Breakouts &
Lunch & Learn Sessions
IP Armor: Tips for Safeguarding Your Brand
This panel will equip you with the knowledge to reinforce your brand's defenses and maintain its integrity against infringement. This session will delve into robust brand and intellectual property protection strategies, offering practical tools and techniques to secure your brand's identity in the marketplace. Our experts will guide you through effective methods to prevent counterfeit products from flooding the market, shut down improper listings, and leverage all the resources available through the USPTO and the Executive Office of the President (The White House)
Kim Meckwood
Founder
Click & Carry
Kim Meckwood is the owner and inventor of Click & Carry, a unique bag handle/carrying apparatus. She hails from a background of medical device and pharmaceutical sales and worked for Medtronic, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Schwarz Pharma and Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals. Kim decided to make a major change after a life altering experience when diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and again in 2021. The journey through cancer gave her the faith and determination to quit her stable job and attempt to bring her product to market. She has been on Shark Tank (Season 12; Episode 8), GMA, The Today Show, Today with Hoda & Jenna, Food Fortunes, The Bethenny Frankel Show and she appeared thirteen times as a guest on QVC in segments such as “In the Kitchen with David” and “Down Home with David”.
Summer Kostelnik
Policy Advisor Executive Office of the President
Summer Kostelnik serves as a Policy Advisor in the Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) in the Executive Office of the President, where she advises senior officials on matters related to all areas of intellectual property and coordinates within the United States government on the development of intellectual property policy and strategy domestically and abroad. Prior to joining IPEC, Summer was a Patent Attorney in the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In that role, she advised the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO on domestic and international patent issues. Earlier in her career, Summer worked as a Patent Examiner in the field of medical devices.
Vu Nguyen
Attorney-Advisor Enforcement USPTO
Vu Nguyen serves as an Attorney-Advisor for Enforcement in the Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA) at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where he focuses on both domestic and international intellectual property enforcement issues. Since joining the USPTO in 2012, Vu has played a pivotal role, initially serving as a Patent Examiner with a specialization in computer graphics processing technologies. Later, he advanced to become a Primary Patent Examiner, responsible for overseeing patent applications in cutting-edge areas such as computer graphics, augmented reality, virtual reality, the metaverse, and artificial intelligence. Vu assumed the role of Attorney-Advisor on the OPIA's Enforcement Team during a detail from 2018 to 2019, before rejoining as a permanent team member in 2022. Additionally, he completed a detail at the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), where he assisted The Honorable Jameson Lee in formulating decisions on patentability issues in trial proceedings.
Gregory Drubin
Patent Prosecution
Polsinelli
As a former practicing electrical engineer, he understands technology. Just as important, he understands the business objectives of startups, investors, and companies that view intellectual property as a core business driver, and he can tailor a strategy and budget to fit those objectives. Greg’s practice involves the full spectrum of patent matters. At its core, however, is patent portfolio management — preparing, filing, and prosecuting strategic patents, both in the United States and internationally
Always on: Mindful Strategies to Thrive in Entrepreneurship
Step into a session where entrepreneurship meets well-being. "Always On" unpacks how the pillars of health, priorities, network and organization can fortify your mental resilience amidst the entrepreneurial hustle. We'll explore actionable strategies to weave these elements into your daily routine, ensuring you stay energized and focused. Discover the art of building a robust support network that serves as your backbone during uncertain times, and gain insights into managing financial pressures with ease and confidence. This session is designed to transform your approach to personal and professional challenges, making healthful habits and strong community ties your secret weapons for sustained success.
Angie Kupper
Hugsleep
Angie Kupper, MS, LPC is a mental health therapist who specializes in treating Anxiety Disorders for children and adolescents. After losing her mother to suicide as a teenager, Angie turned her pain into passion for helping others who are suffering from mental illness. Angie has a Masters Degree in Community Psychology and has spent the last 14 years working in mental health care. Angie knows just how important sleep is for our physical and mental wellness. At Hug Sleep, we see sleep as more than just a nightly routine—it's a pillar of health and a sanctuary for the soul. After appearing on Shark Tank, Hug Sleep closed a deal with Mark and Lori. Hug Sleep sold over 75,000 units the week they aired.
Tereson Dupuy
FuzziBunz Diapers
Tereson is an entrepreneur and the inventor of FuzziBunz cloth diapers, a product that disrupted the cloth diaper industry and created a wave of positive environmental impact globally. Following her appearance on Shark Tank in 2013, Tereson transitioned from her high-stress CEO role to embark on a kinder, gentler path as a writer and business coach. She now dedicates her efforts to helping entrepreneurs master their mindset, overcome fears, and reduce overwhelm, enabling them to reach their highest entrepreneurial potential. Tereson is passionate about guiding individuals through their journeys and helping them mitigate the risks that life's ups and downs can pose to their businesses.
