Innovation Week 2023

I’m Pat East, a husband, father of two, and life-long entrepreneur. I bootstrapped Hanapin Marketing, a digital advertising agency, from $0 to $10 million in annual revenue before it was acquired by our largest UK competitor. Along the way, Hanapin was recognized as an Inc. 5000 company and a Best Place to Work, something I’m especially proud of.After Hanapin, I launched The Mill, transforming it from a coworking space into one of the Midwest’s leading centers for startups and entrepreneurship. I also founded Flywheel Fund, one of the Midwest’s most active early-stage investors, backing high-potential technology startups often overlooked by coastal capital.I’ve recently invested in a couple of SMB funds and am exploring whether acquiring a small business is the right next chapter. At the same time, I’ve given myself permission to take a “gap year” to slow down, mentor founders, pursue personal hobbies, and let new ideas marinate before officially deciding what comes next.