The Eco-Friendly Business: Transform Your Business; Save the Planet

Panelists Include: Charlie Brazil, Old Town Trolley Tours, Robert Gadd, OnPoint Digital, Katie Rodgers-Hubbard, Lite Foot

Moderated by: Meredith Stone, Architectural Designer/Realtor

You can’t turn on a television, listen to the radio, or open a newspaper/magazine in print or digital, without hearing about Climate Change. Global warming is causing a climate crisis that is already having dire consequences on our planet: extreme weather events, expanded wildfire seasons, the bleaching of the coral reefs, and harmful pests expanding their territory. And it’s pretty unanimous, it is OUR FAULT – Humans are the leading cause of climate change.

So, what can you do?

In this panel, several local business owners/entrepreneurs will tell the story of how they and their businesses are doing their part to reduce climate change.

Beyond Bored Apes: NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) for the Arts, Entertainment & For Good

Panelists Include: Graham Gintz, Knightely, Taylor McKnight, Perk Shop, Blakely Scott, UX Designer, and James Sidletsky, USCB

Moderated by: Lesli Ott, Menter

Non-Fungible Tokens or NFTs. Smart Contracts? You’ve seen them on the news or read about them. And NOT necessarily in a good way. Crazy High Valuations, followed by dramatic valuation drops. The Crypto Crash. The impact of Crypto Mining and AI Art Computing Power Needs on the Environment. And… their use by people with less than honorable intentions.

With that being said, they offer tremendous opportunities for artists, musicians, independent game & film developers, and even non-profits to transform their business and financial lives. This panel will address what NFTs are, and how they can be used for good – by some early adopters out there getting things done.

Food For Thought Restaurant Panel

Panelists Include: Trey Wilder, Treylor Park Restaurant Group and Monique Silén, Kayak Kafé

Moderated by: Jesse Blanco, Eat It & Like It

It was already difficult enough for restaurants to survive in a tough economy. The post-pandemic fallout has affected every facet of owning a restaurant. From a changing labor pool, to costs, to shrinking profit margins: how do they do it? And more importantly, with stress levels and an all-time high, why do they stay in the game? Local bar and restaurant owners share some of their secrets not only on how they survive, but in some cases, how they thrive in this increasingly difficult marketplace.

Investor Panel

Panelists Include: Julianne Roseman, Plug and Play Tech Center, Jim Goodlett, Ariel Southeast Angel Partners / Morris Technology, Bill Glenn, Fernwood Holdings, and Bill Nussey, Engage Ventures 

Moderated by: Jen Bonnett, The Creative Coast

Hear from our Startup Stage judges, angel and venture capitalists with a Savannah connection, on what the current funding environment is like, what they look for in startups, what current deal terms look like, and more.

Metaverse & Web3 in the Real World Panel

Panelists Include: Teri Yarbrow, SCAD, Mike Morgan, Really Virtual, and Richard Ward, McKinsey

Moderated by: Christopher Davis, Go Block

The Metaverse, XR, VR, Augmented Reality, Web3, Blockchain. This panel aims to demystify these technologies by sharing examples of how companies are using these tools in real-world applications, beyond gaming, today. Hear from experts working within healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and education.

She Hustles Panel

Panelists Include: Jesse Dillon, SEDA, Mary Githens, Latin Chicks, Alethia Jones, AYJ Consulting Services, and Shannon GaNun, The Current

Moderated by: Whitney Gilliard, Gilliard and Company

SHE HUSTLES is both an event and a community that offers Savannah’s women entrepreneurs and leaders a chance to network, learn, and inspire. We know you can’t get enough of it… So, we are bringing the community together at the GRIT Conference.