Building Engaged Customer Communities that Foster Repeat Sales
Discover practical tips and actionable insights on how to build and nurture an engaged customer community that not only sticks around but actively champions your brand. Learn tips and tools to create a thriving community, and learn how a subscription model just might be the thing you're missing to attract more customers and keep them coming back. Or- if you already run a subscription model, pick up some new tools and knowledge to make it thrive.
Lindsey McCormick
Founder & CEO, Bite
Lindsay McCormick founded Bite in 2018 after working as a surf instructor and seeing more and more plastic wash up on the beach where she taught. After learning about the one billion toothpaste tubes that end up in our landfills and oceans every year, she bought a tableting machine, started talking to dentists and experimenting with different formulas and iterations until she created the first ever Bite Toothpaste Bits - dry toothpaste tablets that come in a glass jar with compostable refills. Since then, she has been able to create award-winning innovations such as the first ever, fully refillable and compostable deodorant and the first ever, plastic free whitening gel, she has featured in outlets like Forbes, Business Insider and was one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business and Inc Top Female Founders. As an avid surfer, SCUBA diver and ocean conservationist, Lindsay is involved with nonprofits Surfrider, The Marine Mammal Care Center and The Miami Shark Project that protects sharks and shark nurseries along the Florida coast.
Samantha Coxe
Founder & CEO, Flaus
Samantha Coxe is the CEO and Co-Founder of Flaus, the world's first electric flosser. Prior to founding Flaus, Sam was a M&A attorney at Skadden, Arps, assisting dozens of high growth startups through their entire life cycle - from formation to exit. She attended the University of Southern California, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Psychology, and received her J.D. from New York University School of Law. She is from San Clemente, California and currently lives in New York, New York
Retail Winners; Omnichannel Tips for Creating a Unified Brand Experience that Sells
Interested in expanding your product in retail chains? We'll give you all the inside tips (buyer communication, packaging, trade shows, brokers, distributors, logistics, etc.), what to watch out for (margins, merchandising issues, deductions, RTV) and how to succeed (sell-through, marketing plans and how to stay on the shelf).
Max Kislevitz
Co-Founder Bala
Max Kislevitz is the Cofounder of Bala, a Los Angeles-based movement company challenging traditional fitness tropes. Max and his fellow Cofounder / wife shipped the first 75,000 units of their now infamous Bala Bangles from their garage before appearing on Shark Tank, where they secured an investment from Mark Cuban and Maria Sharapova. They're now focused on diversifying the product assortment and expanding the brand world. Bala has been featured in the likes of Forbes, The New York Times, The Today Show, Esquire and was dubbed one of "The 17 Items That Defined 2020" by Vogue.
Kevin Consolo
Co-Founder SneakERASERS
Kevin has 10+ years of experience with national account sales and working with retail buyers to launch new items. He was the director of adult beverage at ECRM, working closely with buyers on their new item reviews, like Walgreens, Target and Sam's Club. When his former college roommate, Chris Pavlica, called him with an idea for a better shoe cleaner, his entrepreneurial passion took over. Together, they invented SneakERASERS, the Instant Sneaker Cleaner. As the retail sales lead, he's helped SneakERASERS become the fastest growing shoe care company in U.S. retail, now in over 60,000 locations and 10 countries. Kevin has launched new items in Target, Walmart, Costco, CVS, Kroger, Dollar General and several other chains in other channels.
Chris Pavlica
Co-Founder SneakERASERS
Chris Pavlica is a seasoned creative director with extensive experience in branding, advertising strategy, and packaging. He has honed his expertise through years of working with high-profile consumer products, where he has developed a keen eye for design and market positioning. At SneakERASERS, Chris plays a pivotal role in shaping the brand's visual identity, ensuring that the product packaging and marketing strategy resonate with sneaker enthusiasts and everyday consumers alike. His innovative approach to creative direction has helped SneakERASERS stand out in a competitive market and adapt to several different retail channels.
Brooks Powell
Founder & CEO, Cheers
After reading one of the first research papers on DHM, Brooks started Cheers from his Princeton dorm room. Today Cheers is #1 in its category on Amazon, is in over 10,000 retail locations, is backed by hundreds of doctors, and has sold over 30m doses.
