Somi Arian

The Definitive Guide to Peak Startup

Peak Startup

In this Session:Aravinda Seshadri and Michael Young will give us an interactive and informative workshop, who will coach you through not just the investor ‘pitch,’ but developing a comprehensive strategy to make your company stand out to investors, so you can secure the capital you need to scale. "Pitch Perfect: Maximizing Your Appeal to Investors" is an essential session for entrepreneurs who are preparing to step into the competitive arena of fundraising. Event HighlightsGood Ideas vs Great Ideas: There are lots of very good start-up ideas that could end up being profitable, but never excite investors—learn what separates those ‘ok’ ideas from ideas where venture capitalists understand your full scaling potential, making you a magnet for term sheets. Building a Team: Borrowing on their decades of experience, these experts will walk you through some lesser-known ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ when it comes to working with co-founders, advisors, and other strategic partners—and how all of that translates into making your company more investable.&nbsp;Clean Your Room: Having your house in order on the business and legal front is important, not only for the obvious reasons, but because of what it signals to sophisticated investors.&nbsp;We’ll talk about common errors, how to prevent them, what to expect in investor due diligence, and how and when to get legal counsel involved.&nbsp;80/20 to Victory: Startup founders get pulled in many directions and it can be easy to get bogged down in ‘urgent’ (but low impact) activities, while neglecting some time-honored practices that can help you slowly, but surely, build a powerful network that you can leverage for financing, customer acquisition, talent retention, and even exits. Pitch Perfect: Much has been said about the art of the pitch; there’s some great (and not-so-great) advice out there.&nbsp;We’ll break down the tips that we’ve found the most impactful and help dispel some prevailing myths about what makes for a powerful investor pitch—from targeting the right investors (at the right time), to tailoring your pitch, to doing just the right kind of follow-up, while keeping your morale high. Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow founders and potential investors during our networking breaks. This is your chance to practice your newly refined pitching skills and perhaps catch the ear of someone who can propel your business forward. About the Speakers: Aravinda Seshadri&nbsp;is the Founding Partner of Venturous Counsel, a uniquely mission-driven firm dedicated to exclusively representing underestimated startups and investors committed to prioritizing diversity in their own organizations, as well as assisting such business to find the right legal partner, to help level the playing field for these startups and investors in terms of access to quality legal counsel. Aravinda received her law degree with distinction from Stanford University Law School and her undergraduate degree with honors in Language and Mind from New York University. She has represented a broad range of startups, entrepreneurs, venture capital firms and public companies, working directly with high-level executives and directors, advising companies and investors in various equity financing structures, M&amp;A transactions, licensing and strategic partnerships, as well as day-to-day counseling. She has worked with companies from formation through financing rounds to acquisition or public offering and been primarily responsible for SEC reporting obligations thereafter. Aravinda has over 15 years' of experience working as outside General Counsel to startups and investors in the startup space such as TaskRabbit, Lyft, Tally, Workato, Wonder Workshop, Felicis Ventures, Rakuten and Hustle Fund. A Super Lawyers Rising Star 2015- 2021. Michael Young is a Managing Partner at Venturous Counsel.&nbsp;He specializes in advising emerging companies and their investors at all stages in a company’s life cycle—from formation to exit.&nbsp;Prior to joining Venturous Counsel, Michael represented startups and investors at Silicon Legal Strategy and at Perkins Coie LLP (where he also did a stint as a commercial litigation attorney).&nbsp;Michael is passionate about empowering clients to realize their vision and navigate the complex startup ecosystem with confidence by offering actionable, bottom-line-oriented advice.&nbsp;His pro bono legal practice is focused on refugee and asylum matters; his latest project is working with Afghan translators and their family members to obtain legal protection in the United States.

Founder-director

Aravinda 

Michael Young

Venture Financing, Company Formations, Mergers and Acquisitions, Commercial Agreements, Data Privacy

