VENTURE SUMMIT

Join us at our inaugural Venture Summit for an exclusive opportunity to meet with visionary founders, engage with seasoned investors, absorb wisdom from captivating speakers, witness the innovation of founder showcases, and gain invaluable insights into the ever-evolving startup ecosystem.

Ready to be a part of Yorkseed's early journey and sponsor our Venture Summit? Reach out to us today to explore partnership opportunities!

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Join us for an enriching half-day venture summit tailored for founders and investors, featuring a diverse array of engaging discussions and networking opportunities. Our program will cover the following key topics:Daniel Nieto:
Daniel the Principal at BDC Seed Fund is discussing Seed Stage VC Funds.Amit Jethani:
Amit is a co-founder of Mantle in Toronto, a modern AI-powered platform designed to help founders manage their company's equity efficiently. Mantle addresses the challenges of manual equity management, providing a streamlined solution for founders.
Amit previously served as Director of Product at Ashley Madison and later at Autonomic, where he developed connected vehicle platforms for automotive OEMs. Autonomic was acquired by Ford Motor Company in 2018.
Amit has a robust background in product management, with roles at Top Hat and Pivotal Labs. He has managed products across various industries, including online dating, education, retail, and automotive, showcasing his versatility and hands-on approach to development and operations. His dual academic background in Engineering (Mechatronics at Waterloo) and Business (MBA at Ivey Business School) complements his extensive professional experience.Mary Hermant:
Mary is the Managing Director at Royce Holdings (Single Family Office), providing operational, marketing, and financial support. With over 20 years in Tech and Finance, she's been a Head of Finance and Corporate Affairs at 2K Media AG and managed early-stage investments for over 20 startups, firms and government bodies. She's launched tech products like Frsh Beacons, CoSync Auth, Ursa Live and social data marketing platforms Social Extract and Hello Media, and has worked globally in cities like London, Zurich, and Toronto. In Toronto, she was honoured with the Queen’s Jubilee award in 2022 and mentors for The King’s Trust.Matan Hazanov:
Matan is the Managing Director of Verstra Ventures, a Toronto-based venture capital firm focusing on early-stage B2B software companies. With over nine years of venture investing experience, Matan leads his team in sourcing, investing, and managing a diverse portfolio. His entrepreneurial journey began at 18, and he has since built multiple startups, serving as an entrepreneur, advisor, and investor.
Before joining Verstra Ventures, Matan was instrumental in numerous investments within the software, cleantech, and agtech sectors across North America and Israel. He is actively involved in the tech ecosystems of Canada, the US, and Israel, frequently speaking, mentoring, and advising at incubators, accelerators, and universities like Holt Accelerator and the Schulich School of Business, where he earned his BBA.[Ashley Martis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/martis/
Ashley Martis) : (Founder of StartupFuel) discussing how to invest in Venture Capital, the role of LPs, Due Diligence and how VC is undergoing a change from the last few years.Jessica Sophia Wong :
Host remark: Jessica is the Founder of Yorkseed.co and Venture Partner for VNTR CapitalI will share the pitch decks of all selected pitchbox founders with our investors on the list. - JessicaSchedule:1PM : Pre-show networking1:45pm : Host Opening Remarks (Yorkseed, StartupFuel)2pm - 2:30pm : Mary2:30pm - 3pm : Daniel3pm - 3:30pm : Networking Break3:30 - 4pm: Amit4pm - 4:30pm: Matan4:30pm - 5pm: Ash / Founders Spotlight (3mins) Q&A (2 Questions))5pm or as soon as Ash finished: Jessica – Quick closing remarks and announcement from Jessica (5 mins tops)5pm: Networking6pm: Rooftop opens for networking.
• Daniel Nieto (Principal at BDC Seed Fund) is discussing Seed Stage VC Funds.• Amit Jethani (Founder of Mantle) discussing his background as Head of Product at Ashley Madison and importance of establishing and maintaining Cap Tables in Venture Capital• Mary Hermant (Managing Director of Royce Family Offices) speaking on Family Office investing in VC and her role as a portfolio supporter• Matan H (Managing Director at Versta Ventures) speaking on Corporate Venture Capital and how Constellation Software (their parent company) operates.• Ashley Martis (Founder of StartupFuel) discussing how to invest in Venture Capital, the role of LPs, Due Diligence and how VC is undergoing a change from the last few years.• Jessica Sophia Wong : Host remark: Jessica is the Founder of Yorkseed.co and Venture Partner for VNTR Capital

This is going to be legendary! Join us for our very first Toronto Venture Summit afterparty and the final Collision Conference Finale Frenzy: Pre-Game Bash. Can you believe this is the last Collision conference in Toronto? Your ticket grants you access to our Venture Summit afterparty from 5pm - 9pm.

