This week in Austin, we’re thrilled to highlight Kirby Holmes as one of the featured keynote speakers at the Austin Small Business Expo—an event tailor-made for entrepreneurs, small business founders, and creative visionaries alike.
Event Details
The expo runs October 30, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST at the Palmer Events Center in Austin, TX. Learn more at thesmallbusinessexpo.com.
This gathering is billed as “the city’s biggest small business conference and one of the top networking events Austin has to offer.”
About Kirby Holmes
Kirby is a multi-faceted entrepreneur. As founder and CEO of Good Air Team LLC, he champions innovative air-filtration solutions for dogs with the flagship brand K9 Mask®, which he co-founded. His product story gained wide visibility when K9 Mask® appeared on the TV show Shark Tank—underscoring both the innovation and the entrepreneurial tenacity behind the business. Beyond business, Kirby brings over 30 years of leadership in humanitarian aid, pastoral roles, and mission work—offering a unique perspective as a business leader.
What He’ll Speak About
At the Expo’s Keynote Presentation titled “Shark Tank Success Stories: Behind the Pitch — A Candid Conversation With Successful Founders”, Kirby will appear alongside other founders to share his journey, the lessons learned from pitching on national TV, and how to scale a product-driven business in today’s competitive environment.
Attendees can expect Kirby to discuss how to take a niche product and turn it into a scalable business, how to leverage a mission-driven narrative to build brand trust and purpose, which strategic marketing and operational pivots matter most when moving from startup to growth phase, and how an innovation hub like Austin can accelerate business growth.
Visit Kirby at the K9 Mask® Booth
In addition to his keynote, Kirby will also be hosting a K9 Mask® booth at the Expo. This space will give attendees the chance to meet him one-on-one, hear firsthand about his Shark Tank experience, and discuss what it’s like to grow a successful small family business.
Whether you’re curious about building a product from scratch, navigating investor conversations, or balancing entrepreneurship with family life, Kirby’s booth is the perfect place to ask questions and get inspired. You’ll also get an up-close look at the K9 Mask®—the world’s first air-filter mask for dogs.
Why This Matters for You
If you’re attending the Expo, Kirby’s session and booth together promise a powerful combination: big-picture inspiration from the keynote, plus the chance for practical, face-to-face conversation at his booth. The Austin Small Business Expo emphasizes growing your network, gaining competitive advantage through workshops and panels, and increasing brand visibility where deals get made and partnerships form.
What are Your Small Business Questions
If you’re attending, mark Kirby’s keynote session in your schedule and make time to stop by the K9 Mask® booth to connect with him directly. Bring your questions—whether about product design, Shark Tank insights, or the journey of building a family-run company. If you’re unable to attend in person, follow updates from the Expo’s digital channels and stay tuned for recaps at K9Mask.com.
With Kirby Holmes on the lineup, the Austin Small Business Expo isn’t just about business as usual—it’s about thoughtful growth, mission-driven innovation, and scaling in unexpected arenas.
