Speakers
Brave souls who share their failures
Our speakers are entrepreneurs, founders, and business owners who've agreed to publicly roast their past selves. They help others learn from their mistakes.
Next Event Lineup
Meet the May lineup
HeadlinerTracey & Jim Thomson
Tracey & Jim Thomson thought they had it figured out. Of course Jim would support Tracey leaving the corporate world to build something of her own, that was never the question. But support can mean a hundred different things, and they never actually talked about which one. After a few pivots, Tracey found her footing coaching those navigating mid-life and retirement. But the road there was messier than either of them expected: skipped conversations, missed warning signs, and the quiet ways building a business can put distance between two people who love each other. Their talk is honest, a little uncomfortable, and exactly what this room needs to hear.
Featured SpeakerAndrea Mishio
Andrea Mishio wears many hats: teacher, mother, wife, and now, entrepreneur in the making. But it's the hat she's worn the longest that gives her a perspective most business owners rarely hear: what it's actually like to love someone who is building a dream. As the spouse of an entrepreneur, Andrea knows the late nights, the uncertainty, and the quiet sacrifices that happen behind the scenes. Now, as she steps into her own entrepreneurial journey, she's bringing that hard-won perspective with her, and she's ready to talk about it openly. If you're building something, chances are someone at home is building alongside you whether they signed up for it or not. Andrea's talk is a reminder that entrepreneurship is rarely a solo story.
Featured SpeakerKris Marks
Kris Marks is back, and this time he's going even deeper. Building a business on passion is one thing. Building one with purpose? That costs something different entirely. Kris knows the missed birthdays, the friendships that quietly faded, and the moments you can't get back, and he's not here to sugarcoat any of it. His talk is raw, honest, and the kind of thing you'll still be thinking about on the drive home. Because sometimes the most important part of the entrepreneurial journey isn't the business at all, it's the person you're becoming along the way.
Why Speak
Why share your failure?
Share Your Story
Turn your worst business moments into your most powerful stories. Your failure could be someone else's breakthrough.
Safe Space
Our community is built on non-judgement. Share openly knowing you're among people who understand.
Build Connections
Connect with Edmonton's entrepreneurial community on a deeper level than any networking event.
Inspire Others
Your story of failure and resilience could be exactly what someone in the audience needs to hear.
Speaker Guidelines
What we're looking for
Built for entrepreneurs and business leaders. An inclusive space, open to all industries, all experience levels, and all types of business failures.
Your talk should be about a real business failure: something that went spectacularly wrong. This is the #1 requirement.
Keep it honest and raw. No polished success stories disguised as failures.
Each speaker gets 15 to 20 minutes and up to 10 slides, plus Q&A from the audience.
You don't need to be a professional speaker. Just be willing to be vulnerable and real.
We'll work with you to shape your story before the event. You won't be alone in this.
All industries and types of failures welcome: from startups to restaurants to side hustles.
Ready to take the stage?
Your worst business decision could be your most powerful story. Apply to speak at our next event.