What we’re about
The Startup Traction & Funding Network brings together aspiring and experienced tech entrepreneurs to discuss, meet, and collaborate to build great new startups, and to push the local startup ecosystem forward.
This group hosts numerous free events throughout the year where you can learn the best practices of starting a company from people who have been there and done that. You’ll have the opportunity to meet local founders and investors, exchange ideas with experts, get feedback on your idea, participate in startup workshops, and more.
Typical startup event topics include:
• Refining your startup idea
• Startup legal basics
• How to pitch your startup
• How to launch a global company
• How to raise funding for your startup
• And much more!
Join the group to be invited to our next event!
For information about the investors, incubators, and tech events available, see our list of Startup Resources (https://fi.co/startup_resources). Interested in perfecting your pitch? Read our Pitch Deck Guide (https://fi.co/pitch_deck) and download templates.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert FeedbackLink visible for attendees
To launch a great startup, it is critical to get feedback on your ideas from entrepreneurs who have been there and done that. On this live online event, we will gather several startup experts ready to provide feedback for aspiring entrepreneurs. The event will start by providing guidelines to create a compelling elevator pitch, and then attendees will have the opportunity to share your pitch with other entrepreneurs, advisors, and investors at virtual tables for instant feedback. Even if you don't want to share your pitch, you can still join to hear other startup ideas and witness how the experts review a pitch.
❯ What You'll Learn:
- How to give a concise, yet compelling, elevator pitch
- What investors are looking for in a startup pitch
❯ To get the most out of this Pitch for Feedback event:
- Come ready for live video networking.
- Prepare by starting with your one-sentence pitch. See how it's done using our Madlibs format.
- Fill out our Elevator Pitch Worksheet.
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights. Ensure your participation by RSVPing at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/17498 to receive the Zoom URL.
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of ResearchLink visible for attendees
The greatest variable in the success or failure of a startup is the Founder, especially at the earliest stages. Join us at our live online event to discover what makes a successful entrepreneur. We will be sharing insights from 15 years of startup research that lead to startup success. Do not miss this chance to learn how to develop these traits and hear stories of entrepreneurial achievements.
❯ What You'll Learn:
- What defines a successful entrepreneur?
- Insights from FI's Entrepreneur DNA Assessment, including the 9 Entrepreneur Profiles.
- How do you evaluate your potential as a startup founder?
- Specific steps to improve your Founder selection process.
❯ Featured Expert:
- Jonathan Greechan - CEO & Co-Founder at Founder Institute - Since 2009, Jonathan has grown and scaled the world's largest pre-seed accelerator to chapters in over 200 cities and 100 countries, producing over 6800 portfolio companies with an estimated value of $35BN. He also serves as an Advisor to Oxford Entrepreneurs (Oxford University), Horasis, and the USC Incubator (University of Southern California). Previously, Jonathan was a Partner of TheFunded.com, the first website for founders to rate and review venture capitalists, and an Executive Producer of the Founder Showcase, a leading Silicon Valley startup conference that hosted speakers like Elon Musk. Jonathan’s writing has been featured in Fortune, TechCrunch, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and he has spoken at startup conferences on four continents.
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights. Ensure your participation by RSVPing at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/17572 to receive the Zoom URL.
- Venture Trailblazers, featuring Ilya A. Strebulaev from StanfordLink visible for attendees
Venture Trailblazers is an exclusive event series that connects leading investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders from across the globe to discuss the latest trends in startups and venture capital. For this edition, we welcome Ilya A. Strebulaev (Professor of Finance & Private Equity at Stanford). The goal of Venture Trailblazers is to educate and connect the founders, leaders, mentors, and investors across the global Founder Institute, VC Lab, and FI Venture Networks.
❯ About the Speaker:
- Ilya Strebulaev is a globally recognized expert in venture capital, private equity, and financing innovation. He is the David S. Lobel Professor of Private Equity and Professor of Finance at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he has taught and influenced over 1,000 students. Ilya is the founder and faculty director of the Stanford GSB Venture Capital Initiative and has won numerous prestigious academic awards. His work has been published in leading journals and featured in major media outlets like Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, and TechCrunch. Ilya continues to shape the venture capital landscape, consulting for global companies and advising on strategic financial decisions.
Venture Trailblazers is presented by the Founder Institute, the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator; and VC Lab, the leading venture capital accelerator for emerging managers worldwide.
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights. Ensure your participation by RSVPing at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/18222 to receive the Zoom URL.
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business PartnerLink visible for attendees
Building a great Co-Founder team is one of the most difficult yet important steps in founding a startup. While many founders may start alone, there are multiple benefits of having a Co-Founder, and taking the time to establish a quality team can mean the difference between failure and success. Join us for this fun and interactive event where you will learn best practices for building and formalizing a Co-Founder relationship. In addition, you will have the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs who are looking for a Co-Founder at virtual tables and speed networking sessions.
❯ What You'll Accomplish:
- You will learn the best practices for finding the right Co-Founder
- You will meet startup enthusiasts and experts from around the world
- You will shortlist potential Co-Founders
❯ To get the most out of this Co-Founder networking event:
- Come ready for live video networking
- Prepare by visiting our Guide to Find a Co-Founder
- Fill out our Co-Founder Networking Worksheet
To access all of the networking features of this event, please join using Chrome or Firefox from a desktop or tablet, or download the Airmeet Mobile App.
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights. Ensure your participation by RSVPing at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/17566 to receive the Zoom URL.