Strategies for Managing & Motivating Your Team
Building a team takes work. Keeping your team motivated takes skill. Learn how to keep your team hungry and excited to come to work. A perfect class for those with 1 to 1,000 Employees. This class will focus on removing gossip, how and when to implement commission or profit sharing, and what events truly motivate a team. (Hint... it's not traditional team building.
Scott Cramton
Founder & CEO
American Immersion Theater
Scott Cramton is an innovator focused on driving the experience economy to empower people to rejuvenate their lives and encourage them to become agents of change. He is the founder of American Immersion Theater (AIT). This company encapsulates his many passion projects. These niche theater businesses include The Murder Mystery Co., The Princess Party Co., Famous for a Day, and The Superhero Experience–just to name a few.
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Alexiou Gibson
Founder & CEO
The Transformation Factory
Alexiou Gibson, A past N.A.S.A intern and recipient of the prestigious Martin Luther King leadership award, Global Citizen Award, and Buick Engineering Scholarship recipient is not a newcomer to the leadership requirements and drive needed to create a successful company. In addition to TTF, Alexiou has a full service production company called H.AM that has been in business for more than eight years. However, now being at the helm of his newest venture, The Transformation Factory, he is able to follow his true passion, which is to help motivate and inspire those on their own 2.0 journey – whatever that may be.
The Power of Storytelling: Creating Content that HITS
In this breakout session, explore the art of storytelling and learn how to craft impactful content that captivates your audience. Discover key strategies for creating narratives that resonate, engage, and drive action, whether you're building a brand, marketing a product, or sharing your vision. Perfect for content creators, marketers, and entrepreneurs looking to make their message stand out
Bryan Perla
Founder & CEO, Little ELF Products
With the intention to redesign and revolutionize the gift wrapping experience, Bryan Perla, still a high school student, created the Little ELF Gift Wrap Cutter in 2017. A year later, in 2018, while a Division I Gymnast at Stanford University, Perla officially launched Little ELF on Kickstarter, raising over $130,000 in only 45 days, spring boarding this project to life. Since securing a deal on Shark Tank in 2019, Little ELF has become one of the hottest holiday products with nearly 20,000 Amazon reviews, millions of customers, and a strong retail presence including Walmart, Target, and Hobby Lobby. Little ELF continues to be one of the most disruptive and fast growing companies within the gift wrapping industry. With over 350,000 social media followers and 400 million organic views, Little ELF is transforming gift wrapping into a fun and easy experience. Bryan is dedicated to ongoing innovation and growth in the industry with new products and an expanding reach.
Juje Clark
Co-Founder & CEO, TANDM Surf
Juliette "Juju" Clark was 18 years old when she and her family pitched TANDM Surf to the sharks. As an incoming sophomore at UC Berkeley studying Data Science and Business, she was eager to capture the interest of consumers and Shark Tank through her family's story behind creating a water sport brand during a pandemic. Throughout college, she gained professional experiences in tech consulting and data science education, and she also won a national water polo championship. Now 22 years old, Juju graduated with two degrees and is committed to growing TANDM to its potential. She enjoys utilizing social media, storytelling, and founder personal branding to drive awareness and sales, and she does not shy away from the camera.
Noah Silverman
Co-Founder, Plulf
Coming Soon
Brand Protection: Defend Your Products From Fakes
Defend your brand against counterfeiters and protect your products from fakes with this essential class on brand protection. Learn effective strategies and practical techniques to safeguard your brand's reputation, combat counterfeiting, and maintain customer trust, equipping you with the tools to identify, prevent, and take action against fake products.
Marc Miller
SVP Corporate Strategy, IACC
Marc leads the IACC’s strategic partnerships to build on the IACC’s success in bringing like-minded partners from all sectors to find innovative solutions to combat counterfeiting. He is also responsible for directing enhancements to the IACC’s Online Enforcement Programs to improve their effectiveness and participant experience.
Heng Li
Program ManagerCounsel, IACC
Heng manages the IACC MarketSafe Program, IACC’s flagship online IP enforcement initiative with Alibaba Group. She oversees the program’s operations and develops program protocols, working collaboratively with the platform and rights holders to facilitate the notice and takedown process, identify infringing trends, and resolve complex issues.
Michael Benarde
Co-Founder & President, NightCap
Michael appeared on Season 12 of Shark Tank with NightCap, alongside his business partner and sister, Shirah Benarde, where they landed a deal with Lori Greiner in record-breaking time. Today, the company continues to grow beyond its $7 million in lifetime sales - in part due to his expertise in strategic partnership development.
Best Kept Secrets for Profitable Growth in Food & Consumables
In this session, uncover insider strategies for driving profitable growth in the food and consumables industry. Learn from experts as they share proven tactics for scaling your business, optimizing operations, and staying competitive in a fast-evolving market. Ideal for entrepreneurs and business leaders seeking sustainable success in this dynamic sector.
