
Last year, the conference was a tremendous success, but one of the biggest points of feedback we received was the desire for more tangible takeaways. So, this year we’re introducing “breakout sessions”, which are designed to help you wherever you are on your entrepreneurial journey. We have world-class experts teaching practical skills and giving hands-on training that you can immediately apply to your idea or business. With three different levels from intro to advanced, these will help you set the course to make your calling a reality.
We are on a mission to increase the awareness of God in
the marketplace by building into entrepreneurs.
We invite you to join us.
Daymond initially made his mark by starting FUBU in the basement of his mother’s house, capitalizing on the then-fledgling hip-hop streetwear market, now a $20 billion dollar industry. In 2009, Daymond was tapped to join the cast of a new business-reality concept Shark Tank. Daymond has been a mainstay of the cast and is now affectionately referred to as, "The People’s Shark.”
Daymond has also written three books, the most recent of which, The Power of Broke, debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list in January of 2016.
Jessica is a Founder and former Chief Marketing Officer of KIVA, the world’s first peer to peer microlending website. KIVA lets users lend as little as $25 to poor entrepreneurs around the world, providing affordable capital for them to start or expand microenterprises. Jackley was also recently praised by Forbes, named as one of 5 rising stars in Healthcare, Education, and the Environment. She is the author of the book Clay Water Brick: Finding Inspiration from Entrepreneurs Who Do the Most with the Least (Random House).
Tim is currently serving both as Chairman and Founder of ShareThis, based on Palo Alto, CA and manages the $57 million Cintrifuse Syndicate Fund in Cincinnati, working with startups in the region. Tim spent half of his career as a tech entrepreneur and the other half as a tech venture capital investor.
Henry is a Managing Principal of Sovereign's Capital, a venture capital fund that invests in faith based entrepreneurs in the US and SouthEast Asia. Kaestner is also Chairman, Co-Founder and previous CEO of Bandwidth.com, a company that together with his business partner, David Morken, he has grown from $0 to $250 million in revenue.
2016: Backpacks & Roadmaps
Unpolished Conference is designed
to encourage your entrepreneurial spirit. Whether you’re a start-up or you’ve been hitting the pavement for a while, Unpolished will equip you for the road ahead with two days packed full of inspiring speakers and the chance to swap stories with fellow entrepreneurs.
Last year, the conference was a tremendous success, but one of the biggest points of feedback we received was the desire for more tangible takeaways. So, this year we’re introducing “breakout sessions”, which are designed to help you wherever you are on your entrepreneurial journey. We have world-class experts teaching practical skills and giving hands-on training that you can immediately apply to your idea or business. With three different levels from intro to advanced, these will help you set the course to make your calling a reality.
CO-FOUNDER, MORTAR
Allen Woods is a devoted husband, father and entrepreneur – in that order. Allen co-founded MORTAR, and serves as the Chief Vision Caster & Branding Gladiator. In addition to business consultant and training facilitator for incoming students, Allen has been tasked to chart the growth and expansion plans for the young nonprofit - recently featured by national media outlets: Forbes, Politico and NBC Nightly News.
PARTNER AT HIGH ALPHA
Kristian works with entrepreneurs and business leaders to design compelling brand
experiences, create new business models, and innovate new products and services. He cofounded High Alpha, a New Venture Studio that conceives, operates and scales enterprise cloud companies, and serves as the CEO of Studio Science, a design + innovation consultancy. Kristian acts as an active angel investor and cofounder of Gravity Ventures, in addition to having co-founded other startups, including; TinderBox, Lessonly, Visible.vc, Pathagility, and has advised numerous others along the way. Kristian lives in Indianapolis, where he mixes it up with his bride and 6 kids.
CREATOR OF MENSCH ON A BENCH
Neal is the creator of the Mensch on a Bench. Neal spent 3 years at P&G before getting his MBA and working for Hasbro Toys on GI Joe, Tonka, and Transformers. After moving to Cincinnati with his wife and sons, Neal came up for the idea for the Mensch on a Bench, the perfect mix of his toy background and family beliefs. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Mensch on a Bench debuted at retail as the #1 Hanukkah item and Neal successfully made a deal on the hit show Shark Tank.
THOMPSON HINE, PARTNER
CHAIR, EARLY STAGE & EMERGING COMPANY PRACTICE
David represents entrepreneurs, emerging companies, early-stage investors and venture capital funds. Prior to joining Thompson Hine, David worked in the technology industry, holding the dual role of CFO and General Counsel at a series of venture-backed companies. David's unique background is reflected in the creative assistance he provides his clients during their formation, financing, growth and exit. His real-world experience allows him to efficiently drive, facilitate and close transactions - whether venture investments, M&A deals, executive employment agreements, option awards, license agreements
or supplier contracts.
