Top entrepreneurs gather to discuss what it takes to be an exceptional innovator in the tech industry. Each executive shares their insight on how to run a tech company, excel, and scale a startup business. Get the latest update on the recent technological happenings and join the entrepreneurs for some of their most valuable tips.
Emcee: Wailin Wong
1:00pm-1:40pm
Growing Pains: Making the Jump from Startup to Established
Speakers: Dick Burke, Kevin Steele, Roger Liew, Mike Cruz, John Higginson, Marisa Mann
· What does “start-up” mean to you? What are some defining characteristics?
· What does it look like when you’ve grown?
· What are the steps or milestones that you see as defining business maturity?
· How do you maintain your entrepreneurial spirit as you transition into a more established company?
· What was one of the biggest challenges you have faced in going through the transition?
· What are some of the benefits of working for a startup versus a more established company?
Growing Pains: Making the Jump from Startup to Established
Speakers: Dick Burke, Kevin Steele, Roger Liew, Mike Cruz, John Higginson, Marisa Mann
· What does “start-up” mean to you? What are some defining characteristics?
· What does it look like when you’ve grown?
· What are the steps or milestones that you see as defining business maturity?
· How do you maintain your entrepreneurial spirit as you transition into a more established company?
· What was one of the biggest challenges you have faced in going through the transition?
· What are some of the benefits of working for a startup versus a more established company?
1:40pm-2:00pm
Six Critical Tech Trends for the Year Ahead
Speaker: Howard Tullman, CEO, 1871
A rapid fire review of the six major trends at the intersection of social media and technology which are radically changing the ground rules and the ways in which every business will reach and engage its customer from now on.
Six Critical Tech Trends for the Year Ahead
Speaker: Howard Tullman, CEO, 1871
A rapid fire review of the six major trends at the intersection of social media and technology which are radically changing the ground rules and the ways in which every business will reach and engage its customer from now on.
2:00pm-2:25pm
Entrepreneurial Finance: Bootstrapping vs. Venture FundingModerator: Seth Kravitz, Co-founder and CEO, Technori; Panelists: Raaja Nemani, Co-Founder and CEO, BucketFeet; Dan Ushman, CMO and Co-founder, SingleHop; Desiree Vargas Wrigley, Founder, GiveForward
Should you bootstrap or raise VC: what’s right for your start up? Funding a new venture is a complex decision that must take into consideration the industry, the business and the make up of the entrepreneur. In this session, you’ll hear from entrepreneurs who’ve taken both routes. They’ll share considerations, lessons learned and details from their own experiences about what it takes to successfully leverage various funding sources to build companies into thriving success stories.
Entrepreneurial Finance: Bootstrapping vs. Venture FundingModerator: Seth Kravitz, Co-founder and CEO, Technori; Panelists: Raaja Nemani, Co-Founder and CEO, BucketFeet; Dan Ushman, CMO and Co-founder, SingleHop; Desiree Vargas Wrigley, Founder, GiveForward
Should you bootstrap or raise VC: what’s right for your start up? Funding a new venture is a complex decision that must take into consideration the industry, the business and the make up of the entrepreneur. In this session, you’ll hear from entrepreneurs who’ve taken both routes. They’ll share considerations, lessons learned and details from their own experiences about what it takes to successfully leverage various funding sources to build companies into thriving success stories.
2:25pm-3:05pm
Making Waves on the Third Coast and Beyond: Chicago’s Top Tech Entrepreneurs
Speakers: Shradha Agarwal, George Bousis, Justyn Howard, Shawn Riegsecker
Moderated by Howard Tullman
Making Waves on the Third Coast and Beyond: Chicago’s Top Tech Entrepreneurs
Speakers: Shradha Agarwal, George Bousis, Justyn Howard, Shawn Riegsecker
Moderated by Howard Tullman
3:05pm-3:40pm
Speakers: Jimmy Odom, Craig Ulliot
Fireside chat with Jimmy Odom (Founder and CEO, WeDeliver) and Craig Ulliot (Founder & CTO, Belly)
Speakers: Jimmy Odom, Craig Ulliot
Fireside chat with Jimmy Odom (Founder and CEO, WeDeliver) and Craig Ulliot (Founder & CTO, Belly)
3:40pm-4:00pm
Speaker: Rishi Shah
Speaker: Rishi Shah
