WIT Breakfast & Panel at ChiTAG

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Kickstart your morning at ChiTAG in Chicago! Join WIT at our annual networking breakfast event, and mix & mingle with industry colleagues and ChiTAG exhibitors. Learn all about using Kickstarter to launch your toy or game from our group of expert panelists. It's sure to be a great conversation and one you don't want to miss!

Crowdfunding offers a serious opportunity to fund and market your play product, but the landscape can be a bit daunting. Hear from those who have been there, done that – and learn about the pitfalls, success and rewards. Get top tips on how to effectively run your campaign to reach your goals.

 

DATE: Saturday, November 18, 2017

 

TIME: 
7:30 - 8:00 AM – Arrivals, Light Breakfast & Networking
8:00 - 9:00 AM – Kickstarter Panel Discussion, Q&A

 

LOCATION: 
Navy Pier – 600 E. Grand Ave., Room 325/326, Chicago, IL
ChiTAG is in Festival Hall A. Our event is located one floor directly above ChiTAG, in Room 328. 

 

COST: 
WIT Members – $30 | Non-members – $35
RSVP by Friday, November 10. WIT Members must log in to get member price.
Ticket price includes light breakfast, coffee & juice.

 

MODERATED BY:

Ruth Synowic – Principal, Ruth Green, Inc. & WIT Chicago Chapter Chair

Ruth Green-Synowic is an independent toy inventor and President of Ruth Green Inc., a consumer products design consultancy. Ruth’s career began at the prestigious BMT toy design studio in Chicago. She’s worked with dozens of licenses, has consulted for numerous toy companies, and was VP of the Creative group for a Chicago agency where she led the team in the creation of hundreds of global McDonald’s Happy Meal programs for over 16 years. Ruth has applied her passion for creativity, product design, and her love of innovation to the toy industry for more than two decades. Her playful contributions can be seen in more than 1,500 toys and products worldwide.

PANELISTS:

Ashley Mady – Founder & President of Brandberry, Inc; President of WIT

Ashley is a creator, inventor and entrepreneur. Her passion for collaboration and bringing ideas from concept to store shelves has lead to the launch of countless brands and product lines. In 2009 she founded the brand creation and licensing agency, Brandberry -- where she creates, builds, and licenses brands in the cosmetics, candy, toy and entertainment industries.

Carly McGinnis – Co-founder of Exploding Kittens

Carly​ ​McGinnis​ is GM of the record-breaking Kickstarter card game, Exploding Kittens. She began her career in talent representation working with clients including JJ Abrams, Jennifer Aniston, Mark Ruffalo, Paul Rudd, Natalie Portman, Adam Sandler and Gwyneth Paltrow. In 2013, Carly joined Elan Lee’s Interactive Division at Xbox developing original TV content for the Xbox One console. In 2015, she joined Elan and Matthew Inman at Exploding Kittens, a game that became an overnight international success raising nearly $9 million in 30 days on Kickstarter. It is still the most-backed campaign in Kickstarter history with over 219,000 backers. In October 2016, the team ran their second Kickstarter for Bears vs Babies which raised over $3 million.

Julie Kerwin – CEO of IAmElemental

Julie Kerwin is CEO of toy startup IAmElemental, creators of the first female action figures designed specifically for girls (and boys), which launched on Kickstarter in 2014. The campaign was successfully funded in two days by backers across 50 states and on six continents. IAmElemental jump-started the female superhero movement and was named one of the 25 Best Inventions/Top Ten Toys of the Year by Time Magazine. IAmElemental is currently a 2017 TOTY Finalist in two categories: Action Figure of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Julie holds a BA from Wellesley College, and a JD from Fordham University School of Law.

Padmini Sriman – Founder of EmotiPlush

Padmini Sriman is the Founder of Emotiplush Therapy Dolls Inc, which brings social-emotional learning to every special child in the world. Padmini’s idea started when she struggled to teach her son with autism to understand facial emotions. When nothing else worked, she created these special dolls which have pliable features that can be fashioned to show any number of facial emotions. The company sells to Educators and Therapists worldwide. If you are wondering about her son,  he now understands facial expressions so well that he can almost mind-read.