Humanmade Founder Session – From Prototype to Proof

​Join us for an evening exploring what it takes to turn early progress into real momentum.

​Building a great product isn’t enough. The founders who break through are the ones who can clearly communicate why their work matters—and back that story with meaningful evidence.

​Join us for an evening with Gabriel Leoni, founder of Wallrise and member of Humanmade’s 2025 Accelerator cohort, and Christopher Williams, startup advisor and commercialization mentor, as they share two complementary perspectives on moving from prototype to opportunity.

​Drawing from their own experiences working with early-stage companies, they’ll discuss how founders can recognize meaningful traction, build credibility through customer engagement, and develop a narrative that resonates with customers, partners, investors, and supporters alike. You’ll hear how early signals—whether they’re pilot users, conversations, partnerships, or even setbacks—can become part of a compelling story that helps open doors.

​Whether you’re still refining your first prototype or beginning to build market momentum, this session will help you think differently about the relationship between traction, storytelling, and trust.

​Doors open at 4:30 PM for networking with founders, builders, and members of the Humanmade community. Presentations begin at 5:00 PM, followed by additional time to connect and continue the conversation until 7:00 PM.