Innovation & Growth Fair - Q4
BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER to support you
December 12th, 3PM TO 7PM
3pm to 7pm
AT
Agoura Hills Recreation Center
29900 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills, CA 91301
-$25 ADMISSION-
Free Admission if you Registered for a Workshop or Speaker Panel
A collaborative experience
Come meet and learn from a wide range of businesses, non-profits, and government agencies that are coming together to offer you more support than any one of us could provide alone. Your success and growth is a success for our shared community.
Over 40 Mentors and Workshops
Connect with floating mentors or with mentors running micro workshops on a myriad of topics to help you grow professionally and personally
Discover Businesses
Exhibiting businesses on our expo floor will be showcasing what they do, looking for new hires, looking for investors, and looking for partners
Connect With Your Government
Meet representatives from many government agencies looking to connect you to an abundance of resources and learn how they can better serve you
Expert Speaker Panels
Sit in on two panels featuring experts to help you learn "How to Grow a Business" and "Fundraising and Investment Strategies"
Meet Non-Profits
Explore non-profits from across the region that are intent on supporting you and your community
Over 400 Attendees
Connect with the people from your community that share in the value of promoting growth and innovation.
Support Your Regional Charities
Let's get into the holiday spirit! Help us fundraise and raise awareness for great causes with raffles, silent auctions, a food drive, and a toy drive
Great Opportunities To Get Involved
Be a Sponsor
Make a Donation
Speaker Panels
Brought to you by Rise Up For You
805 Start-ups is proud to collaborate with Rise Up For You to bring you an expanded line up of panels, and more speakers from across the region.
Together we will bring you industry experts and executives who have a proven track record of success, experience, and education.
Through our interactive panel and engagement with the audience, you will gain strategy, empowerment, and tangible tools to instantly implement in your professional and personal life.
Bring your notebook, bring your business cards, and bring your questions because this panel series is a DO NOT MISS!
Secrets to Success
This panel will take a deep dive into recurring patterns for success.
Our speakers will share their journeys to be successful individuals and explore how they manage their time, their expectations, and overcome adversity.
You will have ample opportunity to ask the panel your own questions.
3:00pm to 4:00pm
Desi Dennis-Dylan
Born into a family of performers, actress/singer/drummer Desi Dennis-Dylan was bit by the bug at an early age.
She has traveled all over the globe as a performer, master teacher, and featured musician and has had the privilege of sharing the stage with such artists as Kelli O’Hara, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Susan Egan, the great Rosalind Cash and the legendary Dick Van Dyke to name a few.
She is an alumna of the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase and her TV credits include: Superior Donuts, Modern Family, Henry Danger, Good Girls and Perfect Harmony.
Lisa Lopez
Lisa Lopez is an Executive Vice President for Fitness International, LLC DBA LA Fitness, where she has devoted 17 years to personal and team development in marketing, sales, management, and leadership.
Her experience began with LA Fitness in an entry-level Membership Director position, then Assistant General Manager, General Manager, District Vice President, Regional Vice President to Executive Vice President with LA Fitness. She has been a volunteer with Dress For Success to serve women in the Compton and Crenshaw communities as a speaker to prepare women for upcoming interviews and the ups and downs of such a journey. Lisa has collaborated with a team of VPs to create nationwide sales training for Fitness International, LLC. She has formed a Leading Ladies platform for women in her organization to discuss and overcome challenges, learn, grow and mentor others.
When Lisa gets the bug for serious competition, you’ll find her and her husband at the arcade.
Jake Konaszewski
Moderator
Jake Konaszewski is the Co-Founder of Next Generation Rise the Youth branch of Rise Up For You.
His passion is mentoring young adults on the soft skills necessary to succeed in today’s work environment. His passion stems from spending years traveling the world and inspiring confidence in youth through music.
Jake is qualified in managing small to medium size teams and has learned to develop his skills in leadership, management and public speaking. Additionally, Jake is well versed in the area of event production where he is still on the ground producing events with names such as Google, Nike, and Facebook.
Today, he has taken on the role of Business Development Manager, Youth Mentor, and speaker at Rise Up For. As an active member of the Greater Irvine Chamber and the Newport Chamber of Commerce he is constantly driving the Rise Up For You initiatives to help the local community.
Jake specializes in how to manage and work in high stress environments as well as youth confidence.
More Speakers To Be Announced
How to Start and Grow Your Business
Come learn how to start and grow a business from two incredibly experienced and successful guest speakers.