Israel Moreira
CEO at Doughp
Israel Moreira is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in operations, finance, and strategic turnarounds. As CEO at Doughp, a nationwide edible cookie dough company, Israel has demonstrated his ability to lead and implement operational improvements effectively while still striving for growth. With an international background in civil engineering and project management, Israel has leveraged his diverse experience to drive growth and innovation in various industries. His expertise in strategic planning, operational excellence, and financial management has been instrumental in transforming Doughp into a successful and rapidly expanding business. In addition, Israel leverages his extensive experience to help other founders through his consulting business
Jenni-Lyn Williams
Chief Snark Officer Snarky Tea
Jenni-Lyn Williams is the founder and Chief Snark Officer of Snarky Tea, a brand dedicated to making tea fun, approachable, and full of personality. With every cheeky blend name and unexpected flavor twist, Snarky Tea brings a fresh, playful energy to the world of tea, aiming to shatter the pretentiousness that often surrounds it.
From Bootstrapping to Crowdfunding - Strategies for Funding Growth Beyond The Tank
Explore the diverse funding options available to entrepreneurs in this session. Learn how to strategically use bootstrapping, crowdfunding, and other financial resources to fuel your business growth. Gain insights on when and how to seek alternative funding, build investor confidence, and scale your venture. Perfect for founders ready to take their business to the next level.
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Lindsey Laurin
Founder EZPZ
Lindsey Laurain is the founder of ezpz and a wife / mom to three wild boys, who were the reason behind ezpz, and today serve as her inspiration. ezpz is a self-funded, woman-owned business and the leading developmentally focused feeding company within the juvenile space, providing mealtime solutions for first foods all the way to independent eaters. Over the past decade, ezpz has remained woman-owned and operated (the same team has been together for 10 years) while growing into a global multimillion-dollar company. ezpz’s expansive feeding line has won numerous awards and garnered significant press, including Shark Tank, The View, The Today Show and more. ezpz has distribution in 3800 U.S. stores and 55 territories, with key retail distribution at Target, Nordstrom and Babylist. Licensed partnerships include Care Bears, Peppa Pig, Sesame Street and Stokke. Celeb fans include Hilary Swank, Kourtney Kardashian, Jessica Alba, Whoopi Goldberg, Lauren Conrad, Ayesha Curry and Macklemore.
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Kelsy Moreira
Founder Doughp
Kelsey Moreira is a wildly passionate entrepreneur and addiction recovery advocate. After a decade in the tech industry, she left to build her own business, Doughp—a mission-driven dessert brand best known for its raw cookie dough. Inspired by her personal recovery journey, Kelsey founded the Doughp4Hope initiative to break the stigma around mental health and addiction recovery. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, a two-time Shark Tank alum, and most recently, she added the best title ever: Mom! Leveraging her extensive experience, Kelsey also runs a consulting business to help other entrepreneurs and small businesses on marketing, branding, and fundraising.
The 4 Critical Factors That Can Make or Break Your Business Valuation
Session Description: In this interactive session, we'll dive into the four key factors that can significantly impact your business valuation—financial performance, growth potential, transferability, and market trends. Using a live business valuation, we’ll break down each pillar and show how understanding these elements can help you maximize your business’s worth. With firsthand insights from three senior Quiet Light advisors, you'll gain actionable strategies to enhance your company’s value and position it for a successful exit.
Pat Yates
Founder Happy Feet
Pat is a seasoned entrepreneur with a focus on e-commerce. In 2014 he struck a deal with Robert Herjavec on the Emmy Award-winning show “Shark Tank”. Pat grew a single slipper kiosk business into a multi-million dollar e-commerce focused business. During that time Pat has done licensing deals with DreamWorks, NCAA, NFL and Disney. In 2015 he struck up a relationship with Mark the founder of Quiet Light and continued eventually leading him to becoming an advisor.
Ethan Alexander
Senior Advisor QuietLight
Ethan is a serial entrepreneur and has successfully built numerous multi-million dollar companies. He has sold and acquired several companies, one of which appeared on Shark Tank, and served as a business broker for both buyers and sellers transactions. Ethan’s true business passion is in the physical product ecommerce space. His industry experience in this realm covers almost everything you can imagine. His background includes operating companies both on and off Amazon, holding inventory and dropshipping, manufacturing overseas and in the U.S., and selling to the U.S. and foreign customers.
