The need for early-stage companies to secure funding in order to compete is more pressing than ever before. In addition, the path to raising funding is very different for each geographic market, business vertical, and specific company. At our "FounderX: Raise Funding in 2017" event, which took place on May 22-24, 2017 in Silicon Valley, we prepared a 3-day "un-conference" agenda specifically designed to help our Graduates gain the contacts, personal feedback, and hands-on strategic improvements they need to secure seed or angel funding in 2017.
FounderX (fX) is the Founder Institute's premier semi-annual gathering of fast-growing Graduates, top-rated Mentors and leading program Directors from our global network of technology entrepreneurs. Over three days, hand-selected members of the Founder Institute network from six continents visited Silicon Valley for a series of networking events, workshops and formal dinners.
SPEAKERS & OFFICE HOURS HOSTS INCLUDED:
Steve Jurvetson: Managing Director, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Board of SpaceX and Tesla
Shervin Pishevar: Co-Founder & Managing Director, Sherpa Capital, Hyperloop One
Christine Herron: Managing Director at Intel Capital and Co-Lead, Intel Capital Diversity Fund
Xiao Wang: Managing Partner of Innospring Seed Fund, Founder of Innospring Ventures
Don Dodge: Developer Advocate at Google, veteran SV executive
Lauren Kolodny: Principal at Aspect Ventures
Shruti Shah: EIR at Silicon Valley Bank, Co-Founder of Move Loot
Jed Katz: Managing Director of Javelin Venture Partners
Eren Bali: Co-Founder & CEO of Carbon, Co-Founder & Chairman at Udemy
Madeline Duva: Startup Advisor/ Board Member at Eye-Fi, Drop, mPerpetuo, Parrot, Fluxx
Omar Valle: Startup Business Development Executive at Amazon
Bob Rosin: VP Global Business Development at LinkedIn, Angel Investor
Jeff Zias: Grassroots Innovation Leader at Intuit
Jonathan Greechan: Co-Founder of the Founder Institute
Ryan Feit: CEO and Co-founder at SeedInvest
Mark Volcheck: Founding Partner, Las Olas Venture Capital
Vishal Lugani: Investor at Aspect Ventures
Adeo Ressi: CEO of the Founder Institute, 9X entrepreneur
Angela Lee: Co-Founder & CEO of From Fat to Finish Line
Paul D'Souza: CEO of Delivering Peak Performance
Yokum Taku: Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Ryan Micheletti: Co-Founder of Vet-Tech Accelerator
Jose Antonio Talledo: Founder & CEO of Algaex S.A
Greg Pietruszynski: Founder & CEO at Growbots
Vijay Nagappan: Principal, MHS Capital
Mike Suprovici: Entrepreneur in Residence at Founder Institute
SEE THE EVENT AGENDA
MONDAY, MAY 22ND
12:00PM - 05:00PM
Open Office Hours 1 (for FI Grads & Mentors/ Partners)
FI HQ is matchmaking "Office Hours" with promising Graduates and various FI mentors throughout the day. Coordination for these meetings will begin on May 12th, via email.
LOCATION: Founder Institute HQ (Invite-only, only registered attendees will be admitted)
06:00PM - 08:30PM
FounderX Kickoff Mixer @ Private Location
Start the FounderX event at this mixer with hor deurves and drinks. Meet others in the FI network, and join us in an informal discussion on Diversity and Inclusion. Everyone from the FI Global Network is invited to attend this event, and we plan to visit a bar afterwards as well!
LOCATION: Private Location in San Jose, CA (Invite-only, only registered attendees will be admitted)
TUESDAY, MAY 23RD
ALL DAY (8:30AM - 10:00PM)
Open Co-Working at the Founder Institute Headquarters
The doors to FI HQ will be open to all members of the FI network beginning at 8:30 AM. You are welcome to grab a desk all day at our indoor/outdoor office, or use us a base for doing business in Silicon Valley.
A self-serve breakfast will be available from 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM, sandwich lunch from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM, and coffee and snacks all day long. Drinks will be served starting at 4:30 PM.
LOCATION: Founder Institute HQ (Invite-only, only registered attendees will be admitted)
ALL DAY 8:30AM - 5:00PM
Open Office Hours 2 (for FI Grads & Mentors/ Partners)
FI HQ is matchmaking "Office Hours" with promising Graduates and various FI mentors throughout the day. Coordination for these meetings will begin on May 12th, via email.
