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Schedule

(Subject to Change)
Early Check-In
  • 4:00 - 5:00 pm
  • MERGE

Early Check-In

Early check in from 4:00-5:00 at MERGE, then join us on the second floor of Reunion Brewery for the IVCA Pitch Event and the EF Welcome party!

IVCA Pitch Event and EF Welcome Party
  • 5:00 - 8:00 pm
  • Reunion Brewery (2nd Floor)

IVCA Pitch Event and EF Welcome Party

The Iowa Venture Capital Association will host a pitch event spotlighting five of Iowa’s most promising startups. Selected founders will present their companies to a room of active investors, offering a first look at high-growth opportunities emerging from Iowa’s innovation ecosystem. The session is designed to connect founders raising capital with venture investors looking to deploy investment into scalable, Iowa-based companies. Open to all Attendees.

Opening Remarks and Kick-Off Keynote
  • 8:15 am - 9:15 am
  • Scott Henderson
  • The Englert Theatre

Opening Remarks and Kick-Off Keynote

9:45 - 10:30 am
Breakout Sessions
  • The Englert Theatre

Panel: Breaking Into Big Retail: From Pitch to Purchase Order

Jane Merten, All Out Advisors; Liz Garcia, Storage Theory; Brett Spiker, HyVee; moderated by DaLayne Williamson

  • The Englert Lounge (2nd Floor)

The Innovation Engine: Driving Iowa's Economic Future.

Audra Fisher, Iowa SBDC; Kymberly Stevenson, IEDA; Anna Lensing, IEDA; Adrienne Greenwald, VentureNet Iowa LLC; Kaylee Williams, InnoVenture Iowa

  • Hilton Garden Inn

Rooted for Growth: Why Rural Iowa is the State’s Greatest Strategic Advantage

Hanna Nuss

  • FilmScene

It's Not Your Marketing - It's Your Message

Jacob Fitzner

11:00 - 11:45 am
Breakout Sessions
  • The Englert Theatre

Ask the VMS Experts Panel : Leveraging Mentorship

Iowa and Iowa State Mentors Jeralyn Westercamp and Hannah Kirkendall

  • The Englert Lounge (2nd Floor)

Patents and Trademarks

Marilyn Nash and Ryan Carter

  • Hilton Garden Inn

Why The Way You Lead Yourself Shapes Everything you Build

Kate Moreland

  • FilmScene

Iowa Filmmakers Panel

Andrew Sherburne, Film Scene; Doug Alberhasky, Death of a Brewer Producer; Scott Raper, Last PIcture House; EJ Philby Burton, Produce Iowa

11:45 - 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 - 1:45 pm
Breakout Sessions
  • The Englert Theatre

Embracing Failure and Growth Through Juggling

Tom Hicks

  • The Englert Lounge (2nd Floor)

Pivoting for Impact: How Neurodiverse Leaders Drive Innovation

Riana LeJeune

  • Hilton Garden Inn

Panel: Design and Prototyping for the Entrepreneur

Jeff Kueter, Mike Sneller, Todd Woolston, Brad Dunlap, Courtney Smith Session followed by optional tour (requires signup in app)

  • FilmScene

Stories from the Front: Serial Entrepreneurship

Scott Raper, The Last Picture House

  • Iowa City Public Library (Room D)

Social Selling in the AI Era

Chris Cozzolino and Conor Paulsen, co-founders of Uptown Creation

2:15 - 3:00 pm
Breakout Sessions
  • The Englert Theatre

From Darkness to Brightn: A Father's Story

Jeffrey Johnston

  • The Englert Lounge (2nd Floor)

Workshop: Comfort Zone to Creative Zone: A Project HORIZON Experience

Dean Houdeshell

  • Hilton Garden Inn

Venture Capital Session

Eric Englemann

  • FlimScene

Entrepreneur 101 Workshop - Finding the Sources for Startups

John Albert, SCORE; Paul Heath, Iowa SBDC; Anastasia Williams, Startup Siouxland

Panel: Sports Entreprenuership
  • 3:30 - 4:30 pm
  • The Englert Theatre

Panel: Sports Entreprenuership

Jaecee Hall, Kenyon Murray, Carson Lane, Mark Ironside

JPEC Happy Hour
  • 5:00 - 6:00 pm
  • 3rd Floor of Plaza Towers

JPEC Happy Hour

Open to all attendees

Venture School Launch Day Pitch Competition
  • 6:00 - 7:30 pm
  • 3rd Floor of Plaza Towers

Venture School Launch Day Pitch Competition

Open to all attendees

After Party
  • 7:30 - 10:00 pm
  • Scout

After Party

Open to all attendees

Friday Morning Keynote
  • 8:45 am - 10:15 am
  • Billie Asmus
  • The Englert Theatre

Friday Morning Keynote

10:45 - 11:30 am
Breakout Sessions
  • The Englert Theatre

Session Title Coming Soon

Rosie Daniel, Lulit' Hair Essence

  • The Englert Lounge (2nd Floor)

Session Title Coming Soon

Sarah Hermanson

  • ICPL

From Fuzzy to Feasible: Practical Tools for Clarity and Collaboration

Matt Arnold

  • FilmScene

Remember the Room - How to Remember Everyone You Meet at an Event

Bob Miller

11:30 - 12:45 PM
Lunch
12:45 - 1:30pm
Breakout Sessions
  • The Englert Theatre

Session Title Coming Soon

Stephanie Grutz

  • The Englert Lounge (2nd Floor)

Panel: Rural Iowa Businesses Finding Their Niche for Destination Visits

Agri-Tourism Panel

  • ICPL

Power of Capital Workshop

Rafael Colon, JPMorganChase

  • FilmScene

Midlife Clarity — Navigating Change as a Teen Senior in the Workplace

A. Alanda Gregory

2:00 - 2:45
Breakout Sessions
  • The Englert Theatre

Panel: Dream City - Black in Business

  • ICPL

Workshop - Building the Trust

Dan Riedel, The Trust Edge

  • FilmScene

Panel: Idea to Impact: How Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Alumni Are Growing Their Businesses

ENTREFest Pitch Competition presented by Hy-Vee & Closing Party
  • 3:45 - 6:00 pm
  • 3rd Floor of Plaza Towers

ENTREFest Pitch Competition presented by Hy-Vee & Closing Party

Iowa Based Startups pitch their innovations for their share of $15,000 in seed funding.