Chuck Mullins
Senior Advisor QuietLight
Chuck built his first profitable website at 18 in 1996 and studied software engineering in college, which helped him develop strategies to leverage search results for growth. Over his career, he has developed, managed, consulted, and invested in online businesses, honing a keen ability to identify opportunities and drive profitability. He began investing in underperforming web assets, buying and selling companies from a few hundred dollars to seven figures. As an early speaker on online asset acquisitions, Chuck is now regarded as a leading expert in the field, frequently speaking at national and international conferences.
Never run out of stock with the right logistics partner + Listing Tear Down Special
Learn how the right 3PL can transform your supply chain and fuel new growth. Aaron, a successful brand owner, will reveal how partnering with Tactical Logistics eliminated delays, reduced stockouts, and streamlined their operations. As an exciting bonus, Aaron will do a rapid-fire listing teardown, transforming poor Amazon listings into sales-boosting powerhouses!
Ephraim Ausch
CLO Tactical Logistics
Ephraim Ausch is a former successful Amazon Seller of 7 years with a passion for solving logistics head aches for e-commerce and Amazon entrepreneurs.
Aaron Cordovez
CEO Zulay Kitchen
Aaron co-founded Zulay Kitchen, which serves millions of customers worldwide. He’s also super passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed by sharing his knowledge and experience in building successful brands.
Master Efficiency: How Entrepreneurs Save 15 Hours Weekly with Strategic Assistance
Discover how to maximize your time by leveraging a personal assistant to handle essential tasks like email management, calendar coordination, event planning, and team facilitation. This session will teach you effective delegation strategies and the proven systems successful leaders use to streamline these tasks. Learn how to delegate with precision, ensuring you free up 15 hours a week to focus on high-impact activities that grow your business
Brooks Powell
Founder & CEO Cheers
After reading one of the first research papers on DHM, Brooks started Cheers from his Princeton dorm room. Today Cheers is #1 in its category on Amazon, is in over 10,000 retail locations, is backed by hundreds of doctors, and has sold over 30m doses.
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Ian Myers
CEO Oceans
Ian is a reformed investor, turned repeat founder. He is currently the CEO of Oceans, a global talent company that helps high growth businesses work with the best and brightest people from around the world. Before this, worked on New Products for Uzabase, was the CEO of business media startup Newspicks, and was an early stage investor at White Star Capital. He also opened their first Asian office in Tokyo, where in another life he had lived as a buddhist monk for a year.
AI Tools for Prompt Engineering for Brand growth
Unlock the potential of AI to accelerate your brand's growth and productivity. In this session, you'll learn how to harness AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and others to enhance prompt engineering, automate tasks, and create impactful content. Discover actionable strategies for leveraging AI to streamline operations, engage customers, and scale your business. Ideal for entrepreneurs and marketers looking to stay ahead in the digital age.
Joe Bouffard
Success Coach
Coach Bouff Enterprises, led by Joe Bouffard, offers a dynamic blend of sports coaching, leadership development, and strategic business growth services. As a former athlete and coach, Joe combines his expertise in grassroots strategic marketing, sales growth, and team leadership with a passion for empowering student-athletes and organizations. His successful track record includes scaling small programs to national prominence, increasing revenue, and producing high-profile events that have impacted millions. With a deep commitment to fostering strong relationships and aligning team members with a shared vision, Coach Bouffard provides personalized guidance that drives success both on and off the field, making him a valuable asset in any leadership or development role.
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Ajay Bam
Co-Founder & CEO Vyrill
Ajay Bam is the CEO and Co-founder at Vyrill, a first-of-its-kind video intelligence company launched in 2017 through UC Berkeley’s Skydeck Incubator program. Vyrill helps brands and shoppers find the “moments that matter” inside videos to drive ECommerce sales. Its AI-powered “In-Video’' search technology analyzes & provides insights hidden within videos to increase site traffic, personalization, and conversion. Before Vyrill, Ajay launched Boston-based, mobile shopping app company Modiv Media. He is a proven and accomplished product management professional, entrepreneurial thinker, and innovator with more than 13 years of experience leading startups and world-class brands.
Amazon vs. D2C: 3 Crucial Strategies for Scaling Your Amazon Business
In this session, we’ll discuss the essential differences between selling on Amazon and running a Shopify-style D2C store. Learn how the complexities of the Amazon marketplace can affect your margins and discover ways to address these challenges and reclaim any owed funds. We’ll also cover the latest ranking practices and guide you on creating diverse revenue streams, and balancing traffic between your D2C site and Amazon. Additionally, we’ll share recent case studies demonstrating successful traffic splits using DSP, and explore how DSP can benefit your D2C operations.
