[FREE] Dating Your Bank: How to Make Lenders Fall in Love with Your Startup

Let’s be real: Fundraising usually feels like a bad first date. You show up with your best pitch deck, try to impress them with your numbers, and pray they call you back. But what if we told you that getting a "Yes" from a lender has less to do with spreadsheets and more to do with chemistry?

Join Startup Grind Calgary for a special fireside chat that flips the script on financing. We’re moving beyond the transactional "ask" and diving into the relationship psychology of business growth.

? The Speaker: Not Your Average Banker

Meet Dennis Agbegha (Director, Banking Prairies at RBCx). Most bankers just look at your credit score. Dennis looks at your soul (kind of). He calls himself a "Customer Experience Knight" and a "Peacemaker".

• He’s a Career Pivot Legend: Dennis spent years as a Geoscientist for ExxonMobil and Shell exploring the ocean floor before pivoting to become a top voice in tech finance. He knows exactly how to transfer skills from "rocks to ROI."
• He’s an Ecosystem Veteran: From ATB to BDC (where he championed Inclusive Entrepreneurship) and now RBCx, he has seen the lending landscape from every conceivable angle.
• His Philosophy: He lives by the Maya Angelou quote: "People will never forget how you made them feel". Yes, even in banking.

? What to Expect

We are ditching the boring PowerPoint slides for a raw, honest conversation about:

The "Romance" of the Deal: How to build genuine trust and empathy with funders so they want to champion you.

The "Customer Story": Why understanding your own narrative is more powerful than any financial projection.

The Art of the Pivot: Lessons on resilience and reinventing yourself in Calgary’s shifting economy (perfect for anyone looking to change careers!).

The "Peacemaker" Strategy: How to navigate the chaotic human side of startups and close deals without burning bridges.

? Who Should Join?

• Founders who are tired of hearing "No" and want to learn the cheat codes to a banker's heart.
• Career Switchers who want to know how a Geoscientist became a Director of Banking.
• Anyone who wants to network with the "Human" side of the Calgary tech ecosystem.

? Your Host

Alish Shams – Connecting humans and businesses for over a decade. Marketing pro, community builder, and the guy asking the questions you actually want the answers to.

Stop swiping left on your funding goals. Come learn how to build a relationship that pays off.

? RSVP NOW to save your seat!

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