You’ll work on your business in the room.
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Structured, facilitated conversations that go past the elevator pitch. You'll meet peers, potential collaborators, and the kind of people who become your referral network over time.
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A printed program, digital pop-up participant directory, digital resource hub, marketplace and bookstore, and more
Lunch, snacks, and beverages included both days.
Join the waitlist
Solo Together Summit
Show up to learn, grow, connect, and build a powerful solo business.
October 26-27, 2026 in Cary, NC
Early Bird $350 (June 15 - July 31)
General Admission $450
Limited Capacity
About the Organizer
Hi, I'm Rachel Thompson, Founder & CEO of Daring Studios and founder of the Solo Together Summit.
My vision for the Solo Together Summit is a gathering centered around the people in the room, not the people on the stage.
I want these two-days be interactive, actionable, and designed to help you have multiple meaningful conversations that shift those strangers into partners, clients, and biz friends.
I want to create the type of event I love to attend. The one where I'm so entirely engaged in the programming and getting so much value from the conversations that I absolutely am not available for that last minute client call.
I'm a Certified Professional Facilitator and I've spent 15+ years leading workshops, retreats, and gatherings for solo operators and creatives. Recently that includes the 3-day Ampersand Gathering in 2026, and as a part of the organizing team of the 2026 Raleigh-Durham Startup Week.
You’re invited to join me.
Let’s do this.
Best,
Rachel
Ways to Participate
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Sponsorship
Support the Solo Together Summit and contribute to the conversation.
Commit early for extended exposure, visibility and brand awareness.
Reach the independent business owners and founders making decisions in their businesses.
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Pitch a Workshop
Apply to teach a workshop, share expertise, or lead an activity in-person at the Summit.
Lightening Talks, not keynotes
Interactive workshops, not panels
Maximum application
And minimal viable slides.
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Marketplace
Build awareness of your organization, showcase your work, or sell your book.
Highly limited physical space. Included in sponsorships.
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Volunteer
Apply to volunteer onsite at the Summit and get a % off your ticket.
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Community Partner & Ambassadors
Help spread the word and get a % off your ticket.
Testimonials from similar events
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"I liked that the event leaned into the motto follow your energy. It provided the freedom to make decisions that felt right."
— Ampersand Gathering Participant
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"This ranks in my top three conferences ever. Having creatives in the room was a huge value add. An amazing gathering of minds, spirits, and energies. It felt like such a treat to be the receiver of an intentionally-curated space, given that so many of us do this for others professionally."
— Ampersand Gathering Participant
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“An anti-conference, expertly designed to be an event you actually WANT to go to”
— Ampersand Gathering Participant
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“I absolutely appreciated that the day was not packed with mini-workshop after mini-workshop. There was abundant time between segments to network, meet connect, chill out, process info etc. This allows the elements of networking and learning (time to process) to happen. Brilliant!”
— Ampersand Gathering Participant
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“The people and the community are incredible. You put an incredible amount of effort into the event, and it felt pretty flawless! I appreciated the uninterrupted time given to let connections and creativity emerge. I loved the 90-min workshop time.”
— Ampersand Gathering Participant
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“Everything was well organized and thoughtful. The timing was great, especially having consistent breaks!!“
— Ampersand Gathering Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Reach out.
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This summit is centered around the people in the room, not the people on the stage. Every session is interactive and built for solo operators. You'll work on your business in the room with peers in your region, not passively listen to a panel or keynote.
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General admission is $450. Join the waitlist to get access to early bird pricing of $350.
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Self-employed folks in the NC Triangle area (or those willing to travel here): freelancers, solopreneurs, small business owners, service-based businesses, content creators, creatives, artists, and founders running companies of one. Side-hustlers through established full-time operators are all welcome.
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You’ll be added to an email list and receive announcements, updates, and details about the Solo Together Summit as well as newsletters from Daring Studios.
There is no charge and no obligation to buy when registration opens.
You’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time and your email will not be sold or shared.
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No refunds. You will be able to transfer your ticket until October 12, 2026.