​Who you raise from shapes what you build, how you build it, and how much power you keep along the way.

​Join The Fourth Effect for a candid conversation on one of the most consequential choices founders face:

​Should you raise from angels or venture capital?

​Featuring:

• ​Charlie O’Donnell, longtime VC and author of the forthcoming book Founder Unfriendly, on the structural incentives in venture and what founders need to understand before taking institutional money

• ​Cheryl Kellond, founder of Play Money on the unique advantages of angel funding and what aligned early capital can unlock

• ​Moderated by Breen Sullivan, bringing The Fourth Effect’s perspective on a more founder-supportive path: angel advisors, trusted operators who invest early and help founders access capital with guidance, not pressure

​Together, we’ll unpack:

• ​The real tradeoffs between angels and VCs

• ​How funding changes governance, expectations, and founder control

• ​What “founder-friendly” actually means in practice

• ​Angel Advisors and why the right advisors can be the best first investors

​This session is for founders navigating fundraising, investors who care about long-term outcomes, and anyone who believes the future of innovation depends on more inclusive and aligned access to capital.

​A Special THANK YOU to our host:

​EisnerAmper, one of the largest business consulting firms in the world, is comprised of EisnerAmper LLP, a licensed independent CPA firm that provides client attest services; and Eisner Advisory Group LLC, an alternative practice structure that provides business advisory and non-attest services in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, standards and codes of conduct. Clients are in all business sectors and leverage a complete menu of service offerings. We have a dedicated and agile team of industry professionals who serve the specialized needs of more than 3,300 public and private technology and life sciences companies, as well as investors. For more information, please visit eisneramper.com.

​About The Fourth Effect:

​​​We help startups scale faster and fundraise smarter by helping you build, and leverage high-impact advisory and governing boards and connect you with top-tier, game-changing advisors, board directors, and investors.

• ​​​📚 Build Strong Boards – Access educational programming, templates, and guides to create effective advisory and governing boards.

• ​​​🎯 Match with Industry Experts – Connect with 2,900+ senior executives (C-Suite, GCs, VPs) ready to support your growth.

• ​​​💰 Unlock Funding Opportunities – Get direct access to 150+ Angels and VCs.

• ​​​🤝 Leverage a Powerful Peer Network – Join a community of 800+ startups to share insights, strategies, and connections.

​​​Build smarter, scale faster, and fundraise better with the right board and investors by your side.

​​​💡 Learn more at a platform tour.

​​​📲 Follow us on LinkedIn

​***By signing up, you agree that any contact or personal information may be shared with The Fourth Effect, its affiliates, and other attendees. You also consent to the event being recorded and your name, information, image, audio, and video being published and/or edited in any form. You will also be added to our mailing list so that you can be in the know of all of our upcoming events.