Join us for an enriching half-day venture summit tailored for founders and investors, featuring a diverse array of engaging discussions and networking opportunities.Speakers lined up, sponsored headset, Instagram content creator and YouTuber will be around to interview attendees!Our program will cover the following key topics:Startup Spotlight Pitch Links:If you have purchased a founder ticket and are interested in showcasing your startup at the event, please apply here: https://social.startupfuel.com/venturesummitnycOur partner fractl is hosting a VC brunch right before the summit - NY #TechWeek Web3 Founders & Investors brunch ✨https://lu.ma/k7w7pqjc (Subject for approval but we have priorities)- Gabriel Yomi Dabiri - Polsinelli (Legal, Finance)
- Peter Thurlow - Polsinelli (Legal)
- Alisha Outridge - BlackLion (Ex-Meta, SXSW Speaker, Advisor)
- Josh Futterman - Papa Bear Ventures (5x Founder, VC, Mentor, Advisor)
- Seba Dominguez - Builders (Investor, Advisor)
- Ashlea Souffrou, CMRP - SxanPro (Crain's 40 under 40)
- Sunny Midha - Principia Growth (Investor, M&A, Series B+)- Due Diligence: Gain insights into the due diligence process and discover how to conduct thorough assessments to ensure informed investment decisions.- AI + Blockchain: Gain a deeper understanding of the potential of AI and blockchain technologies and discover investment opportunities in these cutting-edge fields.- Seeding Success Fundraising: Get practical advice and actionable tips from VCs on navigating the fundraising landscape and securing crucial early-stage funding for your startup.- Transitioning to Growth Stage Fundraising: Insights into what growth investors typically seek, highlighting the similarities and differences from early-stage fundraising.- US Market and The Rest of the World: Steps involved in entering the US market, including finances, establishing ecosystem relationships, and partnerships with companies in Asia and Europe. Success stories of how LATAM companies have made it big in the US market- Private Credit: How private credit investments can accelerate business growth and enhance value creation.- Hustler Talk: Hear inspiring stories and valuable insights from successful entrepreneurs who have overcome challenges and achieved remarkable success in the startup world.Founder Showcase
Yorkseeder Meet and Greet: Connect with fellow members of the Yorkseed community in a relaxed and informal setting, share ideas, and forge valuable connections.Speaker List:Gabriel Yomi DabiriGabriel Yomi Dabiri leads Polsinelli’s national Private Credit and Cross-Border Finance practice. Gabriel also serves as Office Managing Partner of Polsinelli’s New York office. Gabriel advises lenders, private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers on senior, mezzanine and subordinated loans, unitranche facilities, first lien/second lien facilities, and cash flow, ABL, subscription line and capital call facilities. Gabriel also negotiates complex intercreditor and subordination arrangements on behalf of his clients and supports clients on various debt restructurings and bankruptcies, including negotiating debtor-in-possession facilities and advising clients in connection with sovereign-debt crises. He leverages his market expertise in both “buy-and-hold” credit strategies and broadly syndicated finance transactions to guide clients on a variety of deals, from the routine to cutting edge. Gabriel is dual-qualified, admitted to practice law as an attorney in New York and as a solicitor in England and Wales, and has deep and extensive experience supporting clients on sophisticated cross-border deals.Peter Thurlow (Polsinelli)Pete is a seasoned patent lawyer specializing in strategies to protect intellectual property for inventors, startups, and multinational corporations. His practice covers patent application preparation, freedom to operate opinions, and patent litigation. Pete frequently hosts investor meetings to connect innovative companies with family office investors, partnering with groups like the Center for Advancing Innovation. He has held leadership roles, including President of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to USPTO's Patent Public Advisory Committee. Additionally, Pete advises DARPA on commercializing defense technologies and forming strategic partnerships, leveraging his military background and extensive legal expertise.Josh Futterman (Papa Bear Ventures)Josh Futterman is the Managing General Partner of Papa Bear Ventures, a New York City-based B2B software venture fund focused on early post-launch, revenue generating startups. A 5x founder with several exits, he has been active in the tech startup space for more than 25 years. During that time, he has launched and run successful B2B, B2B2C and B2C tech companies in NYC, Los Angeles and Singapore. Along with his own businesses, Josh served as Principal Mentor for JFDI, the first serious accelerator in Southeast Asia, helping