EntreFest! (Iowa) | Entrepreneur Conference For Iowa Business

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — New businesses create nearly all net new jobs, develop new ideas and offer valuable services across the state, and they employ more than half of Iowa’s private labor force. Inspiring those business owners to grow and develop their business, and providing the tools to do so, is the impetus behind the sixth annual EntreFest! conference, taking place Thursday and Friday, March 7th and 8th, in Cedar Rapids. EntreFest! brings entrepreneurial information, expertise and inspiration under one roof, providing Iowa entrepreneurs, an opportunity to learn, share and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit.

The two-day conference will be held at the Hotel at Kirkwood, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The registration fee for the two day conference is $119 per person. A student discount is available.  Please call Sarah Bey for more information at 319-273-4324.

The conference organizers are proud to announce that this year’s conference will add three new educational tracks focused on helping 1) innovators in startup companies, 2) inside of large corporations, and 3) economic developers working to grow more entrepreneurs in their communities. This year’s sessions are geared to help attendees successfully start, grow and manage their businesses.

The EntreFest! organizing committee is excited to welcome three iconic Iowa entrepreneurs who will share their entrepreneurial stories with attendees, including:

Mike Draper, Founder & CEO, RAYGUN
Mike Draper started selling snarky t-shirts on street corners in college and now RAYGUN generates more than $3M in annual sales through their iconic tongue-in-cheek Iowa apparel.

Christian Renaud, Co-Founder, Startup City Des Moines
A serial entrepreneur, Christian mentors dozens of Iowa tech startups and has been nationally recognized for helping to put Iowa on the national entrepreneurial map.

Mary Quass, CEO & President, NRG Media
Mary Quass purchased her first radio station with bank loans and now Cedar Rapids-based NRG Media is the 7th largest radio network in the US with 45 stations.

In addition to stories from iconic Iowa entrepreneurs, attendees will also take part in 30+ learning sessions on a wide arrange of topics including building a brand, social media, raising capital, how to manage life outside of one’s business and how to build companies through the latest innovation strategies including Lean Startup Methodology and Business Model Generation. There will be an abundance of networking opportunities, a number of pitch competitions and hands-on workshops and the Biz Info Smorgasbord will provide attendees a chance to ask questions of business experts in a fun, informal setting.

For more information about EntreFest!, including a full schedule and registration details, visit http://www.entrefest.com or contact Andy Stoll at (319) 855-0895.

EntreFest! 2013 is presented by a collaborative committee of Iowa’s premier service providers from across the state, and is sponsored UNI Regional Business Center, Iowa Area Development Group, Black Hills Energy, MidAmerican, Iowa Farm Bureau, Delta Dental, Iowa Bankers Association, Alliant Energy, SBDC, TSB, University of Iowa, UNI Business & Community Services, Kirkwood Community College, Technology Association of Iowa (TAI), Entrepreneurial Development Center (EDC) and The UNI Iowa Waste Reduction Center.”