IMPORTANT WEATHER AND TRAVEL UPDATE
The Startup Mountain Summit will continue as planned. Due to the impact of Hurricane Helene many road closures may impact your route. Some areas should not attempt to travel here. Refunds are available for anyone affected by this storm.
Read the Announcement & Learn More
2 DAYS • 10 SPEAKERS • ∞ CONNECTIONS
SCHEDULE
All Times Are Best Estimates!
We Strive to Stick to the Planned Times as Much as Possible.
This Schedule is Subject to Change. Check Back Often!
SUNDAY, SEPT 29TH
WELCOME PARTY
Fischman Gallery
SPEAKERS
6 PM
Sign Up & CHECK IN
6-9 PM
WELCOME PARTY
@ Fischman Gallery
133 N Commerce St
Johnson City, TN
MONDAY, SEPT 30TH
SUMMIT DAY 1
ETSU Martin Center
SPEAKERS & TOPICS
8-9 AM
COFFEE & Networking
MEET FOUNDERS AND OTHER ATTENDEES
9-10 AM
JEFF HILIMIRE (BIO)
CEO of purpose group,
Co-founder dragon army & author
Topic: PURPOSE AS A BUSINESS MODEL
10-11 AM
Asia Orangio (BIO)
FOUNDER / CEO Demandmaven & author
Topic: How to read your customer’s minds
The pillars of buyer psychology
11-12 AM
WILLIAM WARREN (BIO)
CEO OF SKETCH EFFECT & AUTHOR
Topic: Victorious Visuals – 3 Charts to Conquer Your
Obstacles and Grow Your Business
12-1 PM
LUNCH
1-2 PM
STEVE CARSE (BIO)
Founder, KING OF POPS
Topic: THIS SHOULD BE FUN – 7 Principles to make work
fun and meaningful
2-2:20 PM
2:20-3:10 PM
3:10-4pm
Noah Kagan (BIO)
Chief Sumo at AppSumo.com & NYT Best Selling Author
Topic: Sitting Down with Noah kagan + LIVE Audience Q&A
4-4:30 PM
7-9 PM
INVESTMENT event
Business Showcase and Networking
@ The 401 Ashe Building
401 Ashe Street,
Johnson city, tn
TUESDAY, OCT 1ST
SUMMIT DAY 2
ETSU Martin Center
SPEAKERS & TOPICS
8-9 AM
COFFEE & NETWORKING
MEET FOUNDERS AND SUPPORTERS
9:10-9:40
DAVID NELSON (BIO)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FOUNDERSFORGE
FOUNDER, QURBIE.COM
TOPIC: HOW TO BUILD YOUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AS A
TECHNICAL AND NON-TECHNICAL FOUNDER.
9:40-10:20
10:20-11:00
LAUREN GLASS-MULLINS (BIO)
CO-FOUNDER & CEO, PERSONALITYPOOL
TOPIC: LAUREN’S VERY IMPORTANT GUIDE TO BUSINESS
11:00-11:20
COFFEE & COOKIE BREAK
11:20-11:50
Heath guinn (BIO) & Eller Kelliher
Learn About Sync Space and InvestTN
TOPIC: launchtn: Tennessee’s hub for startups
and innovation
11:50-12:20
12:20-12:30
CLOSING REMARKS
Introduction to Adventure Networking
ADVENTURE NETWORKING (OPTIONAL)
EXPERIENCES TO MAKE NETWORKING AWESOME. Learn more here.
2024 SPEAKER LINEUP
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
NOAH KAGAN
Noah Kagan was #30 at Facebook, #4 at Mint and has since created eight multi-million dollar businesses, including his current company AppSumo.com (#1 software deals site for entrepreneurs), which is on track to hit $100 million this year.
Most of Noah’s businesses were started in just a weekend. His recently released best-selling book Million Dollar Weekend, which details his process to start businesses – His “business plan” for aspiring entrepreneurs is to get 3 paying customers within 48 hours. You don’t have to be rich, brilliant, or super experienced. You don’t have to ‘risk it all’ and quit your day job. You just need to get your first dollar and keep going.
You don’t want to miss what Noah has to say at this year’s Startup Mountain Summit!
LEARN FROM WORLD CLASS SPEAKERS
This year’s line up is designed to motivate you to reach your own summit through engaging talks, new frameworks, and inspiration to reach the next level in your startup’s success.
At the Startup Mountain Summit, you will meet the speakers, connect with them during networking, and have opportunities to ask the questions you want to help you in your ventures.
STEVE CARSE
Co-Founder of King of Pops, Upcoming Author
GUY YALIF
CEO of Intellimize (Recently Acquired by Webflow)
Asia Orangio
Founder/CEO DemandMaven
JEFF HILIMIRE
CEO of Purpose Group, Co-Founder Dragon Army, Author
WILLIAM WARREN
CEO of Sketch Effect, Author
LAUREN MULLINS
CEO of Personality Pool
John Blakey
Indie Developer, Google Cloud Partner Customer Engineer
David Nelson
Executive Director, FoundersForge
CHRIS SLOAN
Chair, Emerging Companies Team at Baker Donelson
HEATh GuiNN
President, Sync Space
Kiki Schirr
MC, Author, Investigator, and Marketer
Jose Castillo
Host & MC, Host of NASCAR Trackside Live
THE SUMMIT IS DESIGNED
FOR YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS
If you are an aspiring founder, already launched, or an existing business that is thriving, then the Summit has been designed for you. Makers, artists, and ecosystem builders will also thrive at the Summit.