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Jordyn Levine
Enterprise Account Executive Carbon6
Jordyn Levine is an accomplished Enterprise Account Executive at Carbon6, bringing three years of specialized experience in the eCommerce sector. Renowned for her expertise in supporting Amazon sellers, Jordyn excels in guiding clients through complex business operations and driving operational efficiency and growth. Her deep industry knowledge and strategic insight make her a valuable asset in helping clients navigate and optimize their eCommerce strategies.
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Clayton Atchison
General Manager PixelMe Carbon6
Clayton is a seasoned Amazon Seller and ecommerce specialist with 10+ years' experience. An External Traffic Expert, he's executed thousands of campaigns. With Amazon, Walmart, and Retail Arbitrage expertise, he's driven 30MM+ in online sales via three bootstrapped companies. Skilled in Deal Making and Public Speaking, he holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration (Finance) and a Bachelor's in International Studies from the University of Missouri.
Consumer Insights from Shark Tank + Beyond
This panel discussion explores how to transform consumer feedback into actionable marketing strategies. Hear from entrepreneurs who leveraged Shark Tank insights and post-show data analysis to fuel their business growth. Discover practical tips for gathering, analyzing, and integrating consumer data into your marketing mix to achieve greater success.
Jeremiah Prummer,
CEO KnoCommerce
Samantha Coxe
Founder & CEO, Flaus
Samantha Coxe is the CEO and Co-Founder of Flaus, the world's first electric flosser. Prior to founding Flaus, Sam was a M&A attorney at Skadden, Arps, assisting dozens of high growth startups through their entire life cycle - from formation to exit. She attended the University of Southern California, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Psychology, and received her J.D. from New York University School of Law. She is from San Clemente, California and currently lives in New York, New York
Bar Bruhis
VP of Revenue KnoCommerce
Tools & Strategies to Combat Counterfeiting & Infringement
This session will explore effective tools and strategies to protect intellectual property (IP) in the global marketplace. Experts from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Intellectual Property Team will discuss enforcement mechanisms, best practices to prevent counterfeiting, and how businesses can safeguard their innovations against infringement. Attendees will learn about key resources and collaborative efforts designed to combat IP theft and secure their competitive edge.
Alaina Van Horn
U.S. Customs & Border Protection
Alaina van Horn currently serves as the Chief of the Intellectual Property Enforcement (IPE) Branch where she is responsible for administering CBP’s IP border enforcement efforts in interdicting counterfeit and infringing goods before they enter the U.S. stream of commerce. Immediately prior to this position she was detailed to the Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) in the Executive Office of the President and served as a Senior Attorney-Advisor in the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of CBP’s Office of Trade for over a decade. Ms. van Horn has conducted capacity building trainings on border enforcement of intellectual property rights to over fifty foreign governments, international organizations, and domestic audiences in both the public and private sectors.
Michelle Sara King
U.S. Department of Commerce
Ms. King is the Intellectual Property Team Lead and Senior International Trade Specialist in the Office of Standards and Intellectual Property (OSIP) at the International Trade Administration (ITA) where she also serves as the lead for the STOPfakes program. Ms. King has been with ITA for 3.5 years after leading King Consults, a global government affairs, external relations, communications and advocacy firm working with the global business and association community which focused on intellectual property, trade, cyber/data privacy, health, women’s issues and technology. Before starting King Consults, Ms. King worked in-house at the International Trademark Association (INTA) where she led their DC policy, communications and advocacy.
Kim Meckwood
Founder Click & Carry
Kim Meckwood is the owner and inventor of Click & Carry, a unique bag handle/carrying apparatus. She hails from a background of medical device and pharmaceutical sales and worked for Medtronic, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Schwarz Pharma and Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals. Kim decided to make a major change after a life altering experience when diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and again in 2021. The journey through cancer gave her the faith and determination to quit her stable job and attempt to bring her product to market. She has been on Shark Tank (Season 12; Episode 8), GMA, The Today Show, Today with Hoda & Jenna, Food Fortunes, The Bethenny Frankel Show and she appeared thirteen times as a guest on QVC in segments such as “In the Kitchen with David” and “Down Home with David”.
Chase Blum
VP Marketing Click & Carry
Chase has been on the Click & Carry team for over two years and is also the founder of Outside the Tank Consulting, which helps Shark Tank alums with marketing, intellectual property protection, and related services. Hailing from an entrepreneurial family, Chase has been involved with a number of startups and small businesses over the years, finding a passion for working with small companies. Chase has a background in conference and professional event planning, marketing strategy, communications, and more.