We will cover how to bring your idea to life, how to test it in the market, and how to generate traction that fuels your growth and success.
You will have ample opportunity to ask the panel your own questions.
4:00pm to 5:00pm
Davis Brimer
A Serial Entrepreneur, Founder, and C-Suite Executive.
Davis’s professional passion is to lead and work alongside visionary creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs to realize great ideas into commercial realities. I’m a seasoned executive who conceptualizes and creates new markets, builds strategic and operating plans, and leads passionate teams to execute and grow.
Eric P. Rose, NPDP, MBA
Eric Paul Rose, NPDP, MBA is a product innovation and management consultant who provides entrepreneurs, and established companies with the expertise to move new products from opportunity into market reality.
Eric has more than 35 years’ experience in product innovation, product development, manufacturing, commercialization, and project management.
His work has been with companies ranging from startups through Fortune 500s in the consumer, medical, and industrial product industries
Dan Han
Dan Han is the founder of Agapay, a payment processing company established in 2012 with a
mission to give back to the community utilizing its own payment gateway to integrate into various Billing and Ecommerce Softwares in the card not present industries. He is also a partner with Cadenza Music Academy and a VA placement agency.
Dan is no stranger to small business, having owned a retail store, an importing company, and a
mortgage company prior to founding Agapay. Currently he has been in the Payment Processing industry for over 10 years and is Certified Payment Professional through the Electronic Transactions Association. These experiences have taught him the importance of persistence and patience in building business.
Dan is an advocate of building a strong network because it is vital for business development and
giving back to the community extending to future generations. Currently Dan is serving as Chair of the Board of Directors and various committees within the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce, and a Council Member to the Hospice Advisory Council. Dan is the co-founder of Plant a Seed Institute, and serves and supports in over 10 non-profit organizations who are doing work to improve our communities and the world.
Dan believes in a creator with a grand plan and that everything happens for a reason.
Carlos Oregon
Carlos has over 25 years of experience in operations and technology with an emphasis in consulting and program/project management. While at Thinkbox Technology Group, Carlos has spent 10 years overseeing the growth of the company throughout the US and internationally. Mr. Oregon oversees the support of client’s globally with teams in the California, Washington, Florida, Texas and Europe.
Thinkbox Technology Group’s services involve enterprise wide initiatives; including Data Center migrations, VOIP upgrades, infrastructure, low-voltage and project recovery. He has also served as the interim CIO for the City of Plano in Texas for 18 months while Thinkbox’s team of Consultants supported the city’s key strategic initiatives.
Prior to joining Thinkbox Technology Group, he was a senior member of the engineering team at WET Design, where he was responsible for the project management and coordination of technology, production, and logistics for iconic water features, including the world’s largest water feature at the Burj, Dubai development in UAE prior to his time at WET Design.
Mr. Oregon is a U.S. Air Force (USAF) veteran who served in the US and overseas in various locations to include Afghanistan and South Korea. During his 16 years, he supported global operations for Aviation Maintenance, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Special Operations (AFSOC) and Space Operations.
Nada Lena Nasserdeen
Moderator
Nada Lena is the founder and CEO of Rise Up For You, a company that fosters personal and professional growth amongst individuals and companies. She is an Executive Leadership and Career Confidence Coach, Post-Secondary Educator, and Motivational Speaker.
With over 10 years experience as a college professor and former top executive for an education corporation, Nada understands the importance of fusing education, empowerment, and leadership together as she works with her clients and speaks to audiences worldwide. She has toured the world as a singer, has a Master’s degree in Administrative Leadership, and has coached and mentored close to 50,000 individuals around the world on self-empowerment, career strategy, and leadership.
Most recently Nada had the opportunity to share her expertise at Google’s largest conference of the year Cloud Next ‘19, where she worked with tech industry participants and C-Suite executives on Career Confidence, Leadership, and Career Strategy. In addition, she has presented and spoken for multiple platforms and conferences such as The California Human Resources Conference, UCLA Extended Learning, and Lead the Way Educators Conference. Nada was awarded the Chief’s Award from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for her work in 2018 and is a two-time finalist for The Emerging Woman-Owned Business Award from Connected Women of Influence.
Nada’s believes that in order to create change within our communities, companies, and households, we must first create change within ourselves. It’s a collective effort needed from all parties; no company, adult, or young adult can be left behind. The world needs us at our best!
