What makes an investor take a closer look at one startup while passing on another?

Join Venturous Counsel for an informal, founder-focused conversation with three experienced investors:

Amanda Heyman, General Partner at Tundra Ventures

Julie Castro Abrams, General Partner at How Women Invest

Liz Hartley, Founder & Managing Partner at Good Reason

Saki Oshima, General Partner at NEXTBLUE

Together, Liz, Saki, & Amanda will give founders a candid look at how investors evaluate opportunities, assess founding teams, & make funding decisions.

The conversation will cover:

What makes an opportunity worth a closer look

How investors decide whether to invest

Which founder qualities stand out

What weakens an otherwise strong pitch

What founders misunderstand about fundraising

Which sectors, themes, & trends are attracting investor interest

The event will also feature pitches from a small group of selected startups. Presenting founders will receive direct feedback from the investor panel, while attendees will hear how investors respond to companies & pitches in real time.

Program

4:30 PM - Arrival & introductions

4:45 PM - Startup pitches & investor feedback

5:15 PM - Panel conversation & Q&A with Liz Hartley, Saki Oshima, & Amanda Heyman

6:00 PM - Dinner, drinks, & networking

About the Host

Venturous Counsel is a mission-driven law firm that serves as United States fractional general counsel to values-aligned & diverse-led startups & investors.

About the Guests

Amanda Heyman

Amanda Heyman is a General Partner at Tundra Ventures & an attorney with more than 13 years of experience advising early-stage startups. She has also co-founded & helped finance a startup through Series A, developed resources for accelerator companies, & worked across law, venture, & digital media.

Julie Castro Abrams

Julie Castro Abrams is the Founder & CEO of How Women Lead & Managing Partner of How Women Invest, a venture capital firm investing exclusively in women-led companies. She has spent much of her career expanding economic access for women, supporting entrepreneurs, & advancing women into leadership, board, & investment roles.

Liz Hartley

Liz Hartley is the Founder & Managing Partner of Good Reason, an early-stage venture firm investing across work, health, wealth, & resilience. Previously, she held operating roles at Beats, Apple, WeWork, & Ginkgo Bioworks, bringing an operator's perspective to her work with founders.

Saki Oshima

Saki Oshima is a General Partner at NEXTBLUE, where she focuses on women's health, women's wellbeing, & female-founded companies. She previously worked on global startup investments & corporate partnerships at Scrum Ventures & has supported venture communities & founders across the United States, Japan, & Europe.

Gratitude

A special thank you to Korea Venture Investment Corp. (KVIC) for sharing its facilities for this event.

Registration

By registering for this event, you agree that Venturous Counsel may email you about this event, future events, strategic insights, & relevant updates.