FreedomFest: The Family-Run Marketplace for Liberty

Each summer, thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, academics, artists, and liberty-lovers converge for one of the most dynamic and diverse conferences in the freedom movement: FreedomFest. Behind it all is Valerie Durham, the event’s executive director, who not only runs the multi-day gathering but does so alongside her entire family in a mission-driven for-profit business that feels more like a calling.

FreedomFest traces its roots back to 2002, when Valerie’s father, Austrian economist and financial author Mark Skousen, then president of the Foundation for Economic Education, saw a need to unify the liberty movement. “At that time, everything was siloed,” Valerie explains. “He wanted to bring together think tanks, grassroots activists, and financial firms aligned with liberty.” What began as "FEE Fest" evolved into FreedomFest in 2007—and has only grown since, now featuring over 200 speakers, a sprawling exhibit hall, and thousands of attendees each year.

The conference has become a platform for the full spectrum of freedom—what Valerie calls “a 360-degree concept.” While political liberty remains central, FreedomFest also champions financial, health, intellectual, religious, and lifestyle freedoms. “We want people to live a lifestyle of liberty,” she says. “And that requires more than just one kind of freedom.”

That expansive vision explains why FreedomFest includes everything from high-level policy debates and financial strategy sessions to film screenings, comedy shows, and even karaoke. “Life is meant to be joyful,” Valerie says. “We take on serious issues, but we also want to have fun.”

Indeed, FreedomFest is as personal as it is professional. Some attendees have even found love at the event—Valerie notes several couples who met at FreedomFest, including two speakers this year who connected back in 2012. “You’re surrounded by like-minded, engaged people,” she says. “It’s not surprising relationships—both romantic and professional—begin here.”

That includes entrepreneurial success stories. One standout example is Jeremy Cordon, who encountered a company called Valorum in the exhibit hall and went on to found Goldback, now a multimillion-dollar business creating transaction-ready gold currency used in several U.S. states. As Valerie puts it, “FreedomFest is a trade show for liberty. These spontaneous collisions lead to revolutionary ideas.”

I can personally attest to that. At one of my first FreedomFests, I met legendary investor Rick Rule, who became an early supporter of Students for Liberty and remains an engaged mentor and advocate. That kind of serendipity is baked into the conference’s design.

This year, FreedomFest is partnering with Principled Business to host a major pitch competition, drawing nearly 50 startup applicants. Entrepreneurs will present their ideas before a panel of judges including Steve Forbes, Sean Nelson, and Bert Ullman, with the final round taking place on the main stage. “These aren’t just ideas,” Valerie says. “We might see the next Stripe launched here.”

Complementing the competition are sessions focused on entrepreneurship, capital-raising, marketing, and scaling a business. “If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur, FreedomFest is packed with practical value,” Valerie says. “And you’re not just hearing from speakers—you’re having coffee with them.”

The lineup this year is remarkable: Ryan Holiday discussing philosophy with Prometheus Foundation, Adam Carolla on free speech, Kat Timpf returning to the stage post-cancer treatment, and a powerful conversation between Cornel West and Robert George on truth and civil discourse. There’s even Renato Moicano, a UFC fighter who quotes Hayek after matches, speaking on the importance of Austrian economics.

For Valerie, the family dynamic behind FreedomFest only deepens its impact. “We work hard, but we care deeply about each other and what we’re doing,” she says. “And we’ve expanded that family. We call it the ‘FreedomFest Fam’—everyone who comes and contributes becomes a part of it.”

FreedomFest 2025 will take place June 11–14 in Palm Springs, California, under the theme Oasis of Liberty. As Valerie says, “We’re taking over the town—and helping people find the oasis of liberty in their own lives.”

Interested in attending? Visit freedomfest.com and use promo code PRINCIPLED100 for a discount.