Women in Business: insights into a woman's pursuit of a business or career
Learn from incredibly inspirational and successful women in your community. You’ll hear about their journeys to pursue a career or business venture and explore the unique perspective of being a woman.
5:00pm to 6:00pm
Kim M. Williams
Kim Williams is no stranger to the world of entertainment. She has worked over 20 years in the
television and film industry. After graduating from the University of North Texas with a degree in
Radio-TV-Film, she began her career in Post Production working on several TV projects before
transitioning to the creative side in TV Development for Viacom Productions and the WB Network.
With her extensive industry experience, Kim was invited by the 2017 Piton Independent Film
Festival in St. Lucia to teach a three-day Master Class in Producing. From there, she developed a
passion for teaching young Black filmmakers how to create and produce an industry-standard
project from beginning to end. She has facilitated workshops in Botswana, Kenya, and Rwanda. Her classes cover writing, production, and post production.
Kim is currently developing new series for inkSpot Entertainment and focusing on sharing her experience and knowledge in Production workshops across the world.
Leanne DiSanto
As a Life Strategy and Results Coach, Leanne helps individuals and companies move from auto-pilot and status quo to a deeper level of engagement and intentional action to foster sustainable grow and prosperity.
Leanne started her coaching career more than 25 years ago and is the former owner of Fitness Patrol, Private Training Studio. She has a Master’s in Physiology, a Bachelor of Science in Biology and multiple training and life coaching certifications.
As a speaker and seminar leader, she is passionate about having the conscious conversations that create real change. She brings her extensive expertise, as well as her special mix of life’s lessons, compassion and humor whether she is working one-on-one or speaking to a large audience.
Leanne is the Amazon #1 Bestselling co-author of “Faces of the New Feminine Leadership: Real Women, Real Conversations, Real Impact.” She served three years as Vice President on the Board of the Women’s Journey Foundation, a nonprofit organization that serves at-risk girls.
Now as Business Development Director for Rise Up For You, Leanne is growing the Speaker Network Series events in Southern California, facilitating speaking events, panels and pop-up lounges for Rise Up For You and various corporate events and conferences.
Kimberly Seltzer
With a vat of knowledge and experience as a therapist, certified style coach, dating coach, and matchmaker, Kim Seltzer has helped hundreds of people find lasting love and connection and build valuable relationships using her unique “confidence makeover” process.
Using an outside-in approach, Kim has changed hundreds of lives by changing their style, emotional and social intelligence using her signature formula, “The Charisma Quotient,” working on body language, first impressions, image and messaging and how it impacts attraction.
This Los Angeles-based expert travels the country helping people discover confidence, charisma and connection as a speaker at National Matchmaking Conferences, eHarmony, Neutrogena and iDate, as well as her own annual conference series for men and women, The Makeover Blueprint.
Kim is also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, with appearances in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Reader’s Digest, AskMen, Fox News Magazine, Yahoo Shine, Oprah Magazine and the Washington Examiner, among a myriad of other publications.
You can also find Kim as a frequent co-host on the traveling live dating show and podcast The Great Love Debate, and in her new cable reality dating show, The Romance.
You can also listen to her now on her own podcast, The Charisma Quotient.
Shannon Miller
Moderator
Strategic Life & Business Coach. Entrepreneurship & Online Business Expert.
Shannon offers executive clients custom life and business coaching as well as playful interactive team building programs for sales and start up teams. ” A Happy life begins when you live on purpose.”
She is a serial entrepreneur with experience in ecommerce, importing, and acting.
Shannon is a great connector and mentor within the community.
Fundraising & Exit Strategies, and Investment Strategies
Top investors will share advice and insights for founders to successfully fundraise and exit.
The panel will also help accredited investors learn how to become angel investors and invest in VC Funds in order to put capital back into our communities.
6:00pm to 7:00pm
Richard Wolpert
A pioneer in the fields of technology, consumer digital media and entertainment for more than 25 years. Extensive experience as an executive, entrepreneur and as an investor.
