TechCrunch Early Stage is the place for the founder who is just starting out. We are excited to bring our show to Boston, Massachusetts on April 20th. We’re bringing in experts from the Northeast and Silicon Valley to chat through myriad startup core competencies — from fundraising to operations to marketing — and step-by-step on how you can set up and grow your business -Steps guide guides.
If you’re sitting at your desk wondering how you start a company, we’ve got you covered. Worried about how to grow 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 around their topics (all attendees will receive transcripts and visual assets from those sessions) and then devote most of their time to audience Q&A. We’ll also have dozens of roundtables focused on fundraising, operations and more, where early founders and investors can engage in conversation to solve some of the biggest challenges facing early-stage startups today.
It’s going to be an incredible event, and we’re very excited to share the first piece of the agenda with you:
How to raise out of SV in a down market
Mark Crane (General Catalyst) Silicon Valley’s funding market is more resistant to macroeconomic conditions than anywhere else in the world. So how do you race outside the Valley bubble? Mark Crane of General Catalyst has substantial experience on both the founder and VC side across Europe, as well as a firm understanding of the funding landscape in the northeastern US, so he will provide practical advice on how to survive and thrive. How to raise a Series A with headwinds against you
Josh Coyne (Kleiner Perkins) A Series A round is a big milestone in the life of a startup, and it can be one of the most challenging to put together when overall economic conditions aren’t favorable. After investing in Figma, UiPath and Ripple, Kleiner Perkins’ Josh Coyne knows how a big round comes together, and he’ll share tips on how to make it happen. How to turn your startup into a social star
Rashad Asir and Josh Machiz (Redpoint) From building your audience to creating viral content that grows your business, Redpoint’s Josh Machiz and Rashad Asir show you how to capitalize on 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 grow their founder and company brands. How to find product-market fit
David Thacker (Greylock) Everyone in startup land wants one thing: product-market fit. Greylock’s David Thacker has experience building and scaling some of the world’s most popular products at Google and LinkedIn. David also has extensive experience building in a recession, so he’s the perfect person to help you find product-market fit when you need it most. how to tell your tam
Dayna Grayson (Construct Capital) Dayna Grayson from Construct Capital has invested in a number of different sectors including automation and manufacturing. She now also focuses on consumer brands, giving her a wide range of experience to understand how founders should discuss their TAM with investors. How to vet your startup idea
James Currier (NFX) There are patterns to good startup ideas, and 90% of the ideas James Currier of NFX sees at the pre-seed/seed stage aren’t leading to a big exit. From his experience as a VC as well as a five-time founder, he can explain how to spot platform shifts and take advantage when something new is possible; how to identify fast-moving markets where TAM is not large, but growing; how to de-risk your idea; and many more. How to convert research into business
Pae Wu (SOSV) Lots of startups are incubated in the lab, but how exactly do they make the jump from research project to commercial enterprise? SOSV General Partner and IndieBio CTO Pae Wu can tell you how, thanks to his experience managing his firm’s portfolio as well as his multiple roles overseeing high-tech R&D and moonshot development projects. Northeast Seed Market State Kerty Levy (TechStars) As Managing Director of TechStars Boston and Iowa, Kerty Levy has a unique vantage point on the state of entrepreneurship and startup funding in the Northeast. She’ll take a look at the early-stage landscape as it stands, how the ongoing economic turmoil could change the scene and how you can prepare. Pitch Practice Ginny Miller (1Sharp 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 prominent VCs, who will then provide feedback.
TechCrunch’s early stage sessions give attendees plenty of time to engage, ask questions, and walk away with a deep, working understanding of the topics and skills needed for startup success. Buy Early Bird Founders tickets now and save $200.