Starting Small Media presents · 6th annual
Starting Small Summit 2027 Presented by Gen-Y Hitch
Everyone
starts
small.
Founders behind ROAM and TUMI, The North Face, Cymbiotika and Sweetwater share how they got their start. Wednesday, February 17, 2027 at Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana.
$10,000+ in free product at this year's summit
Meet the 2027 speakersStarting Small by the numbers
Six years of founder stories.
Lineup
The 2027 speakers
Each founder sits down with Cameron for a one-on-one conversation. Tap a card to read their bio.
Swipe to see all speakers
Chuck Surack
Chuck started Sweetwater in 1979 as a recording studio in his VW bus and built it into one of the largest music retailers in the world, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He first spoke at the summit in 2023.
Life after acquisition. In 2027 he returns for a 20-minute session on selling a business, philanthropy and legacy.
Hosted by Cameron Nagle
Founder & host of Starting Small · Bethel '22 · Author of Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream
Schedule
Schedule
Doors open at 8:30 AM. The program runs 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM Eastern.
Times are subject to change.
Doors open
Check in and grab a coffee.
Welcome
Opening remarks from Bethel University President McDonald and presenting sponsor Gen-Y Hitch.
Charlie Clifford
Co-founder of ROAM and founder of TUMI. 45-minute interview.
Hap Klopp
Founder and 20-year CEO of The North Face. 45-minute interview.
Intermission
10-minute break. Coffee and free products from our sponsors.
Shahab Elmi
Co-founder and CEO of Cymbiotika. 45-minute interview.
Chuck Surack: life after acquisition
Founder of Sweetwater. 20-minute session on selling a business, philanthropy and legacy.
Intermission
10-minute break.
Panel and live Q&A
All speakers return to the stage to take questions from the audience, live on the mic.
Event ends
Thank you for coming.
The event
What to expect
A morning of interviews with founders about how they built their companies, followed by audience Q&A.
One-on-one interviews and a panel Q&A
Cameron interviews each founder individually. The program ends with all speakers on stage taking audience questions.
Every attendee leaves with products from our sponsors and past guests.
Audience Q&AAsk the panel
Bring your questions for the speakers.
Founders, students and business leaders
Attendees come from across Michiana, Indiana and the Midwest.
Coffee and drinks
A barista at check-in, plus drinks from OLIPOP.
Past summits
2022 to 2026
Scroll to see each year →
20222022 · Bethel University
- Stacy Madison · Stacy's Pita Chips
- Joe Foster · Reebok
- Dr. Jonathan Levine · GLO Science
20232023
- Cameron Smith · Kodiak Cakes
- Chuck Surack · Sweetwater
- Peter Tuchman · NYSE
20242024 · South Bend
- Devan Kline · Burn Boot Camp
- Ron Rudzin · Saatva
- Mike Salguero · ButcherBox
20252025 · Bethel University
- Suze Dowling · Pattern Brands
- Alex Douzet · Ollie
- James W. Keyes · 7-Eleven & Blockbuster
20262026 · Bethel University
- Jaime Schmidt · Schmidt's Naturals
- Shawn Nelson · Lovesac
- Sam Rockwell & Cordell Broadus · Dr. Bombay
February 17, 2027
- Everest-Rohrer Auditorium, Bethel University
About
About the summit
The Starting Small Summit is the Midwest's premier entrepreneurship event. It began in 2022 as a live version of the Starting Small podcast. Every year since, founders of brands people use every day have come to Northern Indiana to share how they built their companies.
Past stages have featured the founders and leaders of Reebok, Stacy's Pita Chips, Kodiak Cakes, Sweetwater, Saatva, Burn Boot Camp, ButcherBox, Pattern, Ollie, 7-Eleven, Blockbuster, Lovesac, Schmidt's Naturals and Dr. Bombay.
The 2027 summit is Wednesday, February 17 at Bethel University in Mishawaka, minutes from Notre Dame and South Bend. It's presented by Gen-Y Hitch and hosted by Cameron Nagle, author of Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream.
Past speakers
Brands that have been on our stage
Founders and leaders from these companies have spoken at past summits.
Register
Tickets
Pick your ticket. Secure checkout opens right away in a new tab. Over $10,000 in free product at this year's summit.
Checkout opens in a new tab. Have a promo code? Enter it at checkout.
The venue
Everest-Rohrer Auditorium
Bethel University · 1001 Bethel Circle, Mishawaka, IN 46545
Become a 2027 sponsor
Sponsorship includes stage branding, product sampling for attendees and time with the speakers. A few spots are open.
cameron@startingsmallmedia.orgQuestions
FAQ
What is the Starting Small Summit?
The Starting Small Summit is the Midwest's premier entrepreneurship event. Each year, the founders behind household-name brands come to Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana, to share how they really started. Cameron Nagle, host of the Starting Small podcast, interviews each founder 1:1, and the morning closes with the full panel taking audience questions.
When and where is the 2027 summit?
Wednesday, February 17, 2027, at the Everest-Rohrer Auditorium on the Bethel University campus, 1001 Bethel Circle, Mishawaka, IN 46545. Doors open at 8:30 AM and the program runs 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM Eastern. It's about 15 minutes from Notre Dame and downtown South Bend.
Who is speaking in 2027?
Charlie Clifford (co-founder of ROAM and founder of TUMI), Hap Klopp (founder and 20-year CEO of The North Face) and Shahab Elmi (co-founder and CEO of Cymbiotika). Chuck Surack, founder of Sweetwater, returns for a special session on life after acquisition. Cameron Nagle hosts.
How much are tickets?
General admission is $50. Groups of 10 or more save 20% on every ticket. Students get in free with a valid student ID.
Is there free product?
Yes. There is over $10,000 in free product at this year's summit, shared with attendees on the day.
Who should attend?
Founders, small business owners, students, operators and anyone thinking about starting something. People come from across Michiana, Indiana and the Midwest.
Can I ask the founders questions?
Yes. The full panel comes back out at the end of the morning for live audience Q&A.
Is there parking?
Yes, parking is available on the Bethel University campus. Directions are in the venue section above.
How can my company sponsor?
Email cameron@startingsmallmedia.org or open the sponsor deck. Gen-Y Hitch is the 2027 presenting sponsor and a few partner spots are still open.
Countdown to February 17
Feb 17, 2027 · Mishawaka, IN