KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Shark Tank Success Stories: Behind the Pitch — A Candid Conversation With Successful Founders

Nicole Denise Phillip is a Brand Intelligence Strategist and founder of CoAgency, where she helps coaches, consultants, and online service experts turn clarity into consistent conversion. Through her Intelligence Pillars framework — Business Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, Capital Intelligence, and Well-Being Intelligence — Nicole equips leaders to scale without burnout by aligning their messaging, automation, systems, and capacity. With over a decade of experience in brand positioning, business development, and strategic advisory, Nicole is known for helping high-capacity entrepreneurs eliminate confusion, install intelligent systems, and build businesses that support their life instead of competing with it. Her work bridges the gap between calling and conversion, strategy and sustainability, visibility and profitability. When Nicole speaks, audiences leave with clarity, conviction, and a framework they can immediately implement.

Shirah Benarde is the CEO and co-founder of NightCap, the drink-spiking prevention company. Shirah invented the NightCap Scrunchie in a dream after a friend of hers had her drink spiked. NightCap gained widespread support after securing a deal on Shark Tank and quickly became a force for cultural and policy change. As a passionate advocate for safety and innovation, Shirah was instrumental in passing a California law, requiring bars and nightclubs across the state to offer drink covers upon request. NightCap has partnered with over 200 universities and major organizations such as Bumble, Bacardi, and RAINN, driving awareness, education, and action around drink safety. NightCap has sold more than one million customers worldwide, solidifying NightCap as the most widely used drink-spiking prevention tool on the market. Shirah’s work has been recognized in major media outlets including USA Today, and Inc.’s Female Founders 500, and she was named one of the youngest Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees in North America. She continues to build solutions that protect people, influence policy, and redefine what safety looks like in nightlife and beyond.

Yve-Car Momperousse is the visionary Co-founder of Kreyòl Essence, a pioneering beauty brand that brings Haiti’s rich agricultural heritage to the world with 100% natural, ethically sourced products. Her mission is not only to cater to those with curly, dry hair, and skin, but also to harness Haiti's biodiversity to create positive social and environmental change. Featuring star ingredients like Haitian Black Castor Oil and Moringa, Kreyòl Essence is renowned for its high-quality, plant-based beauty solutions that are both effective and sustainable. Under Yve-Car’s leadership, Kreyòl Essence has gained international acclaim, launching in major U.S. retailers such as Whole Foods Market, ULTA Beauty, and JCPenney salons. The brand’s global reach extends to over 100 natural stores across Canada, and its products are available worldwide through international e-commerce platforms, making it accessible to consumers everywhere. This global presence underscores the brand’s growing influence in the beauty industry.