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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230418T180000
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UID:16365-1681840800-1681849800@vlab.org
SUMMARY:Founders’ Series: A New Model for Startup Success
DESCRIPTION:Founders' Series\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				A New Model for Startup Success\nNavigating Funding Challenges in 2023\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Tuesday\, April 18\, 2023\nFireside Chat: 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm\n“Hot Seat” Startups: 6:30 pm – 6:50 pm *\nQ&A: 6:50 – 7:00 pm \n* 3-4 selected founders from audience will be featured on stage. \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Following a similar pattern in past economic downturns\, changing factors in the current economic environment — including inflationary pressures\, market uncertainties\, and risk aversion — have caused massive disruptions among startups and venture capitalists (VCs)\, and the ripple effects are extending across the entire community of founders and investors. \nShowing a promising outlook into the future is no longer enough to get the funding that companies need to deliver on their ideas. Consequently\, a potential nose-dive in available funding has shifted from a what-if scenario to become a harsh reality. Compared to the previous year\, funding from VCs decreased by over 30% in 2022. \nDespite the abundant negativity surrounding the current investment atmosphere for startups\, there is a counterargument that now might be a good time to invest in startups and VC funds\, for a variety of reasons: \n\nLower current valuations of startups\nIncreased accessibility to top talent\nAbility of VCs to “stretch” their money longer\nBetter discipline in the decision-making process\n\nThe net result is increased pressure on VC firms to improve the efficiency of their funds\, enhance productivity\, and reach their targets — all of which translates into higher returns for shareholders. \nIn this VLAB Founders’ Series event\, André Thiollier (partner and business attorney at Foley & Lardner LLP) will moderate a “fireside chat” with SC Moatti (managing partner at Mighty Capital). During their conversation\, these experts in their field will share their thoughts concerning the current investment atmosphere and provide advice for startup founders about addressing challenges and opportunities: \n\nHow can founders adapt to the current macro-economic environment?\nWhat are the do’s and don’ts when pitching your idea and raising capital?\nHow should startups modify their company strategy — i.e.\, short-term vs. long-term?\n\nIn addition to fireside chat\, a few select founders will have the opportunity to get in the “hot seat” and receive some individual counseling about their unique situations. \nJoin us on April 18 for this exciting and thought-provoking event. \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Speaker\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				SC Moatti\, managing partner\, Mighty Capital \nSC Moatti is the founding managing partner of Mighty Capital®; the founding CEO of Products That Count\, the most influential product acceleration platform; and a lecturer at Stanford and Columbia Universities. Previously\, SC built products at Facebook and Nokia that billions of people use. Andrew Chen\, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz\, called SC “a genius at making products people love.” SC serves on the boards of public and private companies\, earned a master’s in electrical engineering and a Stanford MBA\, and is a Kauffman Fellow. \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Moderator\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				André Thiollier\, partner and business attorney\, Foley & Lardner LLP \nAndré is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP\, based in the firm’s Silicon Valley office\, where he is a member of the firm’s transactions practice. \nAndré’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions\, private equity\, emerging growth\, and venture financings\, and general corporate and business counseling. He represents a variety of clients ranging from late-stage private companies and strategic buyers to venture capital and private equity funds across various industries\, including life sciences\, technology\, financial services\, healthcare\, and outsourcing. \nAndré’s extensive experience in multiple jurisdictions combined with fluency in different languages allows André to better advise clients in cross border transactions\, particularly in Latin America\, including Brazil\, Argentina\, Chile\, and Mexico. \nPrior to joining Foley\, André worked as an associate at the Silicon Valley office of a global law firm. With over 15 years of experience in transnational transactions\, André has practiced law in top law firms in São Paulo\, New York\, and Madrid.\n  \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				About the VLAB Founders’ Series\nFounders’ Series events provide a unique opportunity for startups and technologists to take part in an interactive session. Come prepared with your burning questions! \nIf you would like to have the rare opportunity to take the “Hot Seat” on stage to receive feedback from the speakers\, please be sure to enter your question in the field below. Startup founders selected for the “Hot Seat” will be notified in advance. \nFor all other questions\, please contact founders.series@vlab.org. \nNote: Founder's Series tickets are for startup founders and are subject to approval. Please allow 24-48 hours for final ticket confirmation.
