‘Shark Tank’ investees FunkkOFF! take on MILLSUMMIT 2023

It’s one of the biggest events of the year for the Delaware entrepreneur and leadership communities — the MILLSUMMIT, now in its seventh edition.

The event started in 2017 as the Millennial Summit at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, where it was held through 2019. The event went virtual in 2020 during the pandemic, then eased back in 2021 with a mostly virtual event that included a music-centered, in-person afternoon at CSC Station. Last year, it was held at The Queen for two days.

This year, it was a three-day hybrid event — ticket buyers could choose virtual access to watch the live panels and recordings via the Whova app — with an entrepreneur day on Tuesday, a leadership day on Wednesday and a VIP day at Barclay’s on Thursday.

MILLSUMMIT Energy Producer Blake the Brain kept the crowd engaged between sessions. (Photo by Holly Quinn)

MILLSUMMIT, like a lot of big events, had a stacked schedule, with multiple talks and panels happening simultaneously. I spent Tuesday learning about small business certifications (a topic I covered extensively in 2022); the evolution of AI and how to make ChatGPT work for you in your job; building support systems for startups; and for the final fireside chat of the day, led by entrepreneur-turned-JPMorganChase VP operations strategy lead Nicole Homer, a chat with the founders of FunkkOFF! You can use their lipstick-sized toothbrush/toothpaste hybrid to quickly freshen up after consuming “funky” things like red wine or coffee that cause  tooth discoloration.

Iris Creative’s Beth Brodovsky talks AI (Photo by Holly Quinn)

If FunkkOFF! sounds familiar, it’s because its founders — product inventor and University of Delaware alum Joelle Flynn and brand whiz Sonia Hounsell — appeared on “Shark Tank” in 2022. They landed a last-second investment with Shark Robert Herjavec, who recognized it as a product his wife would want to buy.

FunkkOFF! can be found in boutiques and pharmacies nationwide, as well as on Amazon, and the founders are gearing up for another raise as the company moves toward the next level of growth.

The longtime BFFs have defied advice to keep business and friendship separate, they told Homer. More than anything, including “Shark Tank,” they credit their parents, mentors and networking — lots of networking — for their growing success.

“No matter where we are, we talk about our product,” Flynn said. “You never know who you’re going to talk to at a party, or who’s going to be interested in talking to you about the product, investing, buying or purchasing.”

Nick Propper, CEO of Impact Human Performance, talks burnout. (Photo by Holly Quinn)

The networking theme was just as strong on MILLSUMMIT’s second say, with business leaders from around the world giving talks on negotiation, burnout and finance. Attendees were also treated to a refreshing injection of arts and culture thanks to leaders from Delaware Theatre Company, OperaDelaware and Flux Creative Consulting, who talked about skills that can transfer from the creative world to any kind of business leader.

Matt Silva, Jonathan Whitney, KerriAnn Otaño and Renarde Hill discuss the “Power of the Arts.” (Photo by Holly Quinn)

P.S. Look for more lessons from MILLSUMMIT 2023 in the coming days.