10:00 - 10:25 AM

Opening Introduction by Ron Wiener, Chief Mechanic @ Venture Mechanics

Keynote Speaker: Court Lorenzini

10:30 - 11:10 AM

Panel: Startup War Stories

Some of the best education available to startup founders is to hear about lessons learned from entrepreneurs who've gone before. In this workshop we're going to hear from three veteran entrepreneurs about some of the significant challenges they experienced in previous startups and how they survived them... or didn't. Panelists: Bryan Starbuck (serial entrepreneur), Ivan Inchauste (startup CFO, mentor), Robert Grenley (investor). Moderated by Darian Parish, serial entrepreneur.

11:15 - 12:00 PM

Workshop: Get Ready to Pitch for Impact

with Dana Sather Robinson

Dana is a professional pitch trainer who’s also an angel investor; she knows exactly what investors need to see in a pitch deck and hear from founders like you in a pitch presentation, so her investor-tested methods get results. The interactive Pitch4Impact Training Program will guide you through the process of crafting, preparing, and confidently delivering a pitch and accompanying investor deck that signals to investors: this one is worth my time and attention.

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Networking Lunch

Grab your lunch from the food truck (or brown bag it), and then dine-in and network with peers in the creative studio or conference rooms.

1:00 - 1:55 PM

Raw Concept Pitch Competition 

This is a low-stakes pitch competition is an opportunity for aspiring founders to pitch their concept for a venture-scale startup. They get three minutes to pitch and two minutes of Q&A with the judging panel. The judges will cast their votes for the most promising business concept, and the audience will be able to crowdvote their favorite as well. Will the winner of the two votes be the same or different? Come find out!

Have an idea you'd like to try out on the audience? sign up to pitch here!

2:00 - 2:40 PM

Panel: When and How To Find Your Cofounder(s)

The panelists are serial entrepreneurs who were themselves once solo founders, who can speak to their evolved philosophies on how to find the right co-founder(s) at the right time, how to split equity amongst co-founders, how founders can protect themselves against a mismatch in chemistry or if the company pivots into a different direction that requires a different founder team make-up, etc. Panelists: Ron Higgs, Angie Parker

2:45 - 3:25 PM

Panel: How To Best Leverage Mentors and Fractional Executives 

Without the benevolent participation of mentors in the startup ecosystem most venture-scale startups would never achieve funding and eventual success. Learn about how and why mentors can assist startup founders in their journey, and then when and how to engage them more fully as fractional executives, advisory board members, and in other part-time roles when you can't yet afford to hire experienced full-time management team members. Panelists: Jacob White, Jaidin McCann, Ivan Inchauste, 

3:30 - 4:25 PM

Venture Pitch Competition

This is the “high stakes” pitch competition as opposed to the raw concept competition earlier in the day. The five presenting startups will get 5 minutes to pitch, plus 5 minutes for Q&A with the judges (experienced investors). These startups will also have demo tables at the event where potential investors, customers, mentors, etc., can meet with them after the competition. The judges will cast their votes for the best investment opportunity, and the audience will be able to crowdvote their favorite as well. Will the winner of the two votes be the same or different? Come find out!

Judges: Jennifer Savage (Luminate Ventures), Maren Nelson (Alliance of Angels), TBA.

4:30 - 5:30 PM

Introduction to the Venture Mechanics Incubator/Accelerator Program

Learn all about the patently unique incubator/accelerator model we employ at Venture Mechanics to take in highly-vetted startups, fully train their founders to run a venture-scale business, and complete their funding. This is nothing remotely like the Techstars or YC model. Hear directly from the mentors who participate in the "mentor conclave" processes at the beginning and end of a founder team's journey through. Also hear from founders currently going through the process. 

5:30 - 8:30 PM

Founders & Mentors Mixer Afterparty

More than just a good time, founders and mentors can use this opportunity to get to know one another in a casual environment. Whether you want to speed date or spend quality time with particular individuals huddled in one of the conference rooms, this party is a great opportunity to founders to meet other founders, and mentors to meet other mentors, as well. Light dinner is served, and each attendee gets two drink tickets. The bar will create custom cocktails and mocktails for each guest using Mixtail's new AI technology!