Oakland Tech Week: Who Do You Need in the Room? Founder Growth Conversation + Expert Speed Dating + Live Jazz Mixer
Kick off Oakland Tech Week by getting connected to the people, perspectives, and relationships that can help move your business forward. This is a room built for Oakland founders, by people building here.
Real Access. Real Feedback. Built for Oakland Founders.
Founders must apply to participate and be matched!
Start the week with the strategy, people, and connections that can move your business forward.
Hosted by Amirah Raveneau-Bey, Founder of Grow Scale Develop
We’ll open with a short, candid conversation hosted by Amirah Raveneau-Bey, Founder of Grow Scale Develop, on what it actually takes to position a company for growth, from getting your go-to-market strategy right to identifying what may be blocking your next stage of revenue. Real talk. No fluff.
Who Do You Need in the Room?
Founders will rotate through fast, focused 10-minutes conversations with investors, product experts, operators, and further-along founders who’ve been where you are. No awkward networking. No pitch theater. Bring the business question you’ve been wrestling with and get direct feedback, fresh perspectives, and useful connections.
This is the kind of access Oakland founders don’t always get, and exactly why we’re creating the room.
Open Networking to the music of the Brother Khalil Trio
Then we’ll turn down the structure and turn up the music. Local founder and jazz musician Khalil Abdulah, CEO of FlowPilot, will be closing out the evening, giving you space to keep the conversations going the way Oakland does it best: over music, in person, no agenda.
Head into the rest of Tech Week already knowing people in the room.
Come with a challenge. Leave with a clearer next move and a network to build on all week.
How it works
Founders apply in advance. Early stage to growth stage. Any industry. Tell us what you're building, who it's for, and the specific business challenge you're working through right now. GSD curates 3 to 4 expert conversations for each selected founder based on your challenge, your stage, and where another perspective could genuinely help.
You'll know your expert matches before you arrive. Come prepared with your problem and your questions. The conversations are focused, structured, and built to move you forward — not to impress anyone.
Agenda
2:00–2:20p | Arrival
Check in and get settled. Selected founders receive their personalized GSD Expert Session materials. Experts get their stations and schedules.
2:20–2:45p | Founder Growth Conversation
Amirah Raveneau-Bey opens with a candid conversation on what actually positions an early-stage company for its next stage of growth. GTM. Revenue. Execution. What separates activity from traction. No fluff. Just the conversation Oakland founders need to hear at the start of Tech Week.
2:45–3:00p | How the Room Works
Amirah introduces the expert room, explains the session structure, and sets the tone for what useful looks like.
3:00–4:15p | Curated Expert Sessions
Seventy-five minutes of focused, matched conversations. Founders rotate. Experts stay at their stations. Each conversation is structured around your specific business challenge — with time to work the problem, not just introduce yourself.
4:15–4:25p | The GSD Readout
Amirah pulls together what surfaced across the room. Recurring challenges. Common blind spots. Growth opportunities. What founders in this room should be thinking about next. This is the GSD point of view — not an event recap.
4:25–6:00p | Live Jazz Mixer
The structure comes down and the music comes up. Music by the Brother Khalil Trio marks the transition from focused work to open connection. Continue a conversation from your expert sessions, find someone you weren't matched with, or meet the investor across the room who heard something in the readout that made them think of you.
The conversation doesn't end when the round does.
Founders APPLY HERE.
Come prepared. Leave sharper.
Thank you Experts and Sponsors!
Amirah Raveneau-Bey
Growth Advisor | Executive Coach | Helping leaders scale revenue and build internal capacity.
Clear strategy. High standards. Sustainable growth for people and business.
With 25+ years of experience in revenue leadership, sales strategy, and executive management, Amirah has led teams through growth, transition, and complexity at companies including Zillow, Opendoor, NerdWallet, and Citibank.
When you are ready to get clarity and support in revenue and leadership advisory services, contact Amirah and check her website to sign up to learn about new events and tips at growscaledevelop.com (amirah@growscaledevelop.com)
Informal Spaces
Next time you need space -- reach out to Kyle for event collabs. Anyone interested can book a FREE conference room for your next brainstorming meeting at informal spaces. (spaces@informal.com)
We’re also happy to discuss all the ways we can support your project through our space + talent networks!
By registering for this event, you agree to share your registration information to sponsors of this event.