LOCATION: Founder Institute HQ (Invite-only, only registered attendees will be admitted)
11:00AM - 04:00PM
2017 Global Director Offsite (for FI Directors)
FI Directors are invited to join our yearly offsite to discuss and plan the future of the Founder Institute. Food will be served, and this event will be hosted by Adeo Ressi, CEO of the Founder Institute.
LOCATION: Private Location (Invite-only, only registered attendees will be admitted)
5:00PM - 10:00PM
Fireside Founder Cookout, presented by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR)
Gather around the fire with Founders, Mentors, and Investors from around the globe at this "California Glamping"-themed roast. Play lawn games with hot cocktails, and devour upscale-camping fare and grilled meats straight from the cooker. And to answer your question, yes, there will be smores.
At 7:00PM at this event, we will also broadcast live as we announce the Winners of the 2016 FI Graduate Awards.
LOCATION: Founder Institute HQ (Invite-only, only registered attendees will be admitted)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24TH
09:30AM - 5:30PM
FounderX: Raise Funding in 2017 "Un-Conference"
This private, collaborative "un-conference" will feature intensive workshops, panel discussions, pitch feedback sessions, and presentations from top venture-funded entrepreneurs, angel investors, and venture capitalists from Silicon Valley and beyond. The goal of this event is for founders to pitch investors and get actionable feedback and insights they can use to successfully raise funding for their company in 2017.
LOCATION: Microsoft Silicon Valley: 1065 La Avenida, Building 1, Mountain View, CA (Invite-only, only registered attendees will be admitted)
AGENDA:
9:30 AM: Welcoming Coffee Reception
10:00 AM: Opening Remarks by Adeo Ressi (CEO of the Founder Institute)
Track 1: Crowdfunding & Angel Investment
10:15 AM: Ryan Feit (Co-Founder & CEO of SeedInvest): "What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know About Equity Crowdfunding"
10:45 AM: Don Dodge (Developer Advocate at Google, Angel Investor): Q&A Discussion on Angel Investing and Corporate M&A
11:15 AM: SeedInvest Demo Day: FI Graduate Pitch, Feedback, and Strategy Session with Angels & Advisors
- Ryan Feit: Co-Founder & CEO of SeedInvest
- Madeline Duva: Startup Advisor/ Board Member at Eye-Fi, Drop
- Xiao Wang: Managing Partner of Innospring Seed Fund
- Vishal Lugani: Investor at Aspect Ventures
12:00 PM: Lunch Break, presented by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR)
Track 2: Seed & VC Investment
12:45 PM: Shervin Pishevar (Managing Director of Sherpa Ventures, Co-Founder of Hyperloop One): Q&A Discussion on Funding Trends, Signals, and Building "Moonshots"
1:15 PM: Coffee Break, presented by SeedInvest (with Kindara and Daylighted)
1:30 PM: Christine Herron (Director at Intel Capital and Co-Lead, Intel Capital Diversity Fund): "Why You Got Turned Down for Seed Funding"
2:00 PM: Panel: "Deep Dive of Deal Mechanics" with a Founder, VC, and Lawyer that closed a deal together
- Eren Bali: Co-Founder & CEO of Carbon, Co-Founder & Chairman at Udemy
- Yokum Taku: Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR)
- Vijay Nagappan: Principal at MHS Capital
2:30 PM: Jed Katz (Managing Director, Javelin Venture Partners): "A Checklist for Startups Raising a Series-A"
3:15 PM: Lauren Kolodny (Principal at Aspect Ventures): "Let's Talk About Talk: Voice is Your New Platform"
3:45 PM: Coffee Break, presented by SeedInvest (with Kindara and Daylighted)
4:00 PM: Steve Jurvetson (Managing Director, Draper Fisher Jurvetson): Q&A Discussion on the Technology Trends Poised to Fundamentally Change Every Industry
Track 3: Corporate Partnerships & Investment
4:45 PM: Panel: Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Investment
- Bob Rosin: VP Business Development at LinkedIn, Former Biz Dev Lead at Skype
- Greg Pietruszynski: Founder & CEO at Growbots
- Jeff Zias: Grassroots Innovation Leader at Intuit
- Omar Valle: Startup Business Development at Amazon
5:30 PM: Wrap-Up
06:00PM - 08:00PM
FounderX Wine Down
Decompress and say your good-byes at this casual gathering just down the street from Microsoft.
LOCATION: Private Location (Invite-only, only registered attendees will be admitted)