Small businesses are the heart of our economy
A new business event for 300+ small business owners across industries.
January 14-15, 2027
Charleston, South Carolina
We’re raising the standard
For the in-person human experience.
Workshops, keynotes, and connection opportunities for you to build stability in a world of chaos.
It’s crazy to build a business. You’re taking a massive risk with no guarantee of success and having long nights full of doubt. But you made the decision anyway.
The entry price for freedom is to courageously go into the unknown.
Every small business owner has gone through this right of passage.
A Future Fest is where you celebrate how far you’ve come, realize you’re capable of much more, and take action in building your successful future.
Our 2027 Speakers
Join us at A Future Fest to hear from founders and builders who have created, scaled, and adjusted businesses through changing conditions. These are practical conversations about ownership, responsibility, and long-term business growth.
We are focused on a highly curated list of speakers. Additional speakers and workshops will be announced soon.
Mainstage | Jesse Itzler
A successful serial entrepreneur, Jesse’s mission is to continually raise the bar and build his LIFE RESUME. And with a passion for endurance challenges, he completed Ultraman in 2022 at the age of 53, which entails a 6.2 mile open water swim, 261.4 mile bike, and 52.4 mile run, the same year he sold his endurance hiking company, 29029 Everesting, to iFit. These things are not uncommon for Jesse, who also completed a 100 mile running race, sold Marquis Jet to Warren Buffett in 2010, and partnered with Zico Coconut Water which sold to Coca-Cola in 2013.
At the end of the day, his proudest accomplishment is his family—with 3 sons and a daughter, he and his wife, Sara Blakely (founder of SPANX), definitely have their hands full!
Featured Voices
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Skye Michiels
FOUNDER OF WITH HEART COACHING
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Adrienne Crowley
HOST OF BETTER DAYS START TODAY
Every business has problems, A Future Fest is where you find answers
From balancing lifestyle and growth, to scaling multi-million dollar businesses with large teams, you’ll meet other owners navigating similar challenges you’re facing.
We’re bringing back how connection used to start. Our team is determined to understand your business in depth and introduce you to the right connections before the event even starts. This is a human-led process, not something handed over to AI.
Human First, AI Second APPROACH in business
Connect with other small business owners across industries for new and refreshing ideas to kickoff the new year.
We’re turning America’s Future into a small business renaissance
A Future Fest is focused on bringing back a thriving Middle Class America.
Small businesses that care about high quality customer experiences are part of the answer. Our team is energized to create an experience that is reshaping our economy for the next 100 years.
From understanding local policy in your city to creative ways to finance your business, and creating an energizing work environment; This new business event is ready for the greatest economic comeback in our country’s history.
America’s Small Business Comeback
Our multi-venue experience
Immerse in the city of charleston as you experience A Future Fest, January 14-15, 2027
Planned for 300+ small business owners, this new business event is designed as an immersive, multi-space experience anchored by a central hub for connection and collaboration, shaped by main stage & featured stage talks, and brought to life through moments shared throughout the city.
January 13
Pre-registration open at Festival Hall
Early access (invite-only) evening gathering
January 14
Registration open at Festival Hall
Connection opportunities at Festival Hall
Main Stage Talks at Charleston Music Hall
Featured Stage Talks at Festival Hall
January 15
Registration open at Festival Hall
Connection opportunities at Festival Hall
Main Stage Talks at Charleston Music Hall
Featured Stage Talks at Festival Hall
For the small business owners ready to confirm their seat at A Future Fest 2027 before general admission pricing increases.
This early commitment secures access to the full two-day experience at the lowest available price. Participants attend the same event, in the same room, with the same speakers and conversations as the wider audience.
In addition, Early Access ticket holders are invited to a private, in-person gathering in Charleston the evening before the event begins creating space to connect early and start the conversations that often matter most.
For owners who already understand the value of this room, this is the earliest way to step in.
Limited early access tickets available.
EARLY ACCESS TICKETS
What Early Commitment Unlocks
Your seat at A Future Fest 2027, January 14–15 in Charleston, South Carolina.
Early access ticket pricing at $1,497
(General admission will increase to $1,797)Recognition for being one of the first small business owners to join the movement.
An invitation to a private, in-person evening gathering in Charleston with the host and all Early Access ticket holders the night before the event begins.
Priority communication as speakers and programming are announced
Meet Our Team
Robert-David weeks
HostRobert-David Weeks, a graduate of College of Charleston, believes small businesses are the heart of the American economy.
He started his first small business over a decade ago as a DJ, building it from the ground up. In 2018, he went on to found SMAD-CON, a Forbes-featured social media marketing conference.
Through years of conversations with small business owners across the country, one thing has become clear: there’s a growing urgency to protect what small businesses make possible, for our communities, our livelihoods, and the future we’re building.
A Future Fest exists because of that urgency.
Adrianna Nuñez, CMP
Event AdvisorAdrianna Nuñez is a Certified Meeting Professional with over a decade of experience producing and managing events.
She is the owner of The Modern Traveler, a boutique luxury travel agency, and has spent years working closely with small business owners and independent operators around the world.
A Future Fest reflects her belief that small business owners deserve thoughtfully designed, well-executed rooms that respect the weight of what they’re building.
THE CONVERSATION STARTS HERE
This is a room for owners who want perspective beyond their own playbook, and conversations that actually change how decisions get made.
This event is a fit if:
You own and operate a business generating under $10M in annual revenue
You lead a team of fewer than 100 employees
You’re focused on improving quality of life alongside sustainable growth
You care about the long-term health of your community
You believe small business ownership matters to the future of this country
Our Hotel Partner
The Dewberry
Experience the energy of being in the center of the City of Charleston by reserving your stay at The Dewberry, The 2025 Best Independent Hotel in The World by Virtuoso. Our hotel partner is within 15 minutes walking distance to both event venues. You have the option to extend your stay into the long weekend too.
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A Future Fest is for small business owners who care about improving the country by strengthening the businesses that hold local economies together.
It’s for owners who want to support one another in building clarity, ownership, health, and connection not as abstract values, but as practical foundations for long-term decision-making.
Clarity means understanding the environment you’re operating in — economically, structurally, and locally — so decisions aren’t made in the dark.
Ownership means accepting responsibility for how you respond to that environment, even when conditions aren’t fair or easy.
Health means having the mental and emotional capacity to sustain good decisions over time, not just survive the moment.
Connection means being in conversation with other owners who understand the weight of responsibility, sharpen your thinking, and widen your perspective.
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Charleston, South Carolina. The specific venue will be announced at a later date.
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Your ticket includes full access to both days of programming, curated conversations, and shared experiences.
Breakfast will be provided each morning. Lunch options will be recommended throughout downtown Charleston, with time built into the schedule to explore and connect.
Early access ticket holders receive access to a private, in-person gathering the evening before the event begins.
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Charleston International Airport (CHS). CHS offers direct flights from many major U.S. cities and is approximately 20 minutes from downtown Charleston.
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Yes. A hotel room block and additional lodging recommendations will be shared closer to the event date to make travel planning easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
COntact Us here
or email us at support@afuturefest.com