URL:https://vlab.org/event/new-model-for-startup-success/
LOCATION:San Francisco\, CA
CATEGORIES:Founders Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/VLAB-New-Model-for-Startup-Success.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230824T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230824T203000
DTSTAMP:20250227T081750Z
CREATED:20250219T102727Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250227T081750Z
UID:16073-1692900000-1692909000@vlab.org
SUMMARY:Founders’ Series: Investment Landscape and Opportunities in Generative AI
DESCRIPTION:Founders' Series\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Investment Landscape and Opportunities in Generative AI\nJust the Tip of the Iceberg?\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Thursday\, August 24\, 2023\nFireside Chat: 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm\n“Hot Seat” Startups: 6:30 pm – 6:50 pm *\nQ&A: 6:50 – 7:00 pm \n* 3-4 selected founders from audience will be featured on stage. \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				As companies continue to seek innovative ways to differentiate themselves\, Generative AI has emerged as a game-changing technology with tremendous potential for disruption across a wide range of fields and industries. From creating unique content and designs to optimizing complex processes\, Generative AI is opening a new world of untapped opportunities for startups to explore. \nThis VLAB Founders Series event will provide an opportunity for founders to hear firsthand from a leading VC in this space and gain new perspectives about the rise of generative AI and its profound impact on the startup ecosystem. Whether you are a startup founder looking to explore the potential of generative AI\, an executive considering a pivot to building AI-capable products\, or simply an aspiring entrepreneur seeking inspiration\, this event is tailored to provide you with the insights you need to stay ahead in this game. \nIn this event\, Arjun Chopra (partner at Floodgate Fund) and André Thiollier (partner at Foley & Lardner LLP) will discuss the latest trends in generative AI\, share their insights on its potential\, and examine how these technologies are being used by startups to create new products and services: \n\nHow will startups be able to leverage Generative AI to scale their business?\nWhat are the potential risks associated with Generative AI for startups?\nHow can startups position themselves strategically to attract investment?\n\nIn addition to the “fireside chat” discussion\, a few select founders will have the opportunity to get in the “hot seat” and receive some individual counseling about their unique situations. \nJoin us on August 24 for this exciting and thought-provoking discussion. \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Speaker\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Arjun Chopra\, partner\, Floodgate Fund \nAs a partner at Floodgate\, Arjun leads the firm’s investments in opportunities that transform the “IT stack” in ways that help companies change the way they do business and compete. Before Floodgate\, Arjun was the CTO at Cambridge Technology Enterprises (CTE)\, a publicly traded cloud services company\, where he launched and led their cloud business. He was a member of the board and executive team that raised multiple rounds of financing. He led 350+ people\, managed 200M hours of uptime in the public cloud and was recognized as one of Amazon Web Service’s top 22 partners world-wide. Arjun joined CTE when they acquired Vox Holdings\, the open-source startup he founded. Arjun holds multiple technology patents that have been cited as prior art by firms like Apple\, AT&T\, and iRobot. He has also held several technology development and management positions in consumer and enterprise software companies\, including Microsoft\, Motive\, and IBCC. \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Moderator\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				André Thiollier\, partner and business attorney\, Foley & Lardner LLP \nAs a partner in the Silicon Valley office of Foley & Lardner LLP\, André is a member of the firm’s Transactions Practice\, where he focuses on mergers and acquisitions\, private equity\, emerging growth and venture financings\, and general corporate and business counseling. He represents a variety of clients ranging from late-stage private companies and strategic buyers to venture capital and private equity funds across various industries\, including life sciences\, technology\, financial services\, healthcare\, and outsourcing. André’s extensive experience in multiple jurisdictions\, combined with fluency in different languages\, allows André to better advise clients in cross-border transactions\, particularly in Latin America\, including Brazil\, Argentina\, Chile and Mexico. Prior to joining Foley\, André worked as an associate at the Silicon Valley office of a global law firm. With over 15 years of experience in transnational transactions\, André has practiced law in top law firms in São Paulo\, New York\, and Madrid. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				About the VLAB Founders’ Series\nFounders’ Series events provide a unique opportunity for startups and technologists to take part in an interactive session. Come prepared with your burning questions! \nIf you would like to have the rare opportunity to take the “Hot Seat” on stage to receive feedback from the speakers\, please be sure to enter your question in the field below. Startup founders selected for the “Hot Seat” will be notified in advance. \nFor all other questions\, please contact founders.series@vlab.org. \nNote: Founder's Series tickets are for startup founders and are subject to approval. Please allow 24-48 hours for final ticket confirmation.
