The 2026 edition of EntreFEST will be held in Iowa City, organizers announced Wednesday, Sept. 24 at an event hosted jointly by 1 Million Cups’ Cedar Rapids and Iowa City chapters at the Cedar Ridge Distillery near Swisher.
““EntreFEST is about uniting entrepreneurs and communities across Iowa,” said Jan Finlayson, lead organizer for 1MC Cedar Rapids. “It’s fitting to make this announcement together with our Iowa City colleagues at Cedar Ridge, a landmark celebrating 20 years of its own entrepreneurial journey.”
Alex Taylor, director of entrepreneurship at the New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCO), told attendees that the 2026 edition of EntreFEST will be held June 11-12 at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City. Other schedule details were not immediately available.
Discounts are also available to those who register early for the event by visiting entrefest.com and joining the event’s email list, Mr. Taylor said.
Mr. Taylor also announced that Andy Stoll will be delivering one of the keynote addresses at EntreFEST 2026. Mr. Stoll, who has worked with NewBoCo since its inception in 2014, currently serves as the founding executive director of the ESHIP Alliance, described as “a newly forming network collectively designed to advance entrepreneurship ecosystem building as a valued practice, a trusted profession, and as a model for economic health and community well-being in the United States.”
Mr. Stoll has co-founded seven entrepreneurial-focused organizations and most recently served as a senior program officer in entrepreneurship at the Kauffman Foundation, a Kansas City-based philanthropic organization founded by Ewing Marion Kauffman in 1966 with a mission to provide access to opportunities for people to achieve economic prosperity, with a focus on entrepreneurship, education, and fostering stronger communities.
The 1 Million Cups joint event also featured a presentation from Cedar Ridge president and general manager Jamie Siefken highlighting the company’s 20-year history, as well as remarks from 1 Million Cups Midwest regional representative Ben McDougal and a founder pitch from Maddox Liechty, a Cedar Rapids native who founded Majonty Cattle Company at the age of 10 in 2019 and has since expanded his Media, Illinois-based operation into Wagyu beef products and raw dog food production.
1 Million Cups (1MC) is a free, weekly program that educates, engages, and connects entrepreneurs with their community through founder presentations and audience Q&A. The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City chapters are supported by local organizers and partners committed to helping startups start and grow.
EntreFEST is Iowa’s statewide conference for entrepreneurs, innovators, and small business leaders, bringing together founders, investors, builders, and community partners for learning, connection, and celebration.
