Lineup for Next Great Consumer Brands Conference announced

BOSTON, Mass. — Consensus and the world’s largest exchange company, NASDAQ OMX Group, have announced keynote speakers, presenters and special presentations for the third annual Next Great Consumer Brands Conference to be held May 1 at the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square, N.Y.

Together with NASDAQ, Consensus, a boutique investment bank focused on the retail and consumer products industries, has organized the daylong event. They’ve invited companies to describe their businesses and present their products to an audience of private equity investors, venture capital firms, angel investors and commercial lenders who invest in, lend to or otherwise finance companies in the consumer product space. Those attending the conference will also be able to sample products from several up-and-coming specialty food and beverage brands.

The program will also include two keynote addresses, two special presentations, a luncheon and a networking cocktail session. Keynote addresses will be delivered by Kevin Plank, founder and CEO of UnderArmour, and entrepreneur and fashion and fitness icon, Kathy Ireland.

Among the Next Great Consumer Brands presenting on May 1 will be EvoShield Mission AthleteCare Thymes, HEX, Nectar Mobile, Power/Lilliputian Systems, Troy Lee Designs, Karmaloop Orbotix Vietri, J. Hilburn Snow Joe Xcel Brands/Isaac Mizrahi and Kitson Spartan Race.

In addition to the presenting companies and the keynote addresses, there will be special presentations from the new NASDAQ Private Market, which will provide improved access to liquidity for early investors, founders and employees while enabling the efficient buying and selling of private company shares, and Circle Up, a crowdfunding platform where accredited investors can make equity investments in up-and-coming consumer products businesses.

Food and beverage brands participating at the conference include Allagash Brewing Company, Hammer + Sickle Vodka, UNREAL Candy, Maia Yogurt, Pirate’s Booty, KIND Bars, HINT Water and AWAKE! Chocolate. The Next Great Consumer Brands event is open to members of the private equity, venture capital, angel investor, commercial lending and commercial finance community.