Why speak at a Grow Disrupt event?
Let's start with the great news!
We pay our speakers to stand on our stages, provide a host of perks, and this is the audience most small business speakers are vying to get in front of!
These are established, successful businesses that are aggressively looking to grow and actively investing in that growth. As one of our guests once said, "I can't find this kind of group anywhere else..."
This is an experience for the guests, but it's also one for you!
Our events are well-run, theatrical-level productions.
The trade-off?
We are hyper selective about our speakers and often interview 40+ speakers annually for only five speakers slots. We are looking for the right combination of event and attendee fit as well as a willingness to work with our budget & meet our speaker expectations!
This page is here to give you a "peak behind the curtain" of what we look for - and what you can expect from us in return!
"This is an event you don't just want to speak at.
You want to be a part of it. So well run. So much fun!"
Owen Fitzpatrick
Speaker, Grow2023
The Perks
Our founder, Stephanie, is also a speaker and we use that familiarity with the industry to make our speaker experience extraordinary!
Beyond the fact that our events are exceptionally well run so you can enjoy being being part of it, we also offer...
Videos + Photography
Stephanie understands the importance of building of speaking assets like video footage and great onstage photography! That's why we make sure all our speakers get copies of all their photography (onstage and any that shows them interacting with guests) as well as video and audio in high quality. We shoot keynotes from three angles: wide, tight & b-roll (audience). Our speakers get all of their related footage for promotional use.
The Royal Treatment
We treat you the best way we possibly can: Like you're one of our event guests! We will have the same meals onsite that our guests are treated to, one of our legendary swag bags (and a bonus speaker gift-bag!), and the opportunity to participate in post-event masterminds as well as take advantage of the video replays of the entire event for one year (just like the guests!).
Plus, honestly, this is the kind of event that speakers have regularly requested to return as guests to.
To us, that says a lot!
The Audience
We don't have our heads stuck under a rock! While we do not allow our speakers to pitch at the event, we also understand that close to $1M in post-event sales have been generated from standing on the Grow Retreat stage. This is a qualified (invite-only) audience of aggressively growing business owners that are willing to invest in their business, and hard to get in front of.
Our sponsors pay $8-10k to get in front of them.
Our speakers get paid, and have more time in front of the same audience.
What Other Speakers Have Said
We get it! It's hard to take our word for it...
Here's what other speakers have had to say after speaking at a Grow Disrupt event!
"I am so impressed by the effort you put into Grow2020. Good people, good content, and great commitment to bringing value. Well done!"
Mike Michalowicz
Business mastermind & best selling author of Profit First, Clockwork, Fix This Next, and Get Different
"I was so impressed with how you and your team ran the event and the people you brought together. Everyone was so engaged and cared so much about making a difference with their businesses and in people's lives!"
Jesse Cole
Owner of The Savannah Bananas (The Greatest Show in Sports + TikTok's Favorite Baseball Team) & Best Selling Author
"This is the kind of audience I try to be around."
Jeff Hoffman
Founding member of Priceline & Inventor of the Self-Check-In Kiosk at the Airport
"The Grow Retreat was one of the most enjoyable events I've spoken at. It's incredible how much thought goes into every single part of the event. Everything about it is fun, educational and wonderful to be involved in."
Owen Fitzpatrick
Internationally acclaimed bestselling author & psychologist
The Demographics
Here's a little glimpse at the typical demographics for our events!
Revenue:
$250k - $1M - 65% of guests
$1 - $5M - 22% of guests
$5M - $20M - 13% of guests
Industries
Business Services - 42% of guests
Personal Services - 21% of guests
Home Services - 16% of guests
Retail - 12.5% of guests
Other - 8.5% of guests
(Real Estate, Manufacturing, Engineering)
Employees
1-5 - 57% of guests
5-10 - 25% of guests
11+ - 18% of guests
Sampling of Industries:
Water Treatment | Pet Sitting | Pickle Manufacturing | Circus School | Real Estate | Landscaping | Restaurants | Jewelry Store | Dumbwaiter Manufacturing | Graphic Design | VA Services | Engineering | AV Consulting | Roofing | Business Coaching | Leadership Coaching | Marketing Services | Team Building
The Expectations
Ok! So there's obviously some great perks to being a speaker at The Grow Retreat!
But we also have some pretty high level expectations.
You're Onsite
Our events are "Ted-Inspired" as in: you're onsite! In the audience. Hanging out. Getting lunch with us. Having happy hour on day 1 (provided). Our guests ask questions. They are hungry to learn from you. Speakers have repeatedly come in skeptical, then pulled Stephanie aside after Day 1 to share "Your people are asking good questions. I've never had a group like this!" and "I've never been as fascinated by a group as I am here!"
If that's not you - no prob! Let's save each other some time, and skip the interview.
If you need to step out and run a meeting briefly, or take a quick call, no big deal! If you're looking for an event you can fly-in, speak and fly-out, this is not it.
Serve, Don't Sell
We vigorously protect the integrity of our stage and room. You will probably have some guests asking questions and leaning towards wanting to work with you. That's great! We encourage our speakers to invite those guests into a sales conversation post-event where you can focus on them and spend the majority of the event making sure all the guests feel seen & enlightened. There are absolutely no pitches allowed from the front of the room or during the breaks at our events.
Be A Professional
This means a lot of things. First, that your powerpoint should be an accent to your presentation, not the primary focal point. Second, that you've been honing your performance and presentation craft as a speaker. This is not the stage to cut your teeth on. Your content has to be unique and interesting to an extremely experienced and educated audience, but your presentation style should take it over the top. Grow Disrupt speakers do not read from the slides, throw presentations together last minute or rote memorize. They perform!
These are absolutely not negotiable!
We've spent almost a decade learning how to create magic in our rooms. This is how we do it.
If these requirements don't work for you, that's totally okay!
Speaking at a Grow Disrupt event is not for you!
If you have filled out the speaker application and would like to withdraw your name,
email Info@GrowDisrupt.com and let us know to remove you from the list.
That email is not authorized to be added to speaker mailing lists.
"Stephanie has an incredible talent for picking the loveliest speakers. It's a fun team to be part of!"
Owen Fitzpatrick
Speaker, Grow2023
Ready to apply?
Fill out the form below!
If this wasn't enough and you want the inside scoop on getting booked to speak at our events - check out this article from Stephanie herself! Read Here