Responsible for many “firsts” throughout his career including: conceiving of and teaching the first Macintosh Programming Class at Stanford University (CS 193C), the first multi-user address book for the Macintosh (TouchBase), the first kids internet subscription service (Disney’s Daily Blast), the first Tivo-like product for the Internet Radio (BitBop Tuner), the first legitimate music subscription service for the Internet (MusicNet), and the first legitimate online movie subscription service (Starz! On Demand). Successfully negotiated ground breaking deals with several of the major media companies whose content became the basis for many of these products
As an investor, managed personal investment fund, Chance Technologies (1995 to Present), served as an advisor to Accel Partners (2006 to Present), served as a partner at the Yucaipa Companies (1998 to 2000), and served as the Managing Director or the Mail Room Fund (2008 to 2010). Invested in more than 30 companies, a large percentage of which have had successful exits or continue on as successful companies, including: AdECN, AMG, AndroMedia, AudioMill, Data Sage, GameFly, GameSpy, Kongregate, Mob.ly, People Support, Smilebox, Sometrics, Three Rings, Scopely, PlayDek, and Universal Audio.
Ryan Deslauriers
Ryan Deslauriers has been with StartEngine for two years and is currently StartEngine’s Director of Lead Generation. StartEngine is the leading equity crowdfunding platform that’s helped fund over 300 companies. Prior to StartEngine, Ryan received his BS in Economics from American University in Washington, D.C. and currently resides in Los Angeles.
Alon Goren
Alon Goren is the Founding Partner of Draper Goren Holm, Co-Founder of Ownera, CIS, Security Token Summit & LA Blockchain Week, AND 805 Startups.
Most recently, Alon’s Venture Capital fund was accepted into the Draper Venture Network and Tim Draper became a lead investor as well, leading to Draper becoming a named partner.
Alon has a long history within the startup world and experience on both sides of the equation–as an entrepreneur and now as an investor.
Dakota Rader
Moderator
Dakota Blaze Rader, co-founder of Next Generation Rise, was born and raised in Grand Island, Nebraska. He has an extensive background as a youth mentor, event coordinator, and public speaker – with an education and experience in the financial services sector.
Dakota is currently a Business Developer, Panel Facilitator, Trainer, and Youth Confidence Coach for Rise Up For You. As a passionate team member, he creates sustainable and transformation shifts in business’s company culture by first developing their employees through soft skills training. He is an active Business and Workforce Development and Economic Vitality committee member with The Greater Irvine Chamber, as well as a proud member of the Newport Chamber. He is a skilled Service/Hospitality and Restaurant trainer, as well as a nationally awarded Personal Builder for independent financial advisors.
Dakota is passionate about encouraging and empowering young adults to be present and to pursue their greatest potential. His focus in mentoring youth is to help them find their purpose and navigate their own personal and professional path.
Dakota acknowledges the societal trends behind change, growth, and idea of success – but brings light to the reality that change is not change unless it is transformational and sustainable. He believes that in order to create change in our communities, schools, business’s, and households we must first spark the change within.
Workshops
Join a mentor for 15 to 30 minute sessions designed to introduce you to new concepts, teach you processes, provide you with feedback, and develop skills.
Our goal is to give you more than inspiration and motivation to pursue your goals. We want you to get home and be able to act upon those great feelings. That is what our workshops are designed to do.
4pm to 7pm - Interactive Pop-Up Lounge Presented by Rise Up For You
3pm to 4pm - How to Start a Nonprofit, the Right Way in 90 Days or Less! with Amber Wynn
3pm to 4pm - Growing a Physical Product Based Business with Paul Shrater
3pm to 4pm - How to Turn Your Idea Into a Viable Business with Greg Monterrosa
3pm to 4pm - Your 30 Second Elevator Pitch with Ray Caldwell
3pm to 4pm - Creating Calm From CHAOS: An Action Plan with Shannon Miller
3pm to 4pm - How to Be An Effective Day Trader with Asher Leids
3pm to 5pm - Introduction to Toastmasters with Eric Browning
3pm to 5pm - The Marriage of Design & Technology: How Branding, UX and Development Work Together for Startup Success with Sonya Lee
3pm to 5pm - How to Properly Leverage Social Media to Grow Your Business with Julian Espinosa
4pm to 5pm - How to Improve Your Sales, Marketing, and Business Operations with Jon Robertson
4pm to 5pm - Introduction to Startup Pitch Decks and Positioning Statements with Donavon Urfalian
4pm to 5pm - Starting a Business Without Quitting Your Day Job with Shannon Miller
