Thruline Thursday 13: The Holiday Slowdown is Here…Now What?

​As the year winds down, the flow of deals and investor activity drops sharply. Founders feel the pressure to end strong, but inboxes are empty and decision-makers are already shifting into holiday mode.

​This Thruline Thursday will explore what founders can actually do during the year-end slowdown. From leveraging downtime for strategic progress to finding the small windows where meaningful deals still get done.

​Over the past few months, we've convened bold thinkers and doers across 10 high-impact digital sessions—bringing together over 200 industry experts, founders, CEOs, investors, and mission-driven leaders across the climate and innovation space.

​These monthly, 60-minute conversations go deep into the work of changemakers advancing climate action, infrastructure innovation, equity, and circular solutions.

​Designed to spark curiosity and fuel transformation, each episode reaches a growing, values-aligned audience eager to engage.

​​What makes this different? Here's the Run of Show:

​​30 Minutes - each expert explains current tips, trends and best practices that matter for you today

​​30 Minutes - recap & Ask Me Anything session (AMA)— where you get the chance to ask direct questions, discuss real challenges, and leave with practical insights tailored to needs and interests.

​​If you’re serious about making smart moves while creating impact, this is where you need to be.

​ABOUT THE HOST

​​PHIL DILLARD is the Founder & CEO of Thruline Networks, an impact investing and advisory firm focused on ClimateTech, Circular Economy, and Regenerative Economy solutions. A former naval officer and manufacturing executive, Phil brings a systems-thinking lens to business strategy, capital access, and sustainable growth. He’s also the host of Thruline to the 4th Sector, a podcast spotlighting mission-driven companies redefining capitalism. With a deep belief in business as a force for good, Phil works with founders and investors to grow companies that deliver both profit and impact.

​EVENT SPEAKERS

​Sarah M. Pettay is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Mind the Gap Services. She helps startups align Marketing, Product, and Sales to create clarity, reduce operational friction, and accelerate revenue, drawing on two decades building GTM systems and customer journeys that support rapid growth. Her experience spans early-stage to Series C companies where she has scaled teams, improved retention, and delivered measurable outcomes for brands like Bitly, Lulus, Olaplex, and fast-growing tech and consumer startups.

​Dr. Helena Fowler, DCN is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Mind the Gap Services. She is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition and a senior marketing and product strategy leader with two decades of experience driving growth and developing teams in hyper-growth environments. Her global experience spans across multiple industries, including tech (software, hardware, SaaS, PaaS), tech-enabled retail, energy and climate, agriscience, consumer goods, food and beverage, health, wellness, and nutrition.

​Ben Bartlett is a Council Member in the City of Berkeley. He works at the intersection of government, law, and technology. A former Vice Mayor of Berkeley and an appointed member of the California Blockchain Working Group, he is recognized internationally for his leadership in blockchain-powered finance and policy innovation. He developed the Berkeley Tokenized Debt Offering, launched the first digital campaign token, and has advised on deals across green finance, telemedicine, mobility, adtech, and smart manufacturing.

​William Doll is the Founder of Syneidesis Group. He invests in proven, revenue-generating technologies that strengthen climate solutions and democratic resilience. He focuses on companies with strong unit economics that outperform legacy systems and are backed by experienced investors.

​Nick Halla is the Founder & CEO of GigaClimate with a career focused on building and scaling clean technology companies. He has led work across food, agriculture, and renewable energy, including helping build Impossible Foods from the ground up after earlier roles in farming, commercial food development, and solar. Nick now develops new climate-focused ventures and advises startups across food, biotech, and climate tech.

Stonly Blue is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Third Sphere. He backs founders who have unique advantages and are building near-future climate and resilience technology. He has invested in more than 100 companies from pre-seed through seed-bridge and supported over 15 through to IPO and M&A exits.