From VC to Builder: How Nick Sterlacci Turned Investor Lessons into Startup Traction

​Join us for a tactical fireside chat with Nick Sterlacci — 2x venture-backed founder, former VC, and founder of NS Ventures — as he shares how to turn ambitious startup ideas into scalable, investor-ready companies.

​Nick’s journey spans both sides of the table: he’s led fintech investments at a seed-stage fund and built B2B SaaS products for clients like Plaid and other industry leaders. As the founder of NS Ventures, he now helps startups and enterprises go from zero to launch — with a focus on AI, fintech, and go-to-market strategy.

​With experience raising from top investors (including Techstars) and mentoring early-stage teams on traction, product-market fit, and scalable systems, Nick brings a rare dual perspective to building businesses that grow and get funded.

​In this session, Nick will break down:

​• What VCs actually look for in early-stage fintech and AI startups

​• The biggest mistakes founders make when building product & go-to-market too early

​• How to build scalable, investor-ready tech — without bloated teams

​• Why dual operator-investor experience changes the way you should fundraise

​• How to land enterprise clients — and keep them

​Whether you’re building in fintech, AI, or just trying to scale smart, this is your chance to learn from someone who’s helped startups go from deck to distribution. No fluff — just real-world strategies that get results.