Pitch Perfect: Maximizing Your Appeal to Investors

In this Session:In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming businesses at an unprecedented rate, understanding the legal landscape surrounding its use has become paramount for startups. Venturous Counsel stands out by providing seasoned, practical, and actionable legal advice that is both efficient and mindful of your startup's needs, all at a more affordable rate than traditional firms.The integration of AI into your business operations can offer incredible opportunities for growth and innovation. However, it also introduces a complex web of legal considerations, from data protection and privacy to intellectual property rights and beyond. This event is designed to address the common legal pitfalls and areas of concern related to AI use in startups. Whether you're already using AI or considering its implementation, understanding these risks is crucial to navigating the future safely and successfully. About the Speaker: Aravinda Seshadri&nbsp;is the Founding Partner of Venturous Counsel, a uniquely mission-driven firm dedicated to exclusively representing underestimated startups and investors committed to prioritizing diversity in their own organizations, as well as assisting such business to find the right legal partner, to help level the playing field for these startups and investors in terms of access to quality legal counsel. Aravinda received her law degree with distinction from Stanford University Law School and her undergraduate degree with honors in Language and Mind from New York University. She has represented a broad range of startups, entrepreneurs, venture capital firms and public companies, working directly with high-level executives and directors, advising companies and investors in various equity financing structures, M&amp;A transactions, licensing and strategic partnerships, as well as day-to-day counseling. She has worked with companies from formation through financing rounds to acquisition or public offering and been primarily responsible for SEC reporting obligations thereafter. Aravinda has over 15 years' of experience working as outside General Counsel to startups and investors in the startup space such as TaskRabbit, Lyft, Tally, Workato, Wonder Workshop, Felicis Ventures, Rakuten and Hustle Fund. A Super Lawyers Rising Star 2015- 2021.

Incorrect session date

Fields Format

AI and the Law: Mitigating Risks for Startups

In this Session: As a startup founder, every day, your LinkedIn feed is full of posts about the fact that the customers would want a “faster horse” and that they are “always right”, that all the answers are “outside of your office”, and that “no business plan survives first contact with customers”. Apparently, you should “pay attention to what users do, not what they say,” and “you’ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology”, and&nbsp;critically&nbsp;“testing with one user early in the project is better than testing with 50 near the end”. The quotes from thought leaders of the product industry leave you, dear founder, with a North Start concept of the importance of user feedback; what you need is a practical conversation on how to move forward, apply the idea in your business context, and refine your MVP proposition.&nbsp; Let's start our discussion by defining an MVP, explaining why customer feedback is essential to any progress, showing how to gather feedback in practice, and explaining how it could impact your product and business. Together, we will find the best way to move forward whether you have never spoken with your customers before or are a serial interviewer with a PhD in behavioural science. Crucially, let's analyse how the feedback could impact your day-to-day decisions and if there are any strategic choices you will have to make based on it. An hour together to get into the mindset of users, gather practical knowledge of what to do next and strategically think of the impact the user conversations will have on your business﻿About the Speaker: Pawel Kaminski is CTO and Co-Founder of F+L. With over two decades in the tech and product world, including a decade as a CTO, Pawel's all about people and progress. He's an expert at building teams, sorting out tricky conflicts, and finding simple answers in complex situations. Pawel's experiences range from contributing to FTSE 100 financial organisations to co-founding and leading the tech side of Founder and Lighting, where he's been steering the tech direction for the last decade, overseeing a team of over 100 developers. Additionally, he's played a key role in building and growing over 35 tech companies. Beyond work, Pawel is family-oriented and has an adventurous spirit. He took on the challenge of becoming the first Polish climber to conquer the three highest peaks in Greenland. He's a TEDx fan and is always up for chats on Lean methods, Kanban, entrepreneurship, tech trends, and growth.

Pawel Kaminski

Startups, Engineering, CTO, CPO, strategy, Lean, XP, Kanban

Iterative Testing: Refining Your MVP with Real Feedback

In this Session: In the first part of this webinar, Adam will discuss key differences between United States business types, focusing on specific reasons to choose one business type over another as founders consider expansion to the U.S. Next, Adam will then talk about the quirks of choosing the correct State within the U.S. to incorporate. Last, Adam will discuss common pitfalls and issues that foreign entities face when they expand into the U.S. The last half of the webinar will be open Q&amp; A, so bring your questions!&nbsp; About the Speaker: Adam Wardel&nbsp;joined nClouds as Chief Legal Officer in May 2022. “This is the fulfillment of a goal I gave myself three years ago. I believed that I had more to offer than my last job was affording. Ever since that day, I have searched for the next phase of my career that will allow me to grow and positively affect the lives of others.” During his 10-plus years of legal experience,&nbsp;Adam&nbsp;has focused on trying things that take him out of his comfort zone and exploring the world to learn different ideas and ways of thinking.&nbsp;He applies a proactive, forward-thinking approach to his role, where he leads legal, compliance, human resources, talent acquisition, training and development, and legal operations for 8 foreign subsidiaries. "The benefit to this type of forward-thinking vision is boundless but sometimes hard to quantify. It increases accountability and provides personal stewardship.” He teaches his children that they can take their destiny into their own hands. Recently,&nbsp;Adam&nbsp;helped his 6-year-old son feel personally independent and brave by speaking in front of a group of 150 people, alone. He was named a 2020 In-House Counsel of the Year by Utah Business magazine and is contributor for InView, a community for in-house legal professionals. Adam&nbsp;has a JD degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and a BA degree in Political Science and International Relations from Brigham Young University. "The curious paradox is that when I accept myself for who I am, then can I change myself and the world" — Carl Rogers --