The content of the Startup Mountain Summit is focused on the business side of startups and small businesses. It is industry agnostic and the content is tailored towards growth, connections, and inspiration. You will also have plenty of opportunities to connect with other founders, investors, and supporting organizations to grow your network.
INSPIRATION
Hear inspiring stories on how others launched, scaled, and existed their businesses. You will also be given the inspiration to apply what you learn in your own business through new tools and techniques that successful founders are sharing.
GROWTH
Forget the growth hacks.
Learn how true rapid-growth happens and how others achieved it through sustained best practices. You will also learn about venture capital, bootstrapping, and alternatives to both.
CONNECTIONS
Meet other founders, investors, and supporting organizations in unique ways. Make a full weekend around the Summit and meet someone axe throwing or on a chill bike ride through the mountains.
JOIN US FOR
ADVENTURE NETWORKING
The traditional approach to networking is to awkwardly ask each person you meet, “What do you do?” The right way to network is to combine common interests and meeting new people. Through a shared adventure, you will meet new people and form stronger bonds through shared experiences.
On Day 2 of the Startup Mountain Summit, you’ll have the opportunity to choose your own adventure networking experiences. From navigating a high-ropes course, a walking tour ending at a local restaurant, and even a family friendly group bike ride through the city. We have something for everyone so that you can maximize your time at Startup Mountain.
NOTE: Some adventure networking experiences require an additional fee.
network on the
challenge course
The Basler Aerial Adventure Course is a state of the art low and high ropes outdoor experience. The course offers a full range of adventurous activities including: two ziplines; a giant swing; quick descent; and a three-level aerial challenge tower with elements ranging from easy to difficult and between 15 – 45 feet in the air.
Get to know other attendees and Startup Founders while challenging yourself and supporting each other.
EXPLORE A RICH HISTORY ON A WALKING TOUR
From Al Capone visiting, the creation of Mountain Dew, and even the birthplace of the TN Flag, our region has a rich history. Join summit attendees on a short walking tour and learn about some incredible stories while connecting with others. Then finish at a local restaurant for more networking and connections.
CONNECT IN the MOUNTAINS ON A HIKE
Get the full Appalachian Mountain experience with a short nature hike in the mountains the surround Johnson City, Tennessee. Fall is an amazing season in our region and it’s a perfect time to connect with other summit attendees while appreciating nature at it’s finest.
end your SUMMIT with
the taco trek Bike Ride
End your conference experience with the international event that started in Johnson City, the Taco Trek. This bike ride is a 30 minute family friendly ride around town and ends at Holy Taco Cantina.
Nothing is better than a short ride, connecting with startup founders, and ending your day with Tacos. This event is free to everyone and if you don’t have a bike, you can reserve one at the Trek store of Johnson City.
JOIN US AT THE SUMMIT
The Startup Mountain Summit will be an unforgettable experience that will help move your startup forward. Get your tickets now before they sell out.
Bringing the whole team? Contact Us for special pricing.
INVESTOR PASS
$349 $199
- 2-Day Admission
- Lunch Included
- Breakfast Included
- VIP Investor Event
- Startup Directory
- VIP Lounge Access
FULL SUMMIT
$249 $149
- 2-Day Admission
- All Speaker Sessions
- Hallway Track Lounge
- Lunch Included
- Welcome & After Party
- Investor Event Access
- Access to Adventure Networking Opportunities
COMPANY & GROUP PASSES
- Special Rates for Companies, Groups, or Educational Institutions Bringing More Than 4 People
- Unique Networking and Team Building Options
- VIP Lounge Access
Watch the recap video of the
2023 startup mountain summit
STAY CONNECTED
Join our newsletter to be the first to hear about
ticket sales, speakers and unique experiences at the Summit.
WHAT OTHERS
ARE SAYING
Startup Founders from across the Southeast and beyond are coming together to be inspired, learn from each other, and make connections that will last a lifetime.
Meeting other founders that are have been through the same challenges I’m facing always helps in ways I never knew were possible. I can’t wait to meet more startups!
Lauren Glass
Co-Founder, Personality Pool
I can’t wait to hear from the speakers and meet the investor network that will be attending this year’s summit. It is rare to be able to expand your connections in such a short period of time.
Kay Baker
CEO, Green Llama
Learning from this lineup of speakers is going to be extremely helpful. We are looking forward to learning from their experience and advice on what we can be doing to grow FytFeed.
Dennis Ashford
Co-Founder, FytFeed
GET INSPIRED
& CONNECTED
Half startup conference and half startup retreat to the mountains, the Startup Mountain Summit provides the ultimate experience for early to mid-staged startups.
Startup Mountain goes beyond the “What do you do?” style of networking to get you connected. Enjoy a local craft beer while axe throwing with investors, crowd around a fire while you make s’mores, or hop on a local eBike for a quick trip with other founders.
SPONSOR
STARTUP MOUNTAIN
The Startup Community in the Southeast is an untapped resource for your company. Gain access to a community of entrepreneurs and start building a strong relationship today.
MOUNTAIN SHERPA SPONSORS
STARTUP MOUNTAINEERS
BASECAMP PARTNERS
