IO2024 Summit Q&A with Brian Ardinger

Who should attend the IO2024 Summit? Who is this experience for?

Whether you’re building a startup, driving innovation at work, or simply curious about the secrets of innovation, IO2024 is the place to connect and learn from the builders and creators. Attendees will get a first-hand look at the trends, technologies, and talent shaping the future of Silicon Prairie and beyond.

How has the vision for IO Summit evolved since its inception in 2017 and what are the goals for this year’s event?

In 2017, the first Inside Outside Innovation Summit was held to unlock the connections between startups and corporate innovators. Since then, over 3,000 attendees, over 100 speakers, and over 300 startups have gathered in Nebraska to showcase innovation and entrepreneurship. Much has changed since 2017. We have a more vibrant and robust startup and innovation ecosystem in the region. Each year, we adapt the summit to reflect the changing landscape and offer new ideas, insights, and inspiration.

What does “Innovation Without Filters” mean to you and why is it the theme of this year’s Summit?

Innovation is hard and often misunderstood. We want to help people gain clarity and confidence in how to launch, build, and scale new ideas. We’re bringing together a diverse group of innovation leaders who will share their raw and unfiltered insights and experiences.

What are the most important trends in innovation and technology that you would like to showcase this year?

From AI to no-code tools, emerging trends in media and marketing, a whole host of innovations and disruptions will be discussed at IO2024. The summit will also bring together people from a variety of new and emerging industries, including AgTech, SportsTech, FinTech, EdTech, BuildTech and many more.

What do you see as the biggest challenges startups are facing today and how does IO Summit help address them?

One of the biggest challenges startups face is accelerating the connections that can help them build, grow, and scale quickly. At IO2024, you’ll be surrounded by other innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders who will have plenty of opportunities to learn and share with each other.

How do you ensure that networking opportunities during the Summit lead to valuable connections and collaborations?

We include a lot of time for networking and socializing in the program. We also choose topics and speakers to encourage interaction and discussion. What’s more, everyone is part of a single speaker’s track. This provides a shared experience that makes it easy to mix, connect, and start conversations with others.

What do you think the future of innovation will look like and how should companies and leaders prepare for it?

If you’re not learning what it takes to innovate and adapt, you’re falling behind. The best way to prepare for this environment is to jump in and start learning. We created IO2024 to give you a crash course in the mindset, skills, and tools required to keep up.

How important is community engagement to the success of IO Summit and what role does it play in promoting innovation?

The community really comes together around this event every year. If you look at the mix of sponsors and attendees, it’s an event that really brings together all aspects of the innovation ecosystem—corporates, startups, universities, investors, community leaders. It’s a one-day celebration of all the influencers in Silicon Prairie. And with the tie-in to Silicon Prairie Startup Week, it’s a great opportunity to build on the momentum and continue the conversations long after the Summit.

How is IO Summit contributing to the growth and development of the local startup ecosystem in Nebraska and what long-term impact do you hope to achieve?

IO2024 is a great place to meet and interact with all the elements of the startup ecosystem and build lasting connections in a very short time. It’s a nice mix of talents, topics and tactics, all in one day.

Which speakers are you most looking forward to this year?

We’ll be announcing the full list of speakers and sessions in the coming weeks, but here’s a quick look at some of the featured guests.

Alistair Croll – Alistair is a serial entrepreneur, founder of Year One Labs, organizer of the FWD50 conference, and author of the bestselling Lean Analytics and the upcoming book Just Evil Enough, which offers a manual for a new kind of marketing.

There’s Danier – There, he is a Managing Director at Good Ideas Only. GIO is a strategic analysis and design studio that guides clients through discovery, design, and delivery. There, he has worked with companies such as Apple, Twitter, General Assembly, Anthem, T-Mobile, and Deloitte.

Emperor Yang – Kaiser is the author of Crack the Code, 8 Surprising Keys to Unlock Innovation and CEO and co-founder of Platypus Labs, a global innovation research, consulting and training firm

What does the launch of Silicon Prairie Startup Week mean for IO Summit and how does this collaboration enrich attendee experiences?

We’re excited to kick off Silicon Prairie Startup Week with a fun-filled day to immediately connect new people and new ideas. This should create great momentum and collaboration for the rest of the week and beyond. It also gives everyone a chance to recognize and celebrate the amazing innovation happening in our region. Get your ticket and join us – https://io2024.live.

Silicon Prairie News readers can now use the code: SPN50 $50 off any IOSummit 2024 ticket.