Funding in the US: to Incorporate or not Incorporate

In this Session:This session will teach founders how to think about targeting the right investors, how to get warm introductions and craft cold outbounds, and how to run a successful fundraising process. About the Speaker:Rima is currently a Principal at Commerce Ventures where she&nbsp;&nbsp;focuses on investing in commerce infrastructure and retail technology. Prior to Commerce Ventures, Rima was a Principal at XRC Ventures, a NYC-based pre-seed accelerator and venture fund focused on investing in both retail technology as well as consumer brands. Before XRC, Rima worked at Ralph Lauren in Digital Strategy and Business Development. She began her career in Equity Research at Goldman Sachs, where she covered the consumer staples sector.Rima earned her MBA from The Wharton School where she was a Dorm Room Fund Partner and CEO of StartU. She is a graduate of Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University where she studied Finance and Economics and also holds a degree in Fashion Marketing from Parsons School of Design.

Rima 

Building an Investor Target List: Research and Strategy

In this Session: Underrepresented founders often face greater challenges in accessing opportunities and capital, but data from reputable institutions consistently shows that diverse founders, teams, and leaders tend to excel when given the right resources. Despite these encouraging statistics, many still encounter difficulties breaking into the startup ecosystem. This is where embracing your unique identity can be beneficial. How can you use what sets you apart to your advantage? As the landscape of capital allocation becomes more extensive and diverse, perhaps one can capitalize on their individuality to discover a new path to success. About the Speaker: Patrick Driscoll&nbsp;is a General Partner at Chasing Rainbows, an early-stage fund that invests in LGBTQ+-led startups. He’s spearheaded initiatives for the LGBTQ+ startup and VC community with StartOut, Gaingels, and individual founders in the US, Latin America, and Europe for over a decade. Before joining Chasing Rainbows, Patrick was a Venture Lead and Accelerator Manager at BMNT for deep tech and dual-use companies,&nbsp;deploying $20M. He has also led global investor education with 500 Global in partnership with Stanford, UC Berkeley, INSEAD, and large multi-national organizations.&nbsp; Patrick is connected to startups, corporate partners, and a global network of investors. He was recently ranked as #11 on the list of 101 LGBTQ+ VC and Startup Leaders to Know and on the National Venture Capital Association’s 2023 LGBTQ+Investors to Watch List. He's also been featured by NASDAQ and was selected as a 2023 Business Leader Under 40 by Business Equality Magazine.

Patrick Driscoll 

Empowering Underrepresented Founders: How Your Unique Identity Can Be Your Strength

In this Session:This session will consider the different debt and equity finance options available to your start-up business in the UK, compare and contrast these options and review what a debt provider and equity investor is looking for from a proposal. There will also be a focus on a number of the British Business Bank’s programmes, including the Start Up Loans Company and Regional Angels Programme. About the Speaker:The British Business Bank is the UK’s economic development bank. Our mission is to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK, and to enable the transition to a net zero economy, by improving access to finance for smaller businesses. The Bank delivers a series of debt and equity programmes across the UK supported by almost 250 Delivery Partners. Lewis Stringer joined the British Business Bank in October 2016 and currently works in the UK Network Team for the Bank as a Senior Manager, covering the East &amp; South-East Midlands and supporting demand-side initiatives, as well as the recently launched Midlands Engine Investment Fund II..

