The CNBC Disruptor 50 list identifies 50 private companies whose innovations are transforming the economy and revolutionizing their industries.
After six years, we’re taking these principles on the road. The CNBC Disruptor 50 Roadshow will gather Disruptor 50 company founders, leaders and investors in thriving start-up communities to compare notes, debate and discuss the challenges and opportunities available to entrepreneurs, and share actionable advice with engaged live audiences.
Who should attend: Entrepreneurs, small-business owners, start-ups and VCs who want to:
Dana Settle is a Founding Partner with Greycroft, and she heads the firm’s west coast office out of Los Angeles.
Prior to Greycroft, Dana spent several years as a venture capitalist and advisor to startup companies in the Bay Area, including six years at Mayfield, where she focused on early stage companies in the mobile communications and consumer Internet markets.
Dana currently serves or observes on the boards of Greycroft’s investments in AppAnnie, EBTH.com, Instantly, Steelhouse, TheRealReal, Clique Media Group, and WideOrbit. She also managed the firm’s investments in Maker Studios (sold to Disney), Viddy (sold to FullScreen), AwesomenessTV (sold to Dreamworks), Digisynd (sold to Disney), ContentNext (sold to Guardian Media), MoVoxx (sold to Motricity), Pulse (sold to LinkedIn), Sometrics (sold to American Express) and Trunk Club (sold to Nordstrom).
Dana also serves as a Board of Director to IMAX Corporation. Her additional experience includes business development at Truveo (AOL), investment banking at Lehman Brothers and international business development at McCaw Cellular Communications (AT&T).
Dana holds a BA in Finance and International Studies from the University of Washington and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Mark Suster is a Managing Partner at Upfront Ventures, where he has led investments including Density, Imbellus, Invoca, mitú, Osmo, and Maker Studios (acquired by Disney in 2015.) Mark joined Upfront in 2007 after having previously worked with the firm for nearly 8 years as a two-time entrepreneur. Before joining Upfront, Mark was Vice President, Product Management at Salesforce.com following its acquisition of Koral, where Mark was Founder and CEO. Prior to Koral, Mark was Founder and CEO of BuildOnline, a European SaaS company that was acquired by SWORD Group. Earlier in his career, Mark spent nearly ten years working for Accenture in Europe, Japan and the U.S.
Mark received a BA in Economics from the University of California, San Diego, and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Katerina Markov Schneider is the founder and CEO of Ritual. Previously, she was a Venture Partner with Troy Carter in his investment fund, AF Square where she managed an active portfolio of over 70 investments including Dropbox, Warby Parker, Spotify, Uber and Lyft. Previously, she served as Head of Global Innovation at Atom Factory, leading digital strategy & high-level technology partnerships for such Atom Factory artists as Lady Gaga and John Legend, along with associated brands and investment portfolio companies. She previously served as Global Lead of Digital Innovation at Universal Music Group; and before that, was the Senior Business Development Advisor to the company’s Chairman & CEO.
Schneider earned a degree from Brown University in Applied Mathematics-Economics. She also serves on the board of several startups, was recently named in the Forbes 30 under 30 for Venture Capital, serves as a Global Shaper for the World Economic Forum and lives in Los Angeles, CA.
Leura Fine is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Laurel & Wolf, the online interior design service that makes it fun, easy, and affordable to decorate your space.
Leura is a professional interior designer turned entrepreneur. After working as the senior designer for a leading interior design firm, she launched her own business, Leura Fine Interiors, in 2013. Frustrated by the archaic business model of the interior design industry, Leura set out to democratize it by establishing a better way for clients and designers to work together. Laurel & Wolf was born in late 2014 and has helped thousands of people all over the country bring their design dreams to life.
