NATURAL PRODUCT EXPO EAST

Natural Products Business Schoolis a full-day of learning and networking designed to provide entrepreneurs with targeted, in-depth solutions to common business challengesand an opportunity to connect with a diverseecosystem of service providers.

Cost: $195 Exhibitors / $295 Attendees (Not included with Super Pass Upgrade.)

Agenda

Tackle the intricacies of raising capitalwhile maintaining a strong mission.

7:45am - 8:15am Registration +Investor Networking(Light Breakfast Included)
8:15am - 8:20am Partner Spotlight

Brent Knudsen, Financo

​8:20am - 8:30amWelcome

Rachael Shayne, Culture Architect & Brand Strategist

8:30am - 9:00am Opening Inspiration

Koel Thomae, Noosa Yoghurt

9:00am - 9:45amSix Steps to an Effective, Retellable Story
To draw your customers, rally your investors, and build your key partnerships, you have to tell a good story. But what is a story, really, and how will yours be remembered and retold? Join Jay Golden, founder, storytelling coach and author of Retellable: How Your Essential Stories Unlock Power and Purpose, in an interactive exploration into how stories work, how they guide meaning, and how your own collection of essential stories can transform the world around you.

Jay Golden, Retellable

9:45am - 10:00am Let's Be Real: Stories of SuccessfulImpact Entrepreneurship
Four years ago, Katlin Smith started Simple Mills with the goal of cleaning up the center aisles of the grocery stores. Today, the brand is sold nationwide as the largest natural baking mix brand and one of the largest natural cracker brands. However, getting there hasnt always been smooth sailing. In this session, Founder and CEO, Katlin Smith will discuss how the needs of entrepreneurs change as companies grow and what has made a difference in the companys growth.

Katlin Smith, Simple Mills

10:00am - 10:40amProfitwith Purpose: Creating a Measurable Mission-Based Business Plan
What is your why? Businesses today can be both profitable and mission driven. Doing good by doing well. To successfully compete, you may need both! What kind of impact do you want to have? To create a clearly-articulated, measurable, mission-based plan, we need to first answer the why - before the who, what, when, where and how. Then we can create shared value with critical buy in, and leverage meaningful partnerships. Case studies with insights, advice and a check list of doable steps will be highlighted.

Terry Frishman, Culinest

​10:40am - 11:00amMission Possible:Staying Truein a Changing World
In 2017 Applegate, the nations leading natural and organic meat company, celebrates 30 years of Changing the Meat We Eat. Senior Director of Mission, Gina Asoudegan will discuss how the companys mission has evolved over 30 years to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving marketplace.

Gina Asoudegan, Applegate

11:00am - 11:40am Fearless Fundraising: Understanding your Business Financials
Entrepreneurs often try to raise money before they are ready to do sosuccessfully. How much do you need and for what? What kind of money should you use and when?The result is often a lot of discouraging conversations and anxiety over meeting payroll.This session is designed to reset this dynamic entirely.

Tera Johnson,Food Finance Institute + Tera's Whey

You'll leave understanding:

Financial Statements:what are they saying about the financial life of your business?

Growth Capital:how much capital do you need to grow,what kind, and when?

Perfect Presentation:how do youproperly document requests for financing, makestrong business assumptions andsuccessfully raise money?

11:40am - 12:30pm Networking Lunch

12:30pm - 12:45pm Passion Isn't Found, It is Nurtured
Do you want to do what you love 24/7 and also positively impact others? Join 16 year old integrative nutrition health coach, health activist, and CEO, Haile Thomas, for a dynamic conversation on nurturing passion & finding purpose + how you can incorporate your passions and social responsibility into your own ventures & dreams.

Haile Thomas, The HAPPY Organization

12:45pm - 1:40pm Brands Just Want to Have Fun(ds): Exploring the Funding Landscape
Join us in an intimateconversation centered around demystifying the"F" word. We'll hear from experts in crowdfunding,venture capital, asset-based lending, marketplace investing, incubation, accelerationand more!This action-packed 55 minutes will leave you with a deeper understanding of the vast and widely diverse capital options available to emerging brands.

Cheryl Clements, PieShell

Jessica Bates, Dwight Funding

Ross Davisson, CircleUp

Jackie Miller, Chobani

Zoe Feldman, Cleveland Avenue

1:40pm 2:25pm What Does an Investor Really Want?
In this interactive session, join us for a front row seat to better understand the relationship between a veteran entrepreneur and a seasoned investor.

Mark Haas, HelmsmanGroup

Jon Marshall, VMG

Mark Shaw, Avocado Studios

2:25pm - 3:10pm Pitfalls to Avoid When Raising Capital

Jennifer Rosenthal, KO Firm

Carole Buyers, BIGR Ventures

Duane Primozich, BIGR Ventures

3:10pm - 3:25pmNetworking Break

​3:25pm - 3:45pmDon't Go Alone: The Value of Mentorship + Finding your People

Rachael Shayne, Culture Architect & Brand Strategist

Jane Miller, Janeknows.com

3:45pm - 4:30pm Impact Capitalism: Exiting Differently + New Ways to Think aboutLiquidity
The session will highlight exit / liquidity options for impact founders with a special focus on how to preserve mission through your companys most
important financial transactions.

Nancy Rosenzweig, Big Path Capital

Diana Propper de Callejon, CranemereInc.

Ralph Carlton, King Arthur Flour Company

Chuck Holt, InvestEco

4:30pm - 5:00pmBreathe, Think + Do Like an Exponential Leader
How can you achieve exponential growth and keep the lights on at the same time? This session will give you the leadershipconfidence you need to create value for your brand (and yourself).

Jenelle Cobb,The Food + Health Collective

5:00pm - 5:05pmPitch-Slam Semi-Finals Kickoff + PartnerSpotlight

5:05pm - 6:00pmPitch-Slam Semi-Finals Competition