Words Of Wisdom will be held in ROOM 209/210 (Second floor) at Santa Clara Convention Center starting at 10:30am.
Our Words of Wisdom program focuses on mentoring entrepreneurs in highly interactive mentor dialogues, answering questions entrepreneurs face during all stages of the startup journey.
The Words of Wisdom program will be held both May 5th and 6th in conjunction with track sessions. Please indicate your interest in Words of Wisdom program during TiEcon registration. Seats are limited, so register sooner for confirmed participation in the program.
May 5th
10:30am – 11:20am: Seed Funding
Participants ask questions relating to early stage funding. Topics include: readiness for funding, determining valuations, terms, convertible notes vs. equity, and option grants to founders and advisors.
11:20am – 12:10pm: Products and Technology
Participants ask questions relating to their MVP (Minimum Viable Product). Topics include: Discovering product requirements for target customers, value proposition, technology differentiation, and intellectual property protection.
12:10pm – 1:00pm: Business Models
Participants ask questions about the viability of their business model. Topics include: customer acquisition, channels, complementors, pricing, profit margins, and how to validate value proposition.
2:30pm – 3:20pm: Venture Funding
Participants ask questions about what VCs are looking for, and how to be ready for VC funding. Topics include: presentation content, reducing product risk, market risk, valuations and key factors for attracting investors.
3:20pm – 4:10pm: Go-to-Market Strategy
Participants ask questions about challenges they face in developing their marketing strategy and choosing between direct vs. channel sales, social media, and more.
4:10pm – 5:00pm: Market Segment Focus
Participants ask questions about market challenges, industry platforms and how to focus on a segment. They’ll leave with an understanding of the key parameters to focus.
May 6th
10:30am – 11:20am: Venture Funding
Participants ask questions about what VCs are looking for and how to be ready for VC funding. Topics include: presentation content, reducing product risk, market risk, valuations and key factors for attracting investors.
11:20am – 12:10pm: Financial Modeling
Participants ask questions about how to build a credible financial model. Topics include: valuations, credibility of numbers, bottom-up vs. top-down models.
12:10pm – 1:00pm: Exits: Acquisitions, IPOs, etc.
Participants ask questions about the pros and cons about various exit options. They’ll learn the difference between founders and investors perspectives in terms of when and how to be ready.
2:30pm – 3:20pm: Venture Funding
Participants ask questions about what VCs are looking for, and how to be ready for VC funding. Topics include: presentation content, reducing product risk, market risk, valuations and key factors for attracting investors.
3:20pm – 4:10pm: Leadership
Participants ask about importance of leadership. Topics include: key success factors, the importance of leadership in funding, how to build a leadership team, and what investors look for.
4:10pm – 5:00pm: Business Models
Participants ask questions about the viability of their business model. Topics include: customer acquisition, channels, complementors, pricing, profit margins, and how to validate value proposition.
