2025 CI Summit: Capital Readiness Inside + Out

2025 CI Summit: Capital Readiness Inside + Out

Felicia DeSmith

ConnectUP!

Board Member

12:00pm CDT

REGISTRATION & CHECK-IN Rondo Dining Room

1:00pm CDT

BLESSING & OPENING REMARKS Auditorium A/BElaine

1:20pm CDT

KEYNOTE: Get Ready, Stay Ready: How to ConnectUP! Auditorium A/BChristine Metzo • Cindy Willard • Elaine

2:00pm CDT

Network is Net Worth: Make and Grow Connections Summit-UniversityMarcus Styles

3:30pm CDT

Securing the Bag: Your Guide to Investor Research & Preparation Auditorium A/BAngel Even

4:45pm CDT

CLOSING REMARKS Auditorium A/B

5:00pm CDT

ConnectUP! Community Celebration & Reception Auditorium A/B

8:00am CDT

BREAKFAST Rondo Dining Room REGISTRATION & CHECK-IN Rondo Dining Room

8:30am CDT

WELCOME Auditorium A/B

8:45am CDT

KEYNOTE: The Toxicity of Hustle Culture Auditorium A/BLa Juana Whitmore • Elaine

9:20am CDT

Improving Capital Flows Empowering Community-Led ESOs to Drive Impact Auditorium A/BRob Cimperman • Deldelp Medina • Benjamin J. Vann • Allie Burns

10:50am CDT

Equity Under Fire: Navigating DEI Backlash in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Auditorium CJennifer Tuder • Kaohly Her • Ashley Oolman

12:00pm CDT

LUNCH Rondo Dining Room

12:20pm CDT

KEYNOTE: Kitchens, Commerce, and Scaling: Commonwealth Kitchen A Case Study in Scaling Food Businesses Auditorium A/BJen Faigel • Elaine

1:00pm CDT

Exploring Entrepreneurship through Acquisition Auditorium A/BLeah Goldsmith-Moses • Havell Rodrigues • Channon Lemon

2:45pm CDT

Partnering for Growth: Collaboration and Innovation in Co-Manufacturing and Co-Packing FrogtownBryant Williams • Elaine • Jen Faigel • Brian McDonald

4:10pm CDT

Innovations in Sustainability: The Impact of ConnectUP! Institute Auditorium A/BElaine • MoonShine Stylist

4:45pm CDT

CLOSING REMARKS Auditorium A/B

8:30am CDT

BREAKFAST Rondo Dining Room

9:00am CDT

OPENING REMARKS Auditorium A/BElaine

9:15am CDT

KEYNOTE: Capitalization Journeys: Lived Experiences in Securing Funding Auditorium A/BMoonShine Stylist • Sabrina D. Jones • Meredith Englund • Charles Lovejoy

10:00am CDT

Guided Networking Session: Invite Only Auditorium CElaine Glow Up: Knowing Your Numbers Auditorium A/BLonnia Jefferson

11:30am CDT

LUNCH Rondo Dining Room

12:30pm CDT

Cultivating Joy Auditorium CNakara Forjé White

1:45pm CDT

CLOSING REMARKS + APPRECIATION CEREMONY Auditorium A/B