founder university
agenda april 2019
(updated frequently)
DAY 1 - 4/1/19
Morning Session
10:00aM-12:00PM
LAUNCH Startup basics checklist
Speaker: Jacqui Deegan, LAUNCH
What information does the LAUNCH investment team (and other investors, most likely!) expect founders to have before the first meeting?
Pitches & Perfecting your Presentation
Moderator: Jason Calacanis
Founders get 2 minutes to pitch their startup to Jason & then receive candid feedback to make it 20x better.
afternoon Session
12:00PM-5:00PM
LEGAL LUNCH & LEARN
Speakers: WSGR
Free legal advice. Get your startup legal questions answered by Attorneys at WSGR over lunch.
Unlocking Growth, Strategies for Scaling & Fundraising
Speaker: Shanna Tellerman, Modsy (previously, Google Ventures)
Now that you’re in market, what are the strategies and tactics you’ll need to grow & scale to Series B?
Targeting & Landing the Right Investors
Speaker: Lauren Kolodny, Aspect Ventures
What investors should you be targeting? And how should you prepare for that first meeting?
Metrics for series A: founder perspective
Speaker: Miriam Brafman, Packlane
Lessons from a founder, and Founder University alumna, on growing startup from Seed through Series A.
Fundraising Process & LAUNCH Accelerator
Speaker: Jason Demant, LAUNCH
Getting the most return from the fundraising process & details about LAUNCH Accelerator.
5 keys to negotiating a term sheeT & Panel Discussion
Speaker: Becki DeGraw, WSGR
This discussion covers the most important elements of a Series A term sheet to prepare founders for the negotiation phase.
food, fun & networking
Presented by WSGR
DAY 2 - 4/2/19
morning session
9:00AM-12:00PM
Raising Through Syndicates
Speaker: Ashley Whitehurst, LAUNCH
What are Syndicates, and are they a good fundraising vehicle for your startup?
Founder Lessons
Speaker: Sarah Lerche, Escalon Services, Inc.
Navigating the world of entrepreneurship as a female founder.
Pitches & Perfecting your Presentation
Moderator: Jason Calacanis & Julie Lein, Urban Innovation Fund
Founders get 2 minutes to pitch their startup to Jason & Julie, then receive candid feedback to make it 20x better.
afternoon session
12:00PM-5:00PM
LUNCH & networking
Founder lessons
Fireside Chat with Joel Spolsky, Stack Overflow
Optimizing sales & closing deals
Speaker: Whitney Sales, Acceleprise VC
Learn how to communicate with your customers to optimize your pipeline and close deals.
client acquisition, retention & monetization
Speaker: Melody McCloskey, StyleSeat
Leveraging data to maximize new client acquisition, retention, & monetization
HIRING YOUR SERIES A TEAM
Speaker: Beth Scheer, Homebrew
Best strategies to hire the best team to get you to Series A and beyond.
happy hour
Presented by WSGR
DAY 3 - 4/3/19
optional off-site retreat: hiking, networking & startup challenges