Lewis Stringer 

Debt vs. Equity: What's Best for Your Startup (UK)

In this Session: When starting a new company, many entrepreneurs don’t understand how founder’s equity is affected over time by funding rounds, option pools and options grants.&nbsp;How does the initial founder’s equity change as new rounds of funding are taken?&nbsp;How does new funding work in regards to the ownership of the company?&nbsp;What is dilution?&nbsp;What is a capitalization table and how does it change over time?﻿- BENEFITS OF ATTENDING: <ul><li>Learn how founder’s equity changes over time.</li><li>Learn how options and option pool affect ownership.</li><li>Understand capitalization tables and how they change over time.</li><li>Discuss the pros and cons of outside capital.</li><li>Goal is to have the framework of understanding on how companies are capitalized over time and the effects founder’s equity.</li></ul> About the Speaker: Bob Gillespie&nbsp;is a serial entrepreneur bringing over 30 years of experience in technology, leadership, operations and finance to his role as Managing Partner of the REACH Commercial program. He has worked extensively with well over 100 companies, with his mentorship and network connections leading to new customers, partnerships and venture funding for the participating companies. Prior to joining the SCV/REACH team, Bob served as the Executive Director of The Elmspring Accelerator, a real estate technology accelerator. Bob also has deep entrepreneurial experience as an operator as a founder and/or executive at InContext Solutions, Conference Software Solutions and Old Republic Credit Services. Bob has his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Finance. Bob loves history, is an avid reader and passionate traveler. He is more than 2/3 of the way to his goal of visiting at least 100 countries.

Bob Gillespie

Funding, Investment Structures, Cap Tables, Governance, Pitch Coaching

Founders' Equity Dilution and Cap Tables

In this Session: Celebrate International Women's Day by joining us for a groundbreaking roundtable discussion. This event is dedicated to addressing the challenges and opportunities facing female entrepreneurs in today’s venture capital world. Engage with a panel of pioneering investors, successful female founders, and advocates for gender equality in the startup ecosystem as they share their insights, experiences, and strategies for fostering a more inclusive and equitable investment environment. Discover actionable steps to empower female founders, understand the importance of diverse perspectives in innovation, and explore how we can collectively work towards a more balanced future in venture capital. Don't miss this chance to be part of the conversation that aims to reshape the industry and pave the way for the next generation of female entrepreneurs. About the Speaker: Aravinda Seshadri is the Founding Partner of Venturous Counsel, a uniquely mission-driven firm dedicated to exclusively representing underestimated startups and investors committed to prioritizing diversity in their own organizations, as well as assisting such business to find the right legal partner, to help level the playing field for these startups and investors in terms of access to quality legal counsel. Amanda Heyman&nbsp;is co-founder and Managing Partner of Tundra Ventures, an early-stage venture fund investing in pre-seed founders whose extraordinary lived experiences unlock unique insight into untapped software, healthcare, and consumer markets. Amanda also served as a Founding Partner at Lunar Startups, a Twin Cities-based accelerator designed to supercharge high-potential startup companies founded by new majority CEOs. ﻿Stephanie Marshall is CEO &amp; Founder of M3 Advisors. New Market Strategy and Innovation Executive. Startup Advisor and Investor. People-First Leader and Culture Builder. With a history of developing disruptive products and leading high-performing teams, she has made significant impacts at Verizon Wireless, Wireless Registry, and Ford Motor Company. Co-founder of Citrine Angels and a noted speaker, she is celebrated for her visionary approach and dynamic leadership. Carlos Ochoa is a serial entrepreneur and investor on a mission to create positive social&nbsp;impact through cutting-edge technology and innovation. Born and raised in Mexico City, Carlos emerged as a living testament to social mobility and entrepreneurship possibilities. His journey has transformed him into a vocal advocate for diversity in the tech industry. He is the founder and Managing Partner of Alpha Impact 8 Ventures, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm focused on solving systemic problems by investing in the best women and minority-led startups. As an investor, he boasts an impressive track record managing portfolios that consistently deliver exceptional returns. His first fund&nbsp;is in the top 1%. Chantal Bacon is an AI Inventor and the visionary Founder &amp; CEO of CornerstoneX, celebrated for her innovative approach to artificial intelligence and its applications across various disciplines. As an esteemed member of the Oxford University Alumni Board and a dedicated PhD student specializing in Science and Technology with a focus on AI, Chantal is deeply committed to leveraging technology to address contemporary opportunities and future challenges. Lola Ortiz&nbsp;&nbsp;is Executive Director at Smart Cookie Media with over 10 years of experience in digital marketing, working with international brands and leaders to develop their personal brands and thought leadership. More panelists will be added shortly.