The Growth Vault: 5 Breakthrough Strategies From 1,000+ Launches That Will Skyrocket Your DTC Sales
Join Greg Rollett, Head of Growth at Grommet and an Emmy Award-Winning Producer, as he uncovers the most effective strategies learned from launching over 1,000 products on Grommet. These breakthrough tactics will give any Shark Tank brand an unfair advantage to generate massive DTC sales and fast-track your business growth.
Greg Rollett
Head of Growth, Grommet
Greg Rollett is the Head of Growth at Grommet, a product discovery platform that helps makers, inventors and entrepreneurs of new and unique products get in front of millions of Shoppers. He has worked with 1,000+ new and emerging consumer brands, helping them to generate the initial momentum that will take them from Undiscovered To Unstoppable.
Ecommerce Growth AMA: Insights From Top Ecommerce Experts to Drive Your Growth
This interactive session will feature top industry experts sharing actionable strategies for scaling your business, addressing your most pressing questions, and providing unique insights into ecommerce growth. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and practical advice tailored to help you succeed!
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Joel Brda
Founder & CEO Human Marketing
With an Executive MBA and 25 years of experience in digital marketing and technology, Joel has a proven track record of driving growth through innovation. At the age of 17, he began his career by coding custom shopping carts for clients, setting the foundation for his future in ecommerce. He later served as a programming consultant for Anheuser-Busch Companies and built ecommerce solutions for a dot-com that was acquired by New Balance.
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Zach Keahey
Head of Growth Human Marketing
Zack Keahey is the Head of Growth at Human, where he leverages his extensive expertise in digital marketing and analytics to help businesses craft and execute comprehensive media strategies focused on maximizing ROI. With experience managing both multi-million dollar media accounts and targeted campaigns, Zack specializes in using data-driven insights to build marketing programs that deliver measurable results. A strategic marketer and positive leader, Zack is dedicated to driving success for his clients.
Stephanie Conway
Ecom Strategist Human Marketing
Stephanie Conway is an Ecommerce Strategist at Human Marketing, where she leverages her expertise in digital marketing to drive business growth for E-commerce clients. With a data-driven approach, Stephanie develops marketing strategies that maximize client ROI. As a client-focused leader, Stephanie is committed to delivering measurable results and ensuring that her teams are aligned with business objectives. She is passionate about building strong client relationships and helping them achieve their goals.
Scott Williams
Chief Innovation Officer Human Marketing
Scott Williams is a seasoned expert in ecommerce, technology, and innovation, currently serving as the Chief Innovation Officer at Human. With a rich background that spans software development, team leadership, and strategic growth, Scott has a proven track record of helping businesses flourish through technical innovation. As a thought leader in the intersection of AI, technology, and ecommerce, he drives forward-thinking solutions that empower brands to succeed in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Scaling Smart: Navigating Post-Funding Challenges for Sustainable Growth
This group of expert will focus on the critical steps businesses must take after securing funding. It highlights strategies for managing rapid growth, optimizing resources, and building long-term sustainability, ensuring companies can scale effectively while avoiding common pitfalls.
Mark Eckert
Attorney, Polsinelli
Matt Eckert is co-Chair of Polsinelli’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Companies practice. His practice is focused on providing general counsel to emerging growth companies from their earliest stages and throughout the entirety of their life cycles, as well as counseling venture capital funds on their deployment activities. Matt’s emphasis on long-term partnerships with clients provides him with a depth of knowledge and understanding about those he works with that enable contextualized and strategic guidance rooted in their near- and long-term individual business objectives.
Prithvi Tanwar
Attorney, Polsinelli
Prithvi serves as general corporate counsel to early and growth stage technology companies building innovative products and services that are changing business processes and the way individuals use and interact with technology on a daily basis. He strives to provide practical, relevant and actionable legal advice based on a hands-on understanding of clients’ products and business goals. Over the past decade he’s worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs to advise them and their companies through all stages of growth and serve as the company’s tactical and strategic advisor on legal and business issues that arise in day-to-day operations. Prithvi also advises early and growth stage investors on their portfolio investment activities.
1st Impressions -Turning interested consumers into committed customers
Learn how Shark Tank companies like Boarderie, Pashion Footwear, TA3 Swim, and Flaus make page load speed the primary goal to win Black Friday. Nostra will share real life examples of how speed translates to value. See how to differentiate over the most competitive time of year.
Michael DeSimon
Vice President of Product Nostra
As a product leader and award winning Mathematician with over 6 years in the e-commerce personalization space, Michael is dedicated to creating impact to customer journey and driving actionable insights.
