Hustle Conference Had Omaha Talking
More than 250 entrepreneurs, creatives, founders, students, investors, and business leaders packed Creighton University’s Heider College of Business for the 2026 Hustle Conference.
And the energy never really let up.
We went into the day excited about the lineup. We left rethinking some of our own ideas about branding, marketing, and what it takes to build something people actually care about, just like Eric Gautschi did with the Hustle Conference.
While debriefing with Gautschi over the Hustle excitement, he was spot on when he said: “Everyone who didn’t come this year missed out big time on Chris Barton and Liquid Death guys.” They were such a force this year.
Chris Barton, founder and original CEO of Shazam, kicked things off with the story of building an idea experts told him was impossible. This is years before the music discovery app ecosystem we know today even existed.
His message about starting from zero, challenging conventional thinking, and refusing to give up was easily one of the most inspiring moments of the day. Shazam ultimately went on to surpass 2 billion downloads.
Then Dan Murphy and Andy Pearson of Liquid Death closed the conference and pretty much jolted every marketer in the room awake.
Their conversation about building a brand that refuses to blend in challenged the traditional rules around marketing, creativity, and how companies earn attention. Attendees online echoed that reaction, praising Liquid Death’s approach to entertainment marketing and building one of today’s most recognizable brands from something as simple as canned water.
And Hustle wasn’t only about the keynotes.
And we have to give a shoutout to Jordan the Ninja and The Parfait Band, who absolutely delivered. Jordan brought the kind of energy and personality that kept the room engaged, while The Parfait Band gave the conference a live soundtrack that made the entire experience feel even more dynamic. Both added something memorable to the day and helped make Hustle feel less like a traditional conference and more like an experience.
The Rising Hustlers geeked out when Jordan the Ninja popped into their photo. Lozafina’s Lead Graphic Designer Fiona Hti hit us with a “BRUHHHH,” when she found out Jordan plopped some bunny ears on her during the photo session.
Creighton University’s Heider College of Business was abuzz that day. There were candid founder conversations, Nebraska business leaders talking about what they’re building here, speed networking, and plenty of conversations happening in the hallways between sessions. One attendee said she left with “new perspectives, meaningful connections, and plenty of inspiration,” while Lozafina’s team was still buzzing from the experience the following day.
Hustle made people think.
About their businesses. Their brands. Their next move.
And we’re already putting some of those lessons to work.
