Startup Cafe: VC Match
Startup Cafe: VC Match
Startups and venture capital feed each other.
Amy Harmon and Keith Yoder take the stage at Startup Cafe for a conversation about the symbiotic relationship between founders and funders.
They will cover how each side can share knowledge to inform and support the other, how AI-age tooling lets founders and investors work smarter, and how open, collaborative communication can replace the gatekeeping that has long defined fundraising.
Agenda
8:45 - 9:30 am • Coffee and Socialize
9:30- 10:30 am • Live Podcast Recording
July 29th, 2026
Amy and Keith speak from both sides of the table. Innovent Capital Group, the single-family office of serial entrepreneur Brett Markinson, invests its own capital in AI-driven disruption across overlooked industries and brings hands-on operating experience in venture, product, engineering, and scaling to the founders it backs.
The team also built VC Match, an AI-powered platform that scores 4,000+ VCs, angels, and accelerators across 30+ variables and hands founders a ranked investor shortlist with match rationale, partner contacts, and outreach templates. Expect specific tactics for founders raising now and a look at how Innovent wants to usher in a more collaborative era between startups and capital.
Amy Harmon ( Investor/ Sr. Ops Manager) is an Investor and Operator at Innovent Capital Group, drawing on extensive cross-industry experience, her main focus is on identifying high-potential opportunities and building the relationships that move deals and ecosystems forward.
She is also an executive on Innovent's operations team, where she works behind the scenes to strengthen internal systems and provide hands-on strategic support for the firm's incubated ventures.
Keith Yoder ( Sr. Associate and Dr. Of Biz Dev) serves as director of business development for Innovent Capital Group. Keith brings deep knowledge to the execution of loan and real estate transactions, market research and analysis for new opportunities, and manages day-to-day operations for companies within the portfolio.
Keith has a particular interest in blockchain technology and digital finance applications, and loves looking at unique ways to approach age-old problems, together
Host: Zach Sekar
A lifelong entrepreneur, technologist, and curious mind, Zach Sekar has been launching businesses and building on the internet for more than two decades.
Zach is co-founder of Nerdstage, a training, media, and events company build community and creating connections through in-person events and training and developing startup founders to be highly effective communicators so that they rapidly reach their next milestones in fundraising, team building, and sales.
🔗 WEBSITE
ABOUT The KINN
The KINN is a membership network, accelerator, and collaborative workspace for conscious entrepreneurs, based in Venice, CA. Running tailored inner development and business accelerator programs for startups, providing executive coaching, accountability, and access to a top-tier LA-based community of entrepreneurs, creatives, intrapreneurs, and investors. If you're interested in learning more about KINN Membership, please visit http://thekinn.co/apply
ABOUT Innovent Capital
Innovent Capital is a single-family office under serial entrepreneur Brett Markinson. We are a team of investors, operators, and builders who've taken products from idea to exit. We invest our own capital in AI-driven disruption across overlooked industries, partnering with technical founders to build companies that challenge traditional models. Rather than just writing checks, we bring hands-on operating experience — in venture, product, engineering, and scaling — to every founder we back.
ABOUT VC Match
VC Match- is an AI-powered VC matching platform built for founders who are serious about raising. VC Match instantly scores 4,000+ VCs, angels, and accelerators across 30+ variables — thesis fit, stage, sector, check size, and geography — then delivers a ranked investor shortlist with match rationale, partner contacts, and outreach templates ready to go. It grades your pitch before you send it, surfaces the right partner at each firm, and preps you for every meeting. Not a database. A matching engine. From deck upload to investor shortlist in minutes. Stop guessing. Start matching.
ABOUT Nerdstage
Communication training and high-impact events giving tomorrow a louder voice. Nerdstage hosts the Demo Day event series & the Nerdstage Podcast.
If you're a builder turning hard problems into progress, you might be a fit for the Nerdstage Pitch Accelerator.