Jennifer Murphy Smith (right) led a panel discussion on “Life Without a Manual” at EntreFEST in Cedar Rapids on June 10, 2021. The annual conference for entrepreneurs is being held in Cedar Rapids this year June 13-14, with more than 40 speakers and 45 sessions scheduled. (NewBoCo)
After two years in Iowa City, EntreFEST will return to Cedar Rapids on June 13 and 14, marking its 16th year as an event celebrating entrepreneurship and innovation.
This annual event is hosted by The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo) and brings together professionals at all levels to share ideas and “own” success.
The three keynote speakers will be Charise Flynn of Hummingbirds, Andre Wright of Humanize my Hoodie, and Lua Brewing Co. co-founder Scott Selix.
Charisse Flynn “Hummingbird”
Flynn, COO of Hummingbirds and a prominent Iowa-based female founder, will deliver a keynote address titled, “$0 to $1M and Beyond: Tips and Tricks for Rapid Growth Success.”
Flynn, who has more than 20 years of experience scaling technology companies and raising venture capital, said he hopes his session will spur participants to action and accelerate their learning curve.
“I firmly believe that great companies can be built anywhere, but one of the things we can continue to do in the Midwest is accelerate the learning curve,” Flynn said.
Since joining Hummingbirds in 2021, Flynn has helped secure over $4.3 million in seed funding, expand to more than 15 cities across the country, and grow the company’s revenue tenfold in one year.
Flynn emphasizes the importance of focus to achieve high growth.
“In the early days of a startup, there’s a lot of things you can do and a lot of exciting things,” Flynn says. “We saw early signs of product-market fit and focused on that.
“It’s easy to be tempted to chase different opportunities, but we were rigorous in staying focused on ‘what’s working’ – what types of customers were paying for the products we built and where we provided the most value.”
Andre Wright
Andre Wright, Humanize My Hoodie
Co-founder of Humanize My Hoodie and founder of The Light House of Fashion, Wright is a designer, activist, community builder and world traveler who has dedicated his life to advocating for underrepresented people. His keynote address will be titled “Fashion Activism.”
Wright has developed and grown a global fashion movement by designing hoodies for rappers, Black liberation leaders and advocates and Black youth, and has created and presented fashion shows and workshops across the country, teaching thousands of people about the power of fashion to inspire, empower and spark conversation.
Wright was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2021, and in 2022 founded The Light House, an educational facility for creators.
Wright and Humanize My Foodie co-founder Jason Sohl delivered keynote speeches at The Gazette’s Iowa Ideas Conference in October 2019. Wright also received the Iowa City Regional Development Design Hour Future Sizzle Award in 2022 as a community champion for economic development.
Scott Sellicks
Scott Sellicks, Lure Brewing
Sellicks, a Des Moines native, is co-founder of Lua Brewing Co. and Climbing Kites.
His keynote address is titled “The Power of Why: How Purpose and People Drive Success.”
EntreFEST Information
Tickets for EntreFEST are $249 for both days, including lunch and snacks, and are on sale at EntreFEST.com. Special pricing is available for students and veterans. The event will feature more than 40 speakers and 45 sessions at eight locations throughout Cedar Rapids. Visit the website for more information.
Organizers say EntreFEST’s focus on learning and networking will be especially beneficial for Midwest entrepreneurs.
Flynn, who lives in Des Moines, draws an analogy from social learning theory, which says most human behavior is learned through observation.
“EntreFEST provides an opportunity for people to come together and learn from each other’s experiences,” she says. “If you’ve never seen someone ride a bike before, learning how to ride a bike yourself is much harder than if you’ve had the opportunity to observe others.”
For those attending EntreFEST for the first time, Flynn’s advice was to “be curious and vulnerable.”
“There are so many amazing speakers and panelists. Think about what you want to learn from each person and ask questions. It might be awkward, but sometimes the most insightful ‘aha!’ moments come from questions. Find opportunities to go beyond small talk and truly connect with people.”
Jessica Abdoney is the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for NewBoCo. Comments: jessica.abdoney@newbo.co
