Program

All times are in Pacific time. Exact timing is subject to change. All talks will be hosted via Zoom. Please download and update to the latest software to avoid technical difficulties.

10:00 am PT - Opening Remarks

Melissa Moore (@melissazmoore), Founding Partner at Seneca VC
Bianca Caban (@bianca_caban), CEO at SheWorx (Powered by Republic)

10:05 am PT - “Asks + Offers” Networking Break (via Zoom Breakout Rooms)

10:25 am PT - How to Level up Your Skills as a Founder

Mercedes Bent (@mercebent), Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partner

10:45 am PT - What Investors and Company Builders Can Learn From One Another

Amy Sun (@amysundae), Partner at Sequoia Capital
Melissa Moore (@melissazmoore), Founding partner at Seneca VC

Amy Sun joined Sequoia Capital after making the leap from marketing to product management roles at Microsoft, Uber and Facebook. Having spent time on both the company and VC side, Amy brings unique perspectives on the inner workings of high-growth companies and how to help founders scale their business. Hear why she advises founders to focus on their story, what investors and founders can learn from one another, and how she overcame doubt and didn’t allow the opinions of others to dictate her direction.

11:05 am PT - How to Create Your Own App Without Code & Make Money from It

Tara Reed (@TaraReed_), Founders & CEO at Apps Without Code
Jillian Forde, Startup Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services

Tara Reed, a non-technical founder who built her first startup with no-code software and now Founder of Apps Without Code, chats with Jillian Forde, Startup Solutions Architect with AWS. Tara will share best practices on how entrepreneurs can develop a framework and effectively test your idea without having to write any code. Using her own experience and customer use cases, she’ll offer advice, tips, and the steps to getting started.

You’ll learn:

How she made her first $35,000 from her app and got a $100,000 investment after getting laid off
How YOU can create your own app and start making money from it even during a recession
How to come up with an app idea
How to build it without developers
How to make money from it

11:35 am PT - Lunch Break

12:00 pm PT - Founders Track: Speed Mentoring

Founders will be matched with mentors based on their areas of expertise. Instructions will be emailed to registered attendees.

Allie Felix (@alliemfelix), Director of Platform at Embarc Collective
Aravinda Seshadri (@aravinda), Founding Partner at Venturous Counsel
Bedy Yang (@bedy), Managing Partner at 500 Startups
Bethany Iverson (@bethany_iverson), Co-founder + COO at The Coven
Cheryl Campos (@cycampos15), Director of Growth + Partnerships at Republic
Christy Brown (@downtown_CB), President at Launchpad2X
Dana Kuhn, Head of People Operations at Personify
Donna Griffit (@Donna_Grif), Chief Storyteller at Donna Griffit Corporate Storyteller
Eduardo Zaldivar (@iameduardoz), Advisor at TXV Partners
Jackie Hyland (@jackie_hyland), Founder at Unruly Ventures
Jai Malik (@justanotherjai), Investor at Rocana Venture Partners
Kara Egan (@Kara_Egan), Principal at Emergence Cap
Kate Brodock (@Just_Kate), CEO at Women 2.0 + Founding Partner at W Fund
Katelin Holloway (@katelin_cruse), Partner at Initialized Capital
Katie Palencsar (@katiepalencsar), Venture Studio Lead at Anthemis
Kenny Mendes (@kmendes), Head of Finance, People & Operations at Coda
Kirsti Chou, Growth Lead, Investor at Vungle | Angel Investor
Kofi Ampadu (@thekofiampadu), Founder + General Partner at SKU’D Ventures
Lee Fan (@toyoufromlee), Founding Partner at Hunter Pacific Fund
Lisa Molinaro (@lisamolinaro), Principal at Kapor Capital
Miles Lasater (@mileslasater), Founding Partner at Purpose Built Ventures
Namrata Banerjee (@nbsteel), Director at Venture Bridge Swartz Center Carnegie Mellon
Noramay Cadena (@noramayc), Lead Investor, Rising America Fund at Porfolia + Managing Partner at MiLA Capital
Sarah K. Lee (@edventuresgrp), Investor at Peak State Ventures
Serena Claire Ziskroit (@ClaireCareer), Vice President of People at ThirdLove
Sydney Thomas (@sydneypaige10), Senior Associate at Precursor VC
Tanya Koshy, Startup Advisor
Tiho Bajic (@tihomirb), CEO at LTSE Software
Timothy Chen (@tnachen), Managing Partner at Essence VC
Yu Chen (@yoyothesheep), Angel Investor at TBD Angels

Funders Track: Investor Masterclasses

12:15 pm PT - Foundations of a Great Investor

Shruti Gandhi (@atShruti), Founder & Managing Partner at Array Ventures
Shaherose Charania (@shaherose), Operating Partner at Nike Valiant Labs

What does it take to become a great investor? In this masterclass, you’ll learn:

How a venture capitalist evaluates deals versus an angel investor
The core four skills of investing: sourcing, picking, winning, and supporting
How investors deconstruct the pitch deck, and how they choose which deals to invest in

12:45 pm PT - Angel Investing 101

Erica Duignan Minnihan (@ericaminnihan), Founder & Managing Partner at 1000 Angels

This masterclass is for emerging angel investors to learn about about the risks and rewards of startup investing, how to diversify your portfolio, and run an efficient due diligence process.

1:15 pm PT - Tactics + Strategies to Raising a Fund

Jessie Jia Guo (@JessieJiaGuo), Partner at Legacy Venture
Jessica Straus (@jstraus), Founder at Legend Ventures
Sara Zulkosky (@sarazulkosky), Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Recast Capital

Raising a venture capital fund? Experienced limited partners in venture capital, Jessie Guo of Legacy Venture and Sara Zulkosky of Recast Capital, will share best practices for fundraising. Our expert panel will focus on effective strategies for planning your fundraising effort, targeting the right prospective limited partners, presenting your track record, and ongoing LP relationship management.

2:05 pm PT - “Asks + Offers” Networking Break (via Zoom Breakout Rooms)

2:20 pm PT - A Practical Rundown to Managing Your Finances

Sophie McNaught (@soph_mcnaught), Founder at @theshed_money (on Instagram) and Director, Corporate Ventures at Silicon Valley Bank

Covid 19 has caused financial uncertainty for nearly everyone — whether you’re a founder, freelancer, investor, or you earn a salary. In this session we’ll run through what the experts are projecting for the economy and the markets, and leave you with some practical steps to take in your own household.

2:40 pm PT - The Road to Millions: How to Navigate VC Funding from Seed to Series B

Richie Serna (@RSerna2010), CEO & Co-Founder at Finix
Bianca Caban (@bianca_caban), CEO at SheWorx (Powered by Republic)

In this fireside chat, Richie will walk us through his first funding event and how he was able to convince those early investors that he was building a winning product. We'll discuss the process of his first institutional, priced round and the steps he took to get ready for that raise. Finally, Richie will let us in on key lessons he learned along the way and what he wished he knew when he embarked upon his fundraising journey.

3:00 pm PT - Closing Remarks