Jack Norman
Chief Brand Officer Nostra
He holds a valuable hybrid view of being a SaaS operator and a DTC brand owner. Having 4 years of successful growth under his belt he is dedicated to helping other DTC brands scale at a rapid pace. Time vs. Value has always been his north star.
Achieve Amazon Success with Voadera
The breakout session will be a brief overview of how to achieve success in Amazon while working with Voadera and its capabilities.
Dustin Davis
Partner Relations and Sales Manager
Jacqueline Daly
Senior Strategic Partner Manager
5 Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Hiring Offshore Talent
Hiring offshore talent can be a game-changer, but it comes with its own set of challenges. In this session, you'll learn the top 5 mistakes entrepreneurs make when outsourcing globally, from communication breakdowns to cultural misunderstandings, and how to avoid them. Discover best practices for successful offshore hiring to ensure smooth collaboration, high-quality work, and long-term success
Lindsey McCormick
Founder & CEO, Bite
Lindsay McCormick founded Bite in 2018 after working as a surf instructor and seeing more and more plastic wash up on the beach where she taught. After learning about the one billion toothpaste tubes that end up in our landfills and oceans every year, she bought a tableting machine, started talking to dentists and experimenting with different formulas and iterations until she created the first ever Bite Toothpaste Bits - dry toothpaste tablets that come in a glass jar with compostable refills. Since then, she has been able to create award-winning innovations such as the first ever, fully refillable and compostable deodorant and the first ever, plastic free whitening gel, she has featured in outlets like Forbes, Business Insider and was one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business and Inc Top Female Founders. As an avid surfer, SCUBA diver and ocean conservationist, Lindsay is involved with nonprofits Surfrider, The Marine Mammal Care Center and The Miami Shark Project that protects sharks and shark nurseries along the Florida coast.
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Ian Myers
CEO Oceans
Ian is a reformed investor, turned repeat founder. He is currently the CEO of Oceans, a global talent company that helps high growth businesses work with the best and brightest people from around the world. Before this, worked on New Products for Uzabase, was the CEO of business media startup Newspicks, and was an early stage investor at White Star Capital. He also opened their first Asian office in Tokyo, where in another life he had lived as a buddhist monk for a year.
Building Customer Loyalty Through Value-Driven Email Marketing
Building Customer Loyalty Through Value-Driven Email Marketing" explores how to create email programs that prioritize genuine customer value over surface-level metrics. This approach focuses on translating data into deep customer understanding, allowing brands to deliver truly relevant and beneficial content. By emphasizing value creation, businesses can naturally improve key retention metrics and foster long-term customer loyalty in an age of endless consumer choice.
Dante Monte
Director Client Strategy, Sendlane
With over a decade of experience in brand growth and customer retention, Daniel Monte has been at the forefront of the industry, working with renowned brands like True Religion, Scentbird, and many more. Now, as the Director of Client Strategy at Sendlane, he’s on a mission to help DTC brands thrive in the competitive digital landscape.
Mastering Q4 Logistics: Deadlines, Inventory Strategies, and Choosing Between Amazon or a 3PL
Learn strategies for maintaining optimal stock levels during the holiday season, balancing inventory on hand and in transit to avoid stockouts or overstocking. Plus, we'll compare Amazon Global Logistics (AGL) and Amazon Warehousing & Distribution (AWD) with a 3PL provider to determine which offers the best cost, speed, and reliability for your Q4 logistics. Ensure you're set up for a smooth and successful season.
Ephraim Ausch
CLO Tactical Logistics
Ephraim Ausch is a former successful Amazon Seller of 7 years with a passion for solving logistics head aches for e-commerce and Amazon entrepreneurs.
The BFCM Playbook: Analyzing Past Performance and Future Trends
In this breakout session, we'll dive into the key lessons from past Black Friday and Cyber Monday events, examining performance metrics, consumer behavior, and marketing strategies. Learn how to leverage these insights to predict upcoming trends, optimize your approach, and maximize results in future BFCM campaigns.
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Mia Healy
Director Triple Whale
Angie Kupper, MS, LPC is a mental health therapist who specializes in treating Anxiety Disorders for children and adolescents.After losing her mother to suicide as a teenager, Angie turned her pain into passion for helping others who are suffering from mental illness. Angie has a Masters Degree in Community Psychology and has spent the last 14 years working in mental health care. Angie knows just how important sleep is for our physical and mental wellness. At Hug Sleep, we see sleep as more than just a nightly routine—it's a pillar of health and a sanctuary for the soul. After appearing on Shark Tank, Hug Sleep closed a deal with Mark and Lori. Hug Sleep sold over 75,000 units the week they aired.