ukbusinessupdates.com Early Stage is the place to be for the founder just starting out. On April 20, we are excited to bring our show to Boston, Massachusetts. We bring together experts from the Northeast and Silicon Valley to talk about countless core startup competencies — from fundraising to operations to marketing — and outline step-by-step guides on how to set up and grow your business.
If you’re sitting at your desk wondering how to start a business, we’ve got you covered. Worried about parenting in this economic climate? We have a session (or several) for you.
The format is unique to most TC events in that our speakers give presentations on their topics (all attendees receive transcripts and visuals of those sessions) and then spend most of their time in audience Q&A. We also have dozens of roundtables focused on fundraising, operations and more, where early founders and investors can talk to each other to solve some of the biggest challenges early-stage startups face today.
It’s going to be an incredible event and we’re more than excited to share the first part of the agenda with you:
How to raise outside SV in a down market
Mark Crane (general catalyst)
- Silicon Valley’s finance market is generally more immune to macroeconomic conditions than anywhere else in the world. So how do you level up outside the Valley bubble? General Catalyst’s Mark Crane has extensive experience on both the founder and VC side from across Europe, as well as an understanding of the Northeast US funding landscape, so he will provide practical advice on how to stay alive and thrive.
How to raise a Series A with headwinds against you
Josh Coyne (Kleiner Perkins)
- The Series A round is a huge milestone in a startup’s life, and it can also be one of the most challenging to put together when overall economic conditions aren’t favorable. Kleiner Perkins’ Josh Coyne knows how a Grand Tour is made, he’s invested in Figma, UiPath and Rippling, and he’ll be sharing tips on how to make it happen.
How to turn your startup into a social star
Rashad Assir and Josh Machiz (Redpoint)
- From building your audience to creating viral content that advances your business, Redpoint’s Josh Machiz and Rashad Assir will tell you how to take advantage of the multiplier effects of a real online community. Rashad has experience building his own following, as well as Redpoint’s own TikTok presence, while Josh has helped Redpoint portfolio companies develop their founder and corporate brands.
How to find product-market fit
David Thacker (Greylock)
- Everyone in start-up land wants one thing: product-market fit. David Thacker of Greylock has experience building and scaling some of the world’s most popular products at Google and LinkedIn. David also has extensive experience building during a recession, so he’s the perfect person to help you find a product-market fit now when you need it most.
How to tell your TAM
Dayna Grayson (Construct Capital)
- Dayna Grayson of Construct Capital has invested in many different areas, including automation and manufacturing. She now also focuses on consumer brands, giving her a wide range of experience in understanding exactly how founders should discuss their TAM with investors.
How to Assess Your Startup Idea
James Currier (NFX)
- Good startup ideas have patterns and 90% of the ideas NFX’s James Currier sees in the pre-seed/seed stage will not lead to major exits. From his experience as a VC, as well as a five-time founder, he can explain how to recognize and capitalize on platform shifts when something new is possible; how to identify fast moving markets where TAM is not large but increasing; how to de-risk your idea; and much more.
How to turn research into a business
Pae Wu (SOSV)
- Many startups are incubated in the lab, but how exactly do they make the jump from a research project to a commercialized company? SOSV General Partner and IndieBio CTO Pae Wu can tell you how, thanks to her experience managing her company’s portfolio, as well as her multiple roles overseeing high-tech R&D and moonshot development projects.
State of the Northeastern Seed Market
Kerty Levy (Techstars)
- As general manager of Techstars Boston and Iowa, Kerty Levy has a unique perspective on the state of entrepreneurship and seed funding in the Northeast. She will take an early look at the current landscape, how continued economic turmoil could change the situation and how you can prepare.
pitch practice
Ginny Miller (1Sharpe Ventures) and Heather Widman (Building Ventures)
- So you think you can pitch? Founders selected to participate in this session will have five minutes to impress a panel of judges, including leading VCs, who will then provide feedback.
ukbusinessupdates.com early stage sessions give attendees plenty of time to participate, ask questions, and walk away with a deeper, working understanding of topics and skills critical to startup success. Buy an early bird founder ticket now and save $200.
