2022 VEC
Schedule

7:30 – 8:00 AM | In-Person Registration:

Grab + Go Breakfast available

8:00 – 8:10 AM | Welcome to the VEC

Michael Burcham, Faculty Director, Vanderbilt Center for Entrepreneurship

Stacie Pawlicki, Director, Center for Entrepreneurship

8:10 – 8:15 AM | Chancellor Welcome: “Innovation at Vanderbilt”

8:15 – 8:40 AM | Keynote: “From Customer Discovery to Scalable Business: A Framework for Growth”

Mark Harris, CEO, HeroWear

8:40 – 9:05 AM | Keynote: “Creativity in Entrepreneurship”

Kendra Kawala, Co-Founder & COO, Maker Wine

9:05 – 9:55 AM | Panel: “Made in Nashville: Building Business in Music City”

Caroline Howard, Co-Founder, Walker Brothers

Dan Stephenson, Co-Founder & COO, Daily Crunch Snacks

Joshua Mundy, CEO & Co-Founder, Pivot Technology

Rhonda Cammon, Owner/Creator, Perfectly Cordial

Moderator: John Murdock, COO & CPO, Nashville Entrepreneurship Center

9:55 – 10:20 AM | Coffee Break + Conversation

10:20 – 10:45 AM | TRACK SERIES Speaker 1

Founder Insights: “Instagram vs Reality: Entrepreneurial Edition”

Woody Klemmer, Head of Growth, Formotiv

Investor Insights: “Relationships Matter, I Don’t”

Chris Booker, Partner, Frist Cressey Ventures

Startup Ecosystem: “The Toughest Question an Advisor Asked Me…And How it Will Help You”

Matthew Charette, EO Catalyst Program

10:45 – 11:10 AM | TRACK SERIES Speaker 2

Founder Insights: “Pop Music in a Country City: Narrowing Your Focus to Drive Success”

Liz Rodgers, Founder & Creative Director, Anacrusis

Investor Insights: “Investors are Missing Out: Women Founders are Rocking the ROI!”

Sherry Deutschmann, Founder & CEO, Braintrust, Angel Investor

Startup Ecosystem: “LAST Actions for Lasting Impact”

John Nevel, Co-Founder & CEO, Compass EAST

11:10 – 11:35 AM | TRACK SERIES Speaker 3

Founder Insights: “Inside the Early Days of Rent the Runway, Birchbox, and My Own”

Matt Hertz, Co-Founder, Second Marathon

Investor Insights: “Wanna be a VC? Here’s What You’re Signing Up For”

Hunter Hillenmeyer, Partner, Next Play Capital

Startup Ecosystem: “Profits with Purpose: How to Do Well by Doing Good”

Ethan Fedida, Co-Founder, Campfire Group

11:35 – 12:05 PM | Lunch Break: Grab + Go Boxed Lunch

12:05 – 12:10 PM | Dean Johnson: Greeting

Dean Eric Johnson, Owen Graduate School of Management

12:10 – 12:55 PM | Lunch Keynote: “It Takes a Village”

Andrew East, Co-Founder, Teddy & Bear, NFL Athlete, Managing Director, Charmides Capital 

Shawn Johnson East, Co-Founder, Teddy & Bear, Olympic Gold Medalist

12:55 – 1:55 PM | Panel: “The Investor Perspective”

Chris Mioton, Partner, Shore Capital

Alana Mann, Principal, Cultivation Capital

Joe Maxwell, Managing Partner, FINTOP Capital

Moderator: Beth Chase, serial entrepreneur, board member, and community leader

1:55 – 2:15 PM | Keynote: “A Pirate’s Life for Me: Perspective from A Healthtech Entrepreneur”

Jerome Edwards, Co-Founder, President & CEO, CardioNXT, Inc.

2:15 – 3:20 PM | Student Pitch Competition

CareEco: Corey Johnson & Chris Kenney (EMBA)

Daedalus: Wenitte Apiou (Undergraduate)

ESGi: Max Mona (Owen MSF)

TuneHatch: Christal Hector & Nathan Youssef (Owen MBA)

Solar Aqua Flex: Drew Horseman (PhD Candidate)

Special Judge: Matt Saurage, Chairman, Community Coffee Co Inc.

4:00 – 6:00 PM | After Party Event Hosted by the Wond’ry

Owen Students, Victoria McDermott & Carter Brady

Nick Howard, Winner of The Voice: Germany

Gabe Baker