About this Event
Build Before You Pitch is an intensive 8-week program that transforms technical founders into investment-ready entrepreneurs by building the business foundations that attract funding.
We believe strong companies naturally lead to compelling pitches—not the other way around. While others focus on presentation skills, we go beyond pitch coaching to build what investors actually evaluate: legal structures, financial models, value propositions, customer strategies, competitive positioning, team architecture, and comprehensive business plans.
Our approach works. The Fall 2025 pilot achieved a 90% recommendation rate, with 7 of 8 founders delivering investor-ready presentations to 6 attending investors at Demo Day. Founders told us the program "removed our biggest source of anxiety about approaching investors."
Led by expert facilitators—including Cooley LLP attorneys, industry CFOs, proven entrepreneurs, and active investors—this program serves 25 carefully selected founders in deep tech, climate tech, and life sciences. Over 8 consecutive Fridays, participants build real company foundations through hands-on workshops, pre-work assignments, and accountability-driven deliverables.
What You Will Build Over 8 Weeks:
Week 1: Business Plan Mastery
Creating a comprehensive, actionable business plan that tells your story and maps your path forward.
Week 2: Legal Foundation (with Cooley LLP)
Incorporation structures, IP protection, equity allocation, and the legal frameworks investors expect to see.
Week 3: Customer Acquisition & Strategic Partnerships
Concrete strategies for finding your first deals and customers, building partnerships, and pilot collaborations tailored to your sector and early adopters.
Week 4: Competitive Intelligence
Understanding your market position relative to your competitors, articulating your value proposition, and defining competitive differentiation.
Week 5: Team Architecture
Early-stage hiring decisions, compensation structures, equity allocation, and building teams that scale.
Week 6: Financial Fundamentals for Investors
Managing early-stage finances, cash flow models/budget, and what investors actually look for in your numbers.
Week 7: Final pitch polish & feedback session
Pitch practice, feedback sessions, and final preparation for investor presentations.
Week 8: Demo Day
Present to a curated network of investors and receive direct feedback.
The program culminates at Demo Day, where founders present their companies to curated investors for genuine feedback and potential conversations.
Target: Technical founders who have breakthrough technology or early traction and need to develop business fundamentals that attract funding.
Outcome: Investment-ready companies with solid foundations that translate into authentic, credible investor conversations.
Philosophy: Build the company right, and the pitch takes care of itself.
Apply Now!
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Daybreak Labs, 7683 Southfront Road, Livermore, United States
