Industry Disruptors returns with the first installment of the 2026 series, in conversation with Kristi Ross, a serial entrepreneur who has spent three decades building, scaling, acquiring, and reinventing companies—and then did it all again by jumping industries entirely.
Kristi helped scale tastytrade, one of Chicago’s most successful fintech companies, culminating in a $1B+ acquisition. Across her career, she has also operated through 40+ mergers, acquisitions, capital raises, and startups, gaining firsthand experience in how companies evolve, scale, and reinvent themselves.
In 2022, Kristi made a deliberate shift from fintech into the coffee industry, launching U3 Coffee, a mission-driven brand focused on connecting farmers, entrepreneurs, and customers through transparency and storytelling.
Attendees will walk away with:
- Perspective on how experienced founders think about building, scaling, and reinvention
- Insight into the decisions that shape long-term company trajectories, not just short-term wins
- A clearer lens on navigating uncertainty, inflection points, and career-defining moments
- Inspiration drawn from real operating experience across multiple industries and cycles
Event Venue
mHUB, 1623 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
