Understanding How Venture Capital Works For Start-Ups

If you're looking to raise startup funding, understanding how venture capital works is crucial. Securing investment isn't just about having a great idea—it requires knowing how to attract investors, craft a compelling pitch, and navigate the VC decision-making process from first contact to closing a deal.

Join this hybrid Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with Erdinç Ekinci—a seasoned startup advisor, venture builder, ecosystem leader, and aspiring VC with deep connections of over 2,000 investors across Asia and Silicon Valley.

In this interactive session, you'll gain a behind-the-scenes look at how venture capital really works—from how VC business model works, to how investors assess startups and structure deals to what they look for in founders and market opportunities. Learn practical strategies to engage VCs effectively, build long-term relationships, and position your startup.

Don't miss this opportunity to ask your burning questions, decode the VC mindset, and take your fundraising strategy to the next level!

• Welcome & FI Introduction
• Speakers Introduction
• Panel Discussion
• Q&A Session

This session is designed to provide practical, actionable steps that you can apply immediately to improve your fundraising efforts. Join us and gain the insights you need to confidently engage with investors and move your startup forward! 🚀

• Erdinc Ekinci, Co-Founder, and CEO of Openfor.co & Co-capital.co and Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan/Korea/Taiwan.

Erdinç Ekinci is a startup founder, venture builder, aspiring investor, and ecosystem leader, serving as Co-founder & CEO of Openfor.co and Director of Founder Institute Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. He empowers individuals to tackle major challenges through entrepreneurship and sustainable business building. He advises startups, enterprises, and governments on go-to-market partnerships and ecosystem development across the U.S., Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Without external funding, he launched Founder Institute Accelerator in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, expanding its mentor network to 200+ entrepreneurs and investors. At Openfor.co, he drives partnership-led growth, supporting enterprises and pre-seed startups. Having reviewed thousands of startup pitches, mentored 300+ startups, and organized 100+ events, he is now launching Co-Capital.co, a pre-seed GTM Accelerator VC, accelerating startup growth through partnerships.

✅ Why understanding venture capital is essential for fundraising

✅ How to find and attract the right investors for your startup

✅ Best practices for investor outreach and relationship-building

✅ Who are the VCs, and how do they operate?

✅ Angel Investors vs. Venture Capitalists – Key Differences

✅ How do investors evaluate startups before making an investment?

✅ How to structure and pitch your business effectively

✅ The dos and don’ts of securing funding

• Startup Founders
• Investors and venture capitalists
• Aspiring Entrepreneurs
• Early-Stage Startups
• Business Professionals

• Founder Institute: The Founder Institute is the world’s largest startup accelerator, helping entrepreneurs around the globe turn ideas into impactful technology companies. With over 8,000 alumni and 2$BN raised since 2009, there are programs in 200 cities in the world. FI’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs to build meaningful technology businesses.
• Openfor.co: A “Global Partnership Accelerator” originated in Silicon Valley that combined with an online platform and marketplace for learning, building, launching, monetizing, and growing partner ecosystems and collaborative community around you for achieving effective marketing, sales, community building, GTM, fundraising, and many more.
• Co-Capital: Co-Capital is a pre-seed GTM Accelerator VC that supports startups, investors, and governments by providing networks, programs, and strategic guidance to drive international traction. Co-Capital fosters a collaborative ecosystem where partnerships create synergies for sustainable growth. Its flywheel model enables startups to scale globally through structured go-to-market strategies and ecosystem-driven support.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Venture Cafe, CIC Tokyo, Minato City, Japan