EntreFEST, an annual entrepreneurship and innovation conference, has announced that Charise Flynn, COO of The Hummingbirds, and Scott Selix, co-founder of Climbing Kites and Lua Brewing Company, will be the keynote speakers for the annual event in Cedar Rapids June 13-14, 2024.
After two successful years in Iowa City, EntreFEST returns to Cedar Rapids, bringing together professionals from all levels.
Charise Flynn brings over two decades of experience scaling tech companies, building and leading large distributed teams, and raising venture capital from top-tier investors. Ms. Flynn has also been actively involved in the Midwest startup scene, advising, sitting on boards, and investing in a handful of startups over the last decade.
In 2021, she joined The Hummingbirds as COO and co-founder, hitting the ground running with her co-founder, Emily Steele. Together, they closed just over $4.3 million in seed funding, scaled Hummingbirds to over 15 cities nationally, grew revenue ten-fold in one year, and built a fully distributed team.
In her session, titled “From $0 to $1 Million and Beyond: Tips and Tricks for High-Growth Success,” Ms. Flynn will provide invaluable insights to accelerate early growth in startups.
Scott Selix, a proud graduate of the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business and College of Law, has made significant contributions to Iowa’s business landscape. After starting his career at a large law firm in Minneapolis, Mr. Felix returned to Iowa to become general counsel and lead brewer at Big Grove in Iowa City.
In 2019, he and his wife opened Lua Brewing in Des Moines, now ranked as one of the 50 best breweries in the world.
Mr. Selix is currently the CEO of HYFR Hospitality, overseeing multiple successful ventures including Climbing Kites, one of the beverage industry’s fastest-growing brands.
“We are thrilled to have Charise and Scott join us this year,” said NewBoCo executive director Jill Wilkins in a release.”EntreFEST is a time to celebrate Iowa’s entrepreneurial community and being able to highlight two exciting growing businesses is a true testament to Iowa being a great place to start and run a business. Charise and Scott bring years of experience and I am excited for them to share their knowledge with our EntreFEST attendees.”
To purchase tickets and for more information about EntreFEST, go to entrefest.com/.
EntreFEST, Iowa’s largest entrepreneurial conference, will return June 13-14, 2024 in various locations throughout the NewBo District. The two-day event is expected to bring more than 1,000 attendees, including business owners, startup founders, corporate innovators, students, and innovation ecosystem builders. The event is produced by the New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo).
EntreFEST is sponsored by Renew Rural Iowa, University of Iowa JPEC, Big Grove, IEDA, Biconnect, The City of Cedar Rapids, Neymaster Goode, GreenState Credit Union, Brownwinick, Delta Dental, Cedar Rapids Tourism, HY-VEE, The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, and The Gazette.