4pm to 5pm - How to Get Into Real Estate Sales with Hector G. Diaz
4pm to 5pm - How to Leverage Your Content to Launch a Successful Podcast with Marc Honorof
4pm to 5pm - How to Transition From an Accredited Investor to a Successful Angel Investor with Asher Leids
4pm to 5pm - Getting to Your Next Level with Paul Shrater
4pm to 6pm - Collecting Wine Experience, to Level Up Your Character
5pm to 6pm - The 10-step Process to Creating a Content Marketing Plan to Develop and Promote Your Brand with Andi Waibel
5pm to 6pm - How to Create an Investor Relations Deck with Ina McGuinness
5pm to 6pm - Introduction to Decentralized Applications(dApps) with Frederic Rough
5pm to 6pm - Improving Mental Health for Musicians and Creatives with Mari Fong
5pm to 6pm - Why Salespeople Fail and How You Can Fix It with Michael Gordon
5pm to 6pm - How to Utilize Non-Dilutive Funding with Avi Dukler
5pm to 6pm - How Game Design Can Improve Your Business with Nick deBoisblanc
5pm to 6pm - How To Put Together Your Due Diligence Package with Rich Weir
6pm to 7pm - How To Determine Your Brand’s Purpose with Kevin J. Walker
6pm to 7pm - How to be Authentic and Engaging with Your Target Audience with Andi Waibel
6pm to 7pm - How To Utilize Engagement Marketing with Ray Caldwell
6pm to 7pm - How to Become a Leadership Influencer in Your Niche with Stephen Gorgey
6pm to 7pm - Understanding the Process For Raising Capital with Rich Weir
Mentors
Ray Caldwell
I’m excited to meet startup founders and those who are looking for funding.
I would love to help you with the following:
Communicating one UVP through a 30 second elevator pitch. Organizing and presenting a pitch deck. Engagement Marketing – how to talk with anyone about your dream.
Donavon Urfalian
I’m excited to meet Startup founders, advisors, and investors.
I’m Software Engineer with Data Science experience. From ideation to startup launch, I’ve years of experience helping startup founders go from ideation to team building to software app launch. I’ve hosted events where startup founders pitch to investors, and coffee shop meetings for the past two years here in Los Angeles.
Taylor Adnan
I’m excited to meet people who work in or are interested in hardware products (non SAS).
I can help with Manufacturing, Sourcing, Crowdfunding
Timothy Dir
I’m excited to meet startup founders with physical products and other manufacturers.
I can assist with Business Operations, Finance, Manufacturing.
Marc Honoroff
I’m excited to meet startup founders, corporations, and event producers interested in capturing and syndicating their content across podcasts.
I can help with learning how to launch and grow podcasts.
Neal Roche
I’m excited to meet Investors & start up founders in various markets IT Hardware/ software/ SAAS/ FinTech & Blockchain markets Energy Storage / Efficiency / Clean Transportation.
I can help with start up fundraising. I’ve done 4 start ups and raised money from multiple Angel groups. IT Hardware/ software/ SAAS/ FinTech & Blockchain markets Energy Storage / Efficiency / Clean Transportation I’ve been CEO at startups and Exec VP at public companies doing M&A.
Harriet Cohen
I’m excited to meet business owners that can benefit from my experience and expertise.
I enjoy consulting with businesses, start up to mature small to corporate assuring they have the key foundational tools to enable them to start maintain or grow; this includes strategic and marketing plans, SWOT, talent management, engagement, and other tools that are necessary at every stage.
Nick deBoisblanc
I’m excited to meet emerging game developers and those looking to create events.
I help people tell their story by creating worlds through game development, film, photos, or organizing events.
You’ll find me always living the agile lifestyle of a doer.
Matthew Bentley
I’m happy to meet with non-technical founders with technical questions or anyone interested in creating a web or mobile.
I’m also happy to help anyone unhappy with their current outsourced development team.
I have experience creating software specifications (Web and Mobile projects), building high quality, and cost efficient MVPs.
I enjoy agile software development, cyber security, and technical best practices.
Ajay Dugar
I’m excited to meet entrepreneurs and startup founders who are interested in AR/AR/Blockchain, Wellness, Meditation, and Yoga.
For two decades, I have been a business-development, strategic partnerships and product management professional at various organizations within the digital M&E as well as entertainment technology industries.
Rich Weir
I’m excited to meet entrepreneurs seeking support with understanding the process for raising capital.
I’m a serial entrepreneur with roots to the emergence of Silicon Valley and I’m an angel investor.
Asher Leids
I’m happy to meet with startup founders, accredited investors, and those interested in day trading.
I’m currently an active angel investor. I was formerly a SEC attorney.