Leura was named Forbes 30 Under 30 for Retail & eCommerce and was most recently awarded Goldman Sachs Builders + Innovators 100 “Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs,” and has been featured in numerous publications including but not limited to The New York Times, TechCrunch and Architectural Digest. She has raised $25.5M in venture capital from top venture capital funds Benchmark and Charles River Ventures. Laurel & Wolf was also named “25 Hot Los Angeles Startups to Watch” and was on Business Insider's list “33 startups to watch in 2017.”
2:00pm
3:05pm
The CNBC Disruptor 50 List is all about identifying companies turning breakthrough technology into sustainable business models, built for the long-term. Disruptor 50 CEOs share how they’ve navigated their companies’ transitions from rebellious startup to disciplined company, without losing sight of their core mission or slowing their growth.
Abhijit (Bobby) Bose, Founder and CEO, Ezetap; CNBC Disruptor 50 company (2017, 2016)
Rodney Williams, Founder and CEO, LISNR; CNBC Disruptor 50 company (2016, 2015)
Interviewer: Julia Boorstin, Senior Media & Entertainment Correspondent, CNBC
3:30pm
Some of the most successful companies to emerge from Los Angeles’ flourishing startup scene – like past Disruptors Snap and Dollar Shave Club – have engineered success by rethinking popular products and services and how consumers use them. These two companies are no different – Ritual is making women’s vitamins with better ingredients and literal transparency, while Laurel & Wolf is rethinking the way people collaborate with professional designers to bring their remodeling dreams to life. The founders join us to discuss how their companies are building brands with staying power, and the opportunities that exist for other startups in the region and beyond.
Leura Fine, Founder and CEO, Lauren & Wolf
Katerina Schneider, Founder and CEO, Ritual
Interviewer: Julia Boorstin, Senior Media & Entertainment Correspondent, CNBC
3:55pm
Mark Duplass’ first hit film had a budget of just $15,000. Today, he’s working on multi-million dollar projects, but he hasn’t lost sight of the “work with what you have” philosophy that’s gotten him here. He’ll discuss his new book “Like Brothers,” co-authored with his brother Jay, about how the Duplass brothers paved their own way to become two of the most influential people in Hollywood, thanks to a unique and disruptive brand of collaboration and creativity.
4:45pm
Dana Settle and Mark Suster are two of LA’s most respected and influential venture capitalists. Settle’s Greycroft has invested in names like Venmo, The Huffington Post, and Trunk Club, while Suster’s Upfront Ventures counts Ulta Beauty and TrueCar among its biggest exits. Both also have CNBC Disruptor 50 companies in their portfolios. Suster and Settle will bring us their take on the state of capital flow to entrepreneurs locally and nationally, and share what they value most in a pitch.
Dana Settle, Co-founder and Partner, Greycroft; 2018 CNBC Disruptor 50 company investor
Mark Suster, Managing Partner, Upfront Ventures; 2018 CNBC Disruptor 50 company investor
5:05pm
LA’s self-proclaimed “first high-tech mayor” has been a champion for Los Angeles-based small businesses and startups since he took office 5 years ago. Under Garcetti’s leadership, the city has launched several programs to support its startup ecosystem, including the Entrepreneurs in Residence program, that aims to connect high-flying founders with area business leaders. We’ll hear what’s worked, what he’s learned and what to expect in years to come…
5:35pm
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CNBC’s DISRUPTOR 50 PLEASE SUBMIT AN INQUIRY HERE.
Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs is a collaborative learning environment where startups serious about developing the next generation of media, entertainment and connectivity innovations connect with Comcast NBCUniversal product teams. Founder-focused, LIFT Labs features events and education, an accelerator run in partnership with Techstars, and engagements between company innovators and startups ready to scale.
Beginning as the first ever private jet charter and management company, NetJets has led the industry for 50+ years. Then in 1986, they revolutionized it with the concept of shared ownership and proceeded to build the largest, most diverse private jet fleet in the world. Today, backed by Berkshire Hathaway, NetJets offers a full range of personalized solutions to meet—and exceed—the incredible needs and high standards of the world’s most notable travelers.