Lola Ortiz

Executive Director

Chantal 

Stephanie Marshall 

Amanda Heyman

Carlito 

Invest in Her: Transforming the VC Landscape for Female Founders

Fundraising and Capital

The Art of Bootstrapping: Funding Your Startup Internally

Creating an Engine for Fundraising

Angel Investors: Finding Them and Winning Them Over

What Canada Has to Offer to Early Stage Startups

Pre-Seed Stage

Seed Funding Round Best Practices

How VCs Think and How to Speak Their Language

Seed Stage Investment Structures

Seed Stage

Decoding the Series A: Expectations and Preparations

Investor Relations: Maintaining Healthy Communication

Series A, B, C (and beyond) Rounds

Term Sheets Decoded: Clauses, Implications, and More

From Term Sheet to Closing: A Step-by-Step Guide

Negotiating Term Sheets

Financial Planning for the Early-Stage Startup

Post Raise Steps

Crowdfunding and Alternative Financing

separator

Pitching and Outreach

Anticipating Investor Questions: A Deep Dive

Due Diligence Preparation

The Due Diligence Checklist: Being Prepared

Family Office Fundamentals: Strategies for Successful Navigation

When to Approach Venture Capital Investor

The Family Office Playbook: A Blueprint for Strategic Success

Cold Outreach vs. Warm Introductions: Strategies and Etiquette

Targeting and Approaching Investors

The Anatomy of a Winning Pitch Deck

Tailoring Your Deck for Different Investor Types

Pitch Perfect: Bring Your Deck, Leave with Feedback

Crafting a Compelling Pitch Deck

The Art and Science of Persuasive Pitching

Refining Your Pitch: Feedback and Iteration Strategies

HealthTech Pitch Day: Virtual Pitch Day for Healthcare Startups

Effective Elevator Pitches

Idea Validation and Market Fit

From Problem to Product: Building Solutions that Matter

Idea to Reality: Challenges of Finding Product Market Fit

Customer Discovery: How to Find Your Value Proposition

Market Research 

The MVP Blueprint: What Investors Are Looking for in Prototypes

Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Development

Differentiation in a Crowded Market: Finding Your Unique Space

Mapping the Competitive Landscape: Tools and Techniques

Competitive Analysis

Navigating Technology Shifts

Case Study: Companies That Successfully Pivoted Amidst Tech Changes

Incubator/Accelerator Trends for 2024

VC 2.0 Trends: Leaner Teams, Outsourced Operations, and Strategic Consulting

Adapting to Market Disruptions

AI, Quantum, and Beyond: Deciphering the Next Big Tech Waves

Emerging Technologies & Their Impact

Operational Excellence

6 Steps to Build an Accountable Culture for Startup Excellence

How to Build a Dream Team for your Startup

Leadership and Management in High-Growth Startups

Hiring for Startups: Finding the Right Fit

When Hiring Goes Wrong: The Real Cost of a Bad Hire

Building and Scaling Teams

Operational Efficiency: Tools and Methodologies

Setting up Operational Processes

Forecasting and Budgeting Techniques for Founders

Efficient Cash Flow Management

KPI Strategies that every Founder should know

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Metrics

Growth and Marketing

How to Get to Revenue and Build Your Sales Pipeline

User Acquisition Strategies

How to Get Media Coverage for Your Startup

Branding and Positioning

Growth Hacking Techniques for Startups

The Science of Scaling: When and How Fast

Scaling User Base

A Deep Dive into the Growth Hacking Mindset

Growth Hacking Techniques

Product Development

Startup Self-Awareness: Uncovering Your Product Development Blind Spots

Agile for Startups: Flexibility and Speed

Agile and Lean Development Methodologies

Product-Market Fit Refinement

Legal and Compliance

Navigating Pre-Seed Company Governance for Success

Mistakes Founders Make and How to Avoid Them

Startup Incorporation Basics

Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights: What Founders Need to Know

Legal Essentials for StartUp Founders

Protecting Your Startup: Developing Your IP Strategy

Intellectual Property and Patents

International Expansion: Considerations and Hurdles

Regulatory Compliance

Impact, ESG, Diversity Focused Funds

What Is Impact Investing and How to Know if it Suits Your Startup

Harvesting Tomorrow: VC Strategies for Ag, Food, and Climate Tech Innovators

How to Find Your Edge as a Female Founder/Executive

Insurtech: A $3trn Opportunity for Entrepreneurs

Leveraging  Academic Opportunities for Your Startup: From Funding to Research

Impact

Mind the Gap: Founders, VCs, and the Mental Health Equation

Health

Middle East

Networking

Meet the Founder: The Visionary Exchange -1

Meet the Founders

VCs and LPs

VC Networking Only