When I worked, I specialized in practicing venture capital, securities, mergers & acquisitions and general corporate law. My clients ranged from start-ups, such as Scour.net (a company that was founded by, among others, Travis Kalanick-who went on to be the founder and CEO of Uber) and Ceiva, to Fortune 100 companies, such as IBM. I also worked on the initial public offering for Shopping.com (one of the first internet IPO’s) that was subsequently acquired by Compaq Computer Corp. within one year of it’s IPO for approximately $1 Billion.
Frederic Rough
I’m excited to meet people interested in Hedera Hashgraph, IBM Hyperledger, IPFS/IPNS, IPLD, Filecoin, and libp2p.
I have experience in Cybersecurity, Cryptocurrency Trading/Minting, and Distributed Ledger Technologies.
Jon Robertson
I’m happy to meet entrepreneurs and startup founders looking to grow and scale.
My focus is on sales, marketing, and operations but I specialize in creating simple and easy to manage foundations that are designed for what startups need now but are also able to scale as the business grows.
Paul Walmsley
I enjoy meeting small business owners and entrepreneurs.
I’m a Financial Advisor helping entrepreneurs create and manage their Financial Game Plan.
Menachem Fehler
I’d like to meet business developers and engineers.
I have experience with Startups, Robotics and Drones.
Pedro Almache
I’m excited to meet entrepreneurs interested in creating their own mobile apps and seeking technical support.
I’m a CTO with a passion for mobile applications.
Dan DeMaggio
I’m looking to meet anyone considering trying to manage a software development effort.
I have built embedded systems used by thousands of people and cloud systems used by tens of millions of people. I like to use my knowledge to help startups manage software like the big tech companies.
Julian Espinosa
I’d like to meet anyone interested in growing their business on social media.
I run a digital marketing agency with a specialization on social media marketing.
Amber Wynn
I’m excited to meet individuals interested in starting nonprofits (Founders), Founders who just received their 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, Nonprofit Executive Directors struggling to fund their organizations.
I have 27 years experience with nonprofit management, funding, and strategic development experience. Largest award secured as a grant writer $3.2 million. Gave away $7 million annually as a funder.
Kenneth Fields
I have deep experience with Electronic Music, Digital Media Arts, Live Networked Music, Software Development, Academic Research, China, Audio, Internet, Media Theory, Higher Education, Blockchain.
Sonya Lee
I’m excited to meet motivated entrepreneurs, investors and VC’s.
I am an expert in UX/UI, Product and Branding with 20 years of experience. I am available as a startup advisor and for mentorship.
My style of work is very friendly, direct and collaborative. When working with my clients, I encourage them to step outside of their own personal needs to understand and validate what customers truly need and want. This is how we create great digital experiences that solve real life problems, that people will use over and over again.
Michael Gordon
I’m excited to meet business owners, business founders that are looking to aggressively grow their sales.
My expertise is in sales training, sales coaching, business development.
Ina McGuinness
I’m excited to meet entrepreneurs and investors.
I enjoy helping others with fundraising and understanding the various processes related to that.
Kevin Walker
I’m excited to meet those with businesses, startups or mature companies, in need of branding help.
My expertise is in Brand Strategy and Branding Tactics.
John Carnett
I’m excited to meet anyone interested in or seeking support with public relations, social media, digital media, and influence marketing.
Mari Fong
I’m excited to meet those interested in podcasting, event production, writing, mental health, and music.
I run a podcast focused around mental health for musicians, I organize events, I am a journalist, and I have a deep passion for non-profit work.
Andi Waibel
I’m excited to meet new or small businesses that need assistance getting started with marketing or brand awareness and/or improve company culture.
I’m also hoping to meet larger businesses that are looking for ways to reduce risks and/or improve the quality of their employee benefits and company culture.
I am a very experienced marketing expert with a specialization on improving company culture, profitability, and leveraging that to attract top recruits.
Suresh Mohan
I would like to meet people who have an idea, requirements or designs (even on the back of a napkin is ok) and need technical advice to prepare them for what it takes to develop their idea into a working product.
I have developed software and managed software development teams for the past 20 years. I would be happy to share my experiences of what it takes to develop a new software product for end users and what it takes to get them to actually use the product.
Avi Dukler
I’m excited to meet people interested in or working in life sciences and healthcare.
My primary interests are in the life sciences and healthcare services fields focusing on biomarkers, new applications for digital health, personalized medicine and molecular diagnostics.