CO-FOUNDER, LISNR
Chris is a 3-time startup leader/veteran/crazyperson. His most recent venture, LISNR is a new communication protocol that uses sound to transmit data between devices. LISNR has grown from a few people on a bus trip to SXSW to the leader in the emerging Internet of Sound. They are an Intel Capital company, graduate of TechStars and recently named to CNBC's Disruptor50 for the second straight year. Chris is bald, mildly entertaining in person and is a contributing writer in Forbes, Inc. and Fast Company.
SENIOR VP OF REAL ESTATE, JEFFERY R. ANDERSON REAL ESTATE, INC.
Mark currently manages all tenant leasing, site selection and negotiations. Mark
has headed the successful leasing of Lifestyle Centers in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois,
Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida. Previously Mark enjoyed a successful career working as a Leasing Executive for nearly a decade with Pyramid Companies, the largest mall developer in New York State. In 1996, he left his native Syracuse, New York to join Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate, Inc. seizing the opportunity to join a fast-growing visionary company. Mark continues to play a vital role in the Company’s retail development activities, and has personally been involved in over 1200 retail lease transactions.
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
RIVER CITIES CAPITAL FUNDS
Prior to his career in private equity, Dan held various technically oriented positions including design engineering at Kodak and operations management with Owens-Illinois and Procter & Gamble. Dan graduated from The Ohio State University with a BS, cum laude, in Engineering in 1986 and obtained an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1991 with an emphasis in Finance and Business Strategy. Dan is on the board of trustees of Cincinnati Works, a non-profit that offers job development services, and has served in various leadership capacities at his place of worship. He is also a founding member and on the board of VentureOhio, a statewide organization for investors and entrepreneurs who are building high growth companies in Ohio.
CEO OF CRUSH REPUBLIC
Neil is the CEO of Crush Republic, a consumer insights firm with offices in Cincinnati and Portland. Prior to Crush Republic, Neil led digital strategy and loyalty programs at 84.51 (formerly dunnhumby). Neil is a member of the Case Western Reserve University Board of Trustees, his alma mater. Neil is a Trustee at the Cincinnati Athletic Club and mentor at OCEAN Accelerator.
VP OF CONSUMER INTELLIGENCE,
CRUSH REPUBLIC
Ryan is the VP of Consumer Intelligence of Crush Republic, a consumer insights firm with offices in Cincinnati and Portland. Previously Ryan was a Research and Innovation Consultant at the Seek Company specializing in advertising platform development. Ryan is an adjunct professor and mentor to the business program at Cincinnati Christian University, his alma mater.
CREATIVITY INSTRUCTOR, INSTITUTE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT MIAMI U
Geoff spent his early career with General Mills and Birds Eye Foods developing and tasting pizza rolls, biscuit dough, and every type of frozen food imaginable. From there he worked as the Director of Scaling and Innovation at SEEK and Kaleidoscope respectively to lead empathy-based innovation workshops with Fortune 500 firms like J&J, McDonalds, The Hartford, Kellogg and P&G. Additionally he is a board member for Design Impact and works locally and globally to train entrepreneurs to improve impoverished communities. If you run into him, ask about his recent adventures traveling west in a 1988 Motorhome with his wife and 3 daughters.
Conceived by a group of entrepreneurs who thought there should be a home base for faith and business, Unpolished is a high-octane conference—created to engage, energize and inspire the entrepreneurial spirit. Intersecting faith, creativity and business practices, this is the first conference of its kind.
Designed to encourage, connect and engage entrepreneurs at all levels, the Unpolished Conference is a refreshing, immersive experience that will provide you with tactile tools and leave you inspired.
The Peach Tree is renowned for its healthy preperations of decadent Southern classics. Winner of two Eat Up Awards and a leader in farm-to-table cuisine, The Peach Tree offers casual-chic dining in the heart of Atlanta.
Last year, the conference was a tremendous success, but one of the biggest points of feedback we received was the desire for more tangible takeaways. So, this year we’re introducing “breakout sessions”, which are designed to help you wherever you are on your entrepreneurial journey. We have world-class experts teaching practical skills and giving hands-on training that you can immediately apply to your idea or business. With three different levels from intro to advanced, these will help you set the course to make your calling a reality.