The SIA Startups Experience at ISC East

Agenda Overview

• 8-11 a.m. Breakfast & Sessions (Room 1A21/1A22)
• 11-12 a.m., 1-2 p.m. Strategy Reviews (Room 1B02)
• 12-1 p.m. Lunch available as part of SIA’s Critical Infrastructure event (Room 1A21/1A22)

Detailed Agenda

8-8:30 a.m. – Breakfast & Networking

Come early for breakfast and networking with other startups and companies supporting startups. Breakfast will remain available until 9 a.m.

8:30 – 9 a.m. – Start-Up Stories

Join a candid conversation with three founders shaping the future of physical security. In this fast-paced session, each shares their journey through The Four Chapters: The Spark (how it began), The Struggle (what they’ve faced), The Shift (what’s working now) and The Ask (what they need next). No scripts. No filters. Just real founders sharing lessons, insights, and advice every startup can learn from.

Session speakers:

• Moderator: Lee Odess,
  Co-Chair, Startups in Security
• Mike Johnson, President, 78 Dragons
• Jason Veiock, Founder and CEO, Bearing
• Mike Intag, Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer, ElectricEye

9 - 9:45 a.m. – Go-To-Market Strategies

Explore various go-to-market strategies for success in the security industry. Should you use the channel? Distribution? Go direct? What are the pros and cons of each approach, and what has worked and not worked for real companies who were in the same place as you?

Session speakers:

• Charles Johnson, founder, NGA Security Advisors
• Angie Barnes, chief revenue officer, Evolon Technology
• Mohammed Atif Shehzad, Managing Director, Atriade

9:45 - 10:20 a.m. – Funding Your Vision

A panel of investors of various types will share insights into preparing your business for investment and offer real takes on what acceptance of certain types of funding will likely change how you operate. We'll get into topics like smart cash vs. dumb money, asset-based lending, venture capital, debt equity, M&A, SBA loans, alternative financing and other aspects of ensuring you have the funds available to make your vision into reality.

Session speakers:

• Mark Eklund, CEO, 24Aries
• Robert Chefitz, Founder & Managing Partner, EGIS Capital Partners
• Jed Fochtman, Market Executive, United Capital Funding

10:20 - 11 a.m. – Building Your Dream Team

You have a great idea or great technology. But it’s the people who surround you who can make you go from zero to hero. Who do you need on your team to accelerate your vision? Where do you find them? How do you vet them? How do you make great culture part of your startup strategy?

Session speakers:

• Mario Doyle, President & Chief Operating Officer, Doyle Security
• Bret Ennals, CEO, Cento Group
• Lori Hudnall, Vice President, Human Resources, SAGE Integration

11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Quick Startup Strategy Reviews with Advisors (Morning Sessions)

Sign up for a quick session to get instant feedback on your startup company's strategy. In a private room, you'll sit with this small panel, present your company's story, and get thoughtful commentary and questions back from our panel of industry advisors that represent experts in the industry, integration, consulting and investing. Your conversations will remain private and are not "pitches" (this isn't Shark Tank), and advisors will recuse themselves if there is a conflict of interest.

These quick-form sessions (15-20 minutes each) are open to all startups. Email SIA's Geoff Kohl [ gkohl@securityindustry.org ] to get scheduled for a strategy review session. Many startups are already committed; request a strategy review quickly to ensure a session.

Advisory Panel:

• Charles Johnson, president, NGA Security Advisors
• Mark Eklund, CEO, 24Aries
• Annie Lan, Partner, EGIS Capital Partners
• John Nemerofsky, COO, SAGE Integration

12 noon - 1 p.m. – Lunch Served as part of SIA Critical Infrastructure Luncheon

Startups in Security attendees are invited to dine and attend as much of luncheon as they choose. Lunch will be served in room 1A21/1A22 (same room as our morning sessions).

1-2 p.m. – Quick Startup Strategy Reviews with Advisors (Afternoon Sessions)

See description above: These quick-form sessions (15-20 minutes each) are open to all startups. Email SIA's Geoff Kohl [ gkohl@securityindustry.org ] to get scheduled for a strategy review session. Many startups are already committed; request a strategy review quickly to ensure a session.