Cynthia Ferngren
I’m excited to meet founders and VCs to share my insights on marketing and outsourcing CMOs.
I’m an award-winning marketer, strategist, startup thought leader, public speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of Your Modern CMO, Hype Creative Partners and PinkTank LA.
I’m one of the top launch experts and strategists in the business and has launched over 10 multi-million dollar brands to market. In addition, I am a serial entrepreneur and a mentor to young start up companies.
Greg Monterrosa
I would like to meet anyone that feels stuck or in need of support.
I’m a serial entrepreneur, community developer, and a problem solver. I love bringing ideas to life and scaling businesses.
Hector G. Diaz
I’m excited to meet people interested in learning more about real estate–students and business owners alike.
For over a decade, I have helped thousands of business professionals to grow and evolve their business with digital marketing and the latest disruptive technology.
I am now focused on innovation for the preeminent real estate company in the world, Realogy.
Stephen Gorgey
I’m excited to meet companies and/or individuals who are looking to grow their brands and who seek digital marketing strategic guidance.
In the last 20 years, I have developed over 1,000 digital marketing strategies for startups and going concerns alike. Some of them made my clients tens of millions of dollars.
My strong knowledge of the business landscape garnered from 20+ years of experience will enable me to analyze your services’ potential for monetizations and make sound strategic recommendations.
Teddy Thoren
I am excited to meet anyone interested in the wine industry, or anything related to the art and experience of wine. I’m happy to talk film too!
I am an experienced Winemaker with a demonstrated history of working in the wine and spirits industry. Skilled in Wineries, Food & Beverage, Alcoholic Beverages, Event Management, and Wine Tasting. Strong business development professional with a Bachelor’s degree focused in Film/Cinema/Video Studies from UC Santa Barbara.
Arash Yazdani, MS, MBA
I’m excited to meet people interested in learning how to start their own business, how to realize the potential of their academic achievements, and how to excel at business development.
I’m a Management Consultant with a focus on Business Strategy and completing an MBA at Pepperdine Business School. Past experience is in Teaching and Education Administration. A Master of Science graduate in the field of Biology with a concentration in Molecular and Cell Biology.
Exhibitors
Rise Up For You
Rise Up For You is an educational and motivational company that focuses on enhancing company culture and people development through infusing soft skills in the workplace and in our daily lives. Rise Up For You, provides various in-person corporate training, live events, coaching programs, and practical tools fostering continuous positive growth.
They most recently had the opportunity to share their expertise at Google’s largest conference of the year Cloud Next ‘19, where they worked with tech industry participants and C-Suite executives on Career Confidence, Leadership, and Career Strategy.
In addition to appearing at the Google Cloud Next ‘19 conference, Rise Up For You has also presented and spoken for multiple platforms and conferences such as The California Human Resources Conference, UCLA Extended Learning, and Lead the Way Educators Conference. They’ve been featured on CBS, Face The Truth with Vivica A. Fox, and Lebanon’s National Prime News Channel, LBC News.
GDM (Game Developers Meetup)
Game Developers Meetup Group. Based at Hub101 in Westlake Village, CA.
We will meet monthly for a dev night, with more events to be announced later.
If you bring your passion, and we’ll provide the community of fellow developers.
Come get to know us to discover the larger game development community in your own backyard.
HUAN
Huan lets your pet text you when they’re lost, so you can quickly find them and bring them home safely!
CVMAKE
CV Make is a Makerspace created to serve the Southern California, Conejo Valley area.
We support and embrace the resurgence of hands‐on Do‐It‐Yourself and maker culture through classes, meetups, membership, and community outreach where engineers, artists, students, and entrepreneurs can make ideas into real things.
We will be leading a think tank about “What a Makerspace can do for YOU and the Conejo Valley”.
Stop by to join us in the discussion and learn more about our passion for makerspaces.
SCORE
The Ventura County Chapter of SCORE was founded in 1971. It has been an active chapter since that time and currently has more than 60 volunteers.
The members of SCORE Ventura County are active and retired successful business owners and managers. Our members volunteer their experience and knowledge to help established business owners and potential business owners achieve success.
Our goal is to support businesses and careers flourish in the area–including you.
Come visit us to learn how we can help you succeed.
STREAM Educators
STREAM Educators empower K-20 inclusive educational innovation through pioneering research, professional development, curriculum development, hands on classes, CPT (computer programmed toys) and professional learning.