jumpstart the now thriving Singapore startup ecosystem. That experience led him to become an arch-mentor and adviser to more than 250 other founders across the globe over the last decade, including serving as Principal Mentor for one of the NYC Techstars Programs and on the Board of Entrepreneur Futures Network in the Bay Area. Josh’s passion for supporting founders in all aspects of their journey provides the fundamental basis for Papa Bear’s investing activities.Alisha Outridge (BlackLion)Alisha is an experienced Product & Technology Executive, specializing in developing emerging technologies that transform how people communicate, meet & consume content. Her expertise spans AI, AR, Blockchain and machine learning innovations, with significant contributions at Meta/Facebook, iHeartRadio & FlyBy (acquired by Apple).Alisha actively hosts workshops to bridge technology with practical business applications and collaborates with academic institutions, technology incubators & advises venture funds. She has held leadership roles, including Chief Product Officer at FlyBy and ReutersTV, and recently served as TuneCore’s Chief Product & Technology Officer, leading AI initiatives.Currently, Alisha is the Chief Technology Officer at BlackLion, an AI-driven platform revolutionizing the music industry by providing real-time data insights and valuation tools. BlackLion's B2B and upcoming direct-to-artist platform fundamentally changes how entertainment content is monetized and increases industry revenue.
Additionally, Alisha serves as a Lecturer at Brown University and Professor at Hunter College CUNY, offering her deep knowledge in entrepreneurship, technology leadership and emerging technologies to aspiring engineers, business, and product leaders. In her roles, Alisha is dedicated to leveraging technology to develop innovative business models and nurture talented professionals, aiming to amplify human creativity and advance societal progress in the next digital age.Seba DominguezSeba Dominguez is a Tech leader based in São Paulo, Brazil with connections throughout Latin America. With deep expertise in strategy, growth, and innovation, he led the LATAM business at Talent.com, driving revenue growth and earning Financial Times recognition. He is an advisor in various startups and now, at Builders, is focused on reshaping the future of work.Ashlea SouffrouAshlea is the President and Founder of SxanPro, a healthcare supply management technology company. With 16 years in the medical device industry, she launched SxanPro in 2019 after working at Stryker. SxanPro's mobile app scans manufacturer barcodes on medical devices to capture critical product information, aiding hospitals in inventory management and reducing waste.
Ashlea's innovation led to the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 11120399 for her mobile scanning technology. A West Michigan native and Western Michigan University alumna, she has been recognized as a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Michigan and Northwest Ohio Award and received the Crain's 40 Under 40 award. Ashlea's entrepreneurial spirit, bootstrapped development, and leadership have established SxanPro as a pioneering woman-owned business in healthcare supply management.Sunny MidhaSunny Midha is a growth investor at Principia Growth, a NY/LA fund specializing in B2B/enterprise technologies such as Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Data, and Robotics, as well as B2C platforms. He is also an experienced M&A buyside advisor. With over 20 years of experience in M&A, capital markets, restructuring, and venture capital, Sunny has worked with Deutsche Bank (London), Houlihan Lokey (New York), Greycroft (Los Angeles), and Amplify.LA (Los Angeles). He has deep domain knowledge in SaaS/Enterprise, Media, Entertainment/Sports, FinTech, and PropTech. Sunny holds a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics, an MBA from the University of Southern California, and an MS in Analytics from Harrisburg University.Organizers:Jessica Sophia Wong - Founder of Yorkseed
Ashley Martis - CoFounder of StartupFuel
———————————————————————-June 4th, 20241pm - 6pmAgenda:1pm: Setup, headshot session1:45pm: Program start5pm - 6pm: Reception, networkingHeadshot session sponsored by shoott.com. Refresh your headshot with a free mini session! Sign up for a 5 minute slot on Tuesday, June 4th at Yorkseed's Venture Summit from 1-6pm. You'll receive a digital gallery of lightly edited photos in just 3-5 business days. Your first download will be free of charge! Additional photos may be purchased for $20 each. Signup link to share with attendees (we also can accommodate walk-ins on a case-by-case basis)!Content creator Theorist Agency DJ and Asher will be walking around with their cool gadget!A budding YouTuber will be around to interview attendees!We are working with our dear friend from Little Myanmar to curate special reception small bites for everyone!