HEADLINER: DUG SONG

Dug Song didn’t just build a company, he built a defining Midwest startup success story. As co-founder and CEO of Duo Security, he scaled from a scrappy startup to $2.35B exit to Cisco. But the real story starts after the exit. Dug will share the shift from operator to investor and his current work championing the next generation of founders through initiatives like Song United and the Michigan Founders Fund.

HEADLINER: IAN HATHAWAY

Ian Hathaway has built a career studying how great startup communities grow and why some regions punch above their weight. As co-founder and managing partner of venture capital firm FOVC, former senior vice president at Techstars, and co-author of The Startup Community Way, he brings deep experience across investing, economic growth, and founder ecosystems. Ian will bring a big-picture perspective to Angel Fest, connecting what happens on the ground with the bigger forces driving innovation, capital, and startup momentum far beyond the usual hubs.

HOT DEALS & HIGHER STANDARDS

Brett Brohl • Ali Humphrey • Alexandra O'Hagan-Padron • Paul Hilsen | Moderator: Taylor Eubanks

Great investors don’t just find deals—they earn them. This panel explores where strong deal flow really comes from: networks, founder referrals, and co-investor relationships. But sourcing is only half the story, reputation is the engine behind access. Showing up, adding value, and following through builds trust. And trust makes you a competitive source of capital. When founders and co-investors know you’re reliable, better opportunities come your way.

POWER OF A SMALL CHECK

Joe Kirgues • Meredith Englund • Bernie Stone • Tina Hrabak | Moderator: Jill Miller

Small checks can be a strong early-stage strategy for investors and founders alike. It often allows more investors to participate, brings in broader experience into the mix, and builds a community of champions. This panel will share practical ways to make a small check count, especially through diversification. We’ll explore how this can be supported through syndicates and SPVs.

CHASING WATERFALLS

Amanda Welters • Ann Vanga • Christopher Carlisle • Laurie Bauer | Moderator: Tej Dhawan

Cap tables look like spreadsheets right up until they decide who made money. This is a conversation for angels who want to go beyond the basic “percent owned” view and get fluent in how dilution, follow-on rounds, and terms shape risk and reward over time. We’ll walk through how different securities and terms can shift outcomes across current and future rounds of financing.

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS

Reed Robinson

Every investor and founder has a question they’d rather not ask to a crowd—or at least not under normal conditions. In this interactive session, we’ll anonymously crowdsource real missteps and unpack them live on stage. Together, we’ll break down what people have been unsure about, what they’ve been hesitant to ask, and what to watch for next time. Because in venture, some of the most valuable insights come from the questions people don’t always feel comfortable asking out loud.

DISRUPTING THE GAME

Mike Proman • Konrad von Moltke • Jordan Carlson • Angelina Lawton | Moderator: Kate Townley

The sports industry isn’t just games, it’s hundreds of billions of dollars globally. This panel sits at the intersection of sports & fitness, startups, and innovation. Come for the sports energy, leave with sharper instincts for which opportunities have real momentum.

DIAGNOSIS: MARKET GAPS

Stephanie Faubion • Kyle Ettinger • Christina Chen • Christopher Russi | Moderator: Chris Schad

It’s no secret that Minnesota is a healthcare heavyweight. Home to the Medical Alley ecosystem and big players like Mayo Clinic, Destination Medical Center, Medtronic, and UnitedHealthcare, we’re doing what we do best: getting specific. In this reverse pitch, clinical leaders flip the usual format and “pitch” the problems instead of the products. For angel investors, it’s a fast, candid way to sharpen your thesis, spot investable white space, and leave with a short list of build-worthy needs straight from the people who live the workflow.