We also empower corporations of all sizes who want to encourage their employees to develop higher levels of critical thinking, problem solving, and team building.
We are excited to connect with area educators, C Level people, and those who are currently involved with STEM education.
Surya-Chandra Foundation
“Empowering women to eclipse poverty and inequality”
We firmly believe that man and woman, need to be treated equal. Unfortunately, there are many countries where women are treated less equal to men.
Our mission is to stop violence against women, and empower underprivileged women to rise above poverty and inequality through encouragement, basic education, and vocational skills.
Hacker Fund
We empower technologists to create social change. We work with schools and municipalities to expose community stakeholders to career pathways in S.T.E.A.M. and entrepreneurship.
We organize workshops, hackathons, and summits year-round where Hacker Fund members can access mentors and learn trade, technology, and business-development skills.
We also operate a technology incubator through which we provide our members with mentorship, funding frameworks, prototyping tools, and space they need to build projects that help the disadvantaged, educate the broader community, and protect the environment.
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Conejo Valley
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley is dedicated to providing safe spaces for the children in our communities to develop and grow as people, as citizens, and as leaders.
Our mission is to enhance the lives of young people and their families by providing a positive environment that cultivates academic success, healthy lifestyles, good character, and citizenship. And let’s be honest, to have a great time along the way!
Linked inGenious
LOYALTY VIDZ
Video testimonials made easy!
We make it easy for you to collect video testimonials from your customers, brand them, and share them across your website and social media.
It’s the best way to leverage the power of word of mouth in an organic way that resonates with the community around you.
*SBA’s participation or support is not an endorsement of any products, service, or entity.
SBA
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses.
The SBA was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation
The U.S. Small Business Administration has delivered millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses.
Come stop by to learn about all the wonderful resources we have available to you and how to gain access to them.
Young Investors Society
The Young Investors Society is dedicated to preparing the next generation of investors. Its mission is to inspire youth to be outstanding investors – investors in companies, investors in their communities, and investors in themselves.
Toastmasters
We are part of the worldwide Toastmasters organization, and meet each week to empower our members by helping them improve their speaking, communication and leadership skills.
How do we do this? Come visit us to learn all about it.
However, the best way to find out is to experience it. Be sure to take part in our workshop to do exactly that!
The Little Angels Project
The Little Angeles Project is a non profit rescue program, adoption center and veterinary clinic focused on animals in Southern California.
Our mission is:
Mowie Media
Mowie Media is a Boutique Creative and UX/UI Design Agency.
Design isn’t just our calling, we like solving real-life business problems by developing websites, apps, platforms and digital experiences.
We help organizations and startups build upon their strengths and create brands, websites as well as engaging & interactive products. We combine a unique lean approach with the knowledge of human behavior using research and the principles of user-centered design.
Fuegorita
Fuegorita is the hotter, better crushed red pepper!
Created from a blend of some of the world’s hottest dried peppers, our secret formula presents the optimal heat and flavor profile to spice up every meal.
Use Fuegorita Fine to add heat and flavor when cooking, everything from vegetables to soups and sauces; or sprinkle Fuegorita Flake on top of prepared foods like pizza, pasta, popcorn and more to give any dish that needed extra spicy kick!
AFA HUB
AFA HUB is a program by Actors for Autism, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization since 2005 that is dedicated to the advancement, education, and training of people on the autistic spectrum.
We provide vocational training programs for adults 18 years of age and older in Animation, Film, Video Game Design, Visual Effects, 360VR, and Micro-Enterprise.
Our unique educational programs are vendored with the state of California Regional Center System.
We were voted Ventura County Autism Society’s 2018 Adult Services Provider of the Year!
For more info please visit our website at www.afahub.com or www.actorsforautism.org
Or visit us on the expo floor!
Start Engine
-$25 ADMISSION-
Free Admission if you Registered for a Workshop or Speaker Panel
Our Event Sponsors
SPONSOR THE INNOVATION & GROWTH FAIR
Explore a variety of packages to be placed in a leadership role, demonstrate your expertise, gain influence, and extend your reach across the regional community
Who Comes to the fair?
demographics
Home Owners
Over 30 Years Old
Women
Make Over $200k a Year
of Businesses are Seeking Talent
Bachelors or Higher Education
Content Creator (photo/video/writer) 
F
Marketing/Sales
Software Engineer/Programmer
