GoKawiilFounderland Festival Connects Startup Founders With Retailers and Investors in Malibu
Founderland, a curated 'founder festival' created by Sean Kelly, Shannon Kelly and Josh Wand, drew over 1,000 founders, investors and retail representatives to Calamigos Ranch in Malibu this year. Attendees included staff from Walmart, Target and Whole Foods, with activities spanning startup pitch stages, panels, and a dedicated 'Retail Den' for buyer meetings. Organizers deliberately keep the event smaller than industry trade shows like Expo West or Shoptalk.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
By limiting attendance and designing a casual, festival-like environment, organizers suggest they can foster more genuine connections between founders and decision-makers than typical convention-hall events allow. For retailers, such curated gatherings could offer an efficient way to scout emerging consumer brands before they scale. The event's growth and retailer participation may signal demand among smaller brands for more direct access to buyers and investors outside traditional trade-show formats.
- Founderland is a curated 'founder festival' alternative to large trade shows like Expo West or Shoptalk.
- Over 1,000 founders, investors and retailers, including Walmart, Target and Whole Foods staff, attended this year.
- The event includes pitch stages, panels and a 'Retail Den' for direct founder-to-buyer conversations.
Source: entrepreneur.com — Jonathan Small, 2026-10-08
Published there as: “Founders Spend Years Trying to Meet the Right People. This Exclusive Malibu Event Puts Them Face-to-Face in One Day.”
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