Shark Tank’s Daymond John speaks at CWC innovation conference

(Riverton, WY) – Central Wyoming College hosted the two-day Central Wyoming Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference in Riverton on Thursday and Friday, bringing together high school students, college students, and community members for a series of breakout sessions and keynote presentations on economic development, small business and entrepreneurship.

Open to the public, the conference hosted breakout sessions throughout Thursday led by professors, community members and invited guests, along with a concert by Jason Pritchett on Thursday evening. Keynote speakers across the two days included FUBU founder and Shark Tank investor Daymond John, entrepreneur and author Kristen Hadeed, Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative founder Gary Schoeniger, and Oglala Lakota Sioux chef Sean Sherman.

CWC organized the event, aiming to connect its Career and Technical Education programs to entrepreneurship and business development, recognizing that many CTE students across the state will go on to start their own businesses.

The conference culminated on Friday with Governor Mark Gordon signing a proclamation declaring the week of April 20 through 26 Wyoming Entrepreneurship Week. In his speech before signing, Gordon spoke about Wyoming’s history as an entrepreneurial state, pointing to innovations like the special purpose depository institution and the LLC as models other states have since copied. He encouraged attendees not to fear failure and emphasized Wyoming’s regulatory approach, which he described as focused on enabling opportunity for Wyomingites.

“We’re thinking about what it is we want to see? How do we build regulation from the ground up?” said Gordon. “We want to give people the opportunity to solve problems.”

Gordon also touched on artificial intelligence, arguing that while computers excel at tactics, strategic thinking still requires people who have grown up meeting real challenges. He described Wyoming’s small population as an asset, saying virtually anyone in the state can approach its leaders and that kind of accessibility creates fertile ground for new businesses.

“Every little business has an opportunity to get started,” Gordon said. “And if you’re an entrepreneur, don’t be afraid of failure. So much is learned from jumping in, pushing, learning those lessons.”

Daymond John closed the conference with an extended keynote drawing on his own story of growing up in Hollis, Queens, his hustle connecting with the biggest names in hip hop and building FUBU from his mother’s living room, and eventually landing a seat on Shark Tank. He told the audience about a college student he recently met who had built a $1.8 million business using AI to identify trending products and then live-selling sporting goods inventory from mom-and-pop shops on platforms like TikTok, using it as a modern example of entrepreneurial thinking.

John walked the audience through what he calls his five SHARK points: set a goal, do your homework, find love in what you do, remember that you are the brand, and keep swimming. He connected with the crowd throughout, playing popular music from hip hop, soul, and rock’s greats, while sharing photos and stories of his own journey’s pitfalls and successes.

“There’s no difference between you or I,” John told the audience. “The only difference is, I have a camera on me all the time.”

He also spoke candidly about his battle with thyroid cancer in 2017 and urged audience members to prioritize early detection, their own health, and to focus on giving love back to those around you while focusing on your business ventures.

“If I can get a hard-headed male in this room to go get a colonoscopy, then you could be like me, where I’m cancer-free,” John said. “And I’m gonna walk my three little beautiful girls down the aisle.”

After his presentation, everyone in attendance was invited to take individual photos with John and received a signed copy of his book “The Power of Broke.”