URL:https://vlab.org/event/generative-ai/
LOCATION:San Francisco\, CA
CATEGORIES:Founders Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/VLAB-Investment-Landscape-and-Opportunities-in-Generative-AI.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260625T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260625T203000
DTSTAMP:20260608T223441Z
CREATED:20260608T063206Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260608T223441Z
UID:18428-1782410400-1782419400@vlab.org
SUMMARY:Founders’ Series: How to Build Products That Stand Out in the Age of AI
DESCRIPTION:Founders' Series\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				How to Build Products That Stand Out in the Age of AI\nIs Generative AI Destroying Differentiation?\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				 Thursday\, June 25\, 2026 \n6:00 pm: Reception \n7:00 pm: Fireside Chat \n7:30 pm: “Hot Seat” Startups * \n7:50 pm: Q&A \n* 3-4 selected founders from the audience will be featured on the stage. \n— Bonus Gift —(See below.) \n			\n				Purchase Ticket\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Very Limited Seating \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Building new products has never been easier. But there’s a catch: it is becoming harder than ever to build products that stand out. \nGenerative AI is dramatically lowering the time and the cost required to create and launch products\, flooding almost every category with new entrants. However\, this huge influx is having unintended consequences\, with an increasing number of similar-looking products offering similar-looking features. In many markets\, the ability to create is far outpacing the ability to differentiate. \nMeanwhile\, the cost to acquire new customers is escalating rapidly\, with global ad spending projected to surpass $1 trillion this year. As these conditions continue to evolve\, winning customers will be defined by a company’s ability to embed differentiation\, customer value\, and trust into its product from day one. \n In this special Founders’ Series event\, Lifang He\, author of Brand Power Built In\, and Stephanie Zeppa\, partner at Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton\, will share their thoughts on how founders and entrepreneurs can avoid costly mistakes and make high-stakes decisions with confidence.\n \n\nBeyond innovation\, what else do you need to differentiate your product?\nWhy should your brand be an integral part of your product offering?\nHow can you use positioning to guide what you build\, not just how you market it?\n\nIn addition to the “fireside chat” discussion\, a few select founders will have the opportunity to get in the “hot seat” and receive some individual counseling about their unique situations. \nJoin us on June 25 to hear more about differentiation in the age of AI — and get a free signed copy of Lifang’s book. \n			\n				Get Your Ticket Now\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Speaker \nLifang He\, author and brand strategist\, LifangHe.me \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Lifang is the author of Brand Power Built In: How Tech Products Really Win Hearts and Minds. She brings nearly 20 years of experience driving brand strategy\, product marketing\, and go-to-market excellence for companies like Apple\, Amazon\, and Ring. From launching iPhones globally to shaping entirely new product categories\, her career has been defined by building products and brands that scale fast and deliver results. She now advises startup founders and C-suite executives on brand strategy and product innovation. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Moderator \nStephanie Zeppa\, partner\, Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton LLP \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Stephanie advises founders\, startups\, and investors on company formation\, venture financing\, mergers and acquisitions\, and strategic growth across tech and life sciences. Her clients have described her as “an excellent negotiator” with a “broad understanding of issues.” She also serves as an advisor to VLAB and has extensive experience helping emerging tech companies navigate the journey from startup to scale and successful exit. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				In-Person Event \nSan Francisco\, CA \n(Location details will be sent to registered attendees.) \n Ticket Pricing \nOnly $35 per person \nThis is our pre-pandemic\, pre-inflation price— and includes a bonus gift: \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Bonus: Signed Copy of Brand Power Built In\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				The first 30 people who purchase a ticket to this event will receive a free signed copy of Brand Power Built In: How Tech Products Really Win Hearts and Minds (a $30 value). \nGet your ticket early to secure your bonus gift. \nSorry\, no shipping. You must attend the event to receive your book. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Purchase Ticket Here\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n\n\n\n\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				View event on Eventbrite. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Special Thanks to Our Event Sponsor\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				About the VLAB Founders’ Series\nFounders’ Series events provide a unique opportunity for startups and technologists to take part in an interactive session. Come prepared with your burning questions! \nIf you would like to have the rare opportunity to take the “Hot Seat” on stage to receive feedback from the speakers\, please be sure to enter your question in the field below. Startup founders selected for the “Hot Seat” will be notified in advance. \nFor all other questions\, please contact founders.series@vlab.org. \nNote: Founder's Series tickets are for startup founders and are subject to approval. Please allow 24-48 hours for final ticket confirmation.
URL:https://vlab.org/event/founders-series-how-to-build-products-that-stand-out-in-the-age-of-ai/
LOCATION:San Francisco\, CA
CATEGORIES:Founders Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Products-that-Stand-Out.jpg
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