Startup Fundamentals 2: Developing a Funding Strategy

Are you an entrepreneur ready to transform your vision into a successful, fundable startup? Access Silicon Valley invites you to join us for an invaluable 3-hour workshop designed to equip you with the legal and business tools and insights necessary to build a fundable and scalable startup and thrive in the startup ecosystem!

This is the second of three workshops in the Startup Fundamental Series for startup founders, startup executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and developers. While advantageous to have attended all 3 workshops, this is stand-alone content. You can still attend this program if you missed the first.

Thank you to our event sponsor, .

In this second workshop of the Startup Fundamentals series, , a former entrepreneur, founder of Access Silicon Valley, a partner at Snell & Wilmer and co-leader of its Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice group, will conduct an interactive, informative session with in depth content on how successful Silicon Valley startups develop and implement successful funding strategies, securing funding from angel, seed and VC investors. Learn the best way to raise the money you need to successfully launch and scale your startup!

• How to develop a funding strategy appropriate for your startup
• When to raise funds, how much to raise, and from who
• The danger of taking too much or too little from investors
• Identifying the valuation inflection points of your company
• The differences between seed, angel and venture capital funding
• Alternative funding sources
• Appropriate funding instruments for each round of funding, including convertible notes, SAFE's, common stock and preferred stock
• The pros and cons of selling equity, convertible instruments, and venture debt
• Selecting and gaining access to the right investor
• What to do to increase the pre-money valuation of your company

A comprehensive 50-page digital workbook with an actionable step-by-step guide will be distributed to all registered event attendees on the day of the event.

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Dinner and networking
6:00 PM - 6:15 PM - Speaker and sponsor introductions
6:15 PM - 7:30 PM - Startup workshop Part A
7:30 PM - 7:45 PM - Intermission
7:45 PM - 8:45 PM - Startup workshop Part B
8:45 PM - 9:00 PM - Q & A

Seating is extremely limited, so reserve your seat now.

Snell & Wilmer Partner , Co-Leader of the Emerging Growth and Venture Capital Practice Group, is a seasoned advisor to startups and emerging growth companies and the investors who finance them, guiding clients from inception through exit. With over two decades of experience in the startup ecosystem, Roger focuses on venture capital and angel investor financings, including convertible notes, SAFEs, and other debt financings. His knowledge extends to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, distribution, development, manufacturing, and licensing transactions, as well as executive compensation and the establishment of equity incentive plans.

He has extensive experience in advising startup and well-established emerging growth companies, primarily in the software, information technology, Internet, fixed and mobile communications technology, cleantech and life sciences sectors. Roger is the co-author of “Investor Agreements in a Financing Transaction” a chapter in Financing California Businesses,” California Continuing Education of the Bar, Co-author of "Considerations for Angel and VC Funded Startups and Emerging Growth Companies Considering a Loan Under the Paycheck Protection Program," and Co-author of “Changes in Convertible Instruments for Early Stage Financings.”

Roger is a frequent speaker and panelist on topics and issues related to the development and implementation of a company's formation and funding strategy.

Before attending law school, he was the founder of a technology company with $10 million in revenue.

Roger is very connected with investors in Silicon Valley and beyond and is an active angel investor. As an attorney, he has been involved in hundreds of transactions such as merger and acquisition transactions, private equity and venture capital financing transactions, and complex restructuring transactions.

Roger is also the founder of Access Silicon Valley, a platform for entrepreneurs, on a global basis, to gain access to Silicon Valley's best and brightest Venture Capitalists, "been there done that" entrepreneurs, and experts. Take a closer look at the Access Silicon Valley Video Fireside Chat Series hosted by Roger, with representatives of some of the Valley's most high profile VCs, such as Andreessen Horowitz, Foundation Capital, Floodgate, Venrock, Canaan Partners and more.

Questions? Email Alex Levine at [email protected].

Part 3: | July 17, 2025

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

3000 El Camino Real, 5 Palo Alto Square, Palo Alto, United States