Finance with Founders

​Join us for “Finance with Founders,” a practical session designed to help early-stage founders confidently navigate the financial side of building a company. We’ll cover what investors expect before and after funding, how to set up modern finance systems, and when to bring in expert help—so you can make smarter decisions and focus on growth.

​You’ll learn about:

• ​Investor expectations before and after a financing

  • ​Preparing historical financial statements

  • ​Building forecasts that hold up to scrutiny

  • ​Managing cash post-financing and calculating runway

• ​KPIs, reporting & governance

  • ​Identifying the right KPIs for your stage and sector

  • ​Creating dashboards and reports investors actually want to see

  • ​Establishing a cadence for updates that builds trust

  • ​Laying the groundwork for sound governance and accountability

• ​Modern finance tools (Parallel, Mercury, Ramp, and more) to simplify operations

• ​Scaling your team: when and how to add a finance professional

• ​Avoiding common pitfalls in financial planning, reporting, and cash management

​Whether you’re gearing up for your first raise or managing new investor relationships, you’ll leave with actionable insights, a sharper grasp of KPIs and governance, and a stronger financial foundation.

​You'll hear from:

​Steve Ryan is the global leader of Pillsbury’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice. He advises high-growth companies and venture capital firms on fundraising, acquisitions, and governance.

​Renato Villanueva is the founder of Parallel, and AI-Finance platform for founders. Previously worked in finance at Divvy that was later acquired for $2.5B by BILL.com.

​Emily McMahan is a co-founder and GP of AIN Ventures. AIN Ventures is an early-stage, seed-focused venture capital fund that invests at the intersection of deep tech and dual-use technology.