Pitching that gets Funded: Turning Interest to Investment
Many founders hear “this is interesting” from investors — but few turn that interest into a cheque.
This breakfast panel pulls back the curtain on what actually moves investors from curiosity to conviction. This conversation shifts from theory to execution, focusing on the signals, decisions, and pitch refinements that lead to funding outcomes.
🎟️ Admission: Free (Registration Required)
☕ Bagels & Coffee
📋 Agenda
8:30 AM – Registration & Networking
9:00 AM – Panel Discussion + Q&A
10:15 AM - Networking
10:30 AM - Event concludes
The session will feature a candid conversation between funded startup founders, an angel investor, and a pitch coach and fundraising advisor. Together, they will unpack what changed between early conversations and a successful raise, how investors really make decisions, and how founders can translate feedback into practical pitch improvements.
Founders attending will gain a clearer understanding of how funding decisions are made, what signals influence investor confidence, and how to refine both their pitch and follow‑up conversations. The focus is on real examples, honest insight, and actionable guidance — not generic pitch advice.
Speakers and Panelists -
Hamid Alemohammad, PhD, PEng
COO at Brickeye, Angel Investor and Mentor
Hamid is an entrepreneur and startup mentor who is actively engaged in the innovation and founder ecosystem. Through his work, he supports early‑stage founders by sharing practical insights on building businesses, navigating growth challenges, and preparing for fundraising conversations. Hamid brings a thoughtful, experience‑driven perspective to discussions around entrepreneurship and scaling startups.
Eropa Stein
Entrepreneur and Innovation Advisor
Eropa Stein is an entrepreneur and innovation advisor with a background spanning academia and high-growth startups. She is the founder of Hyre, a Techstars-backed company, and has built and scaled multiple ventures across industries. Eropa has supported over 50 startups globally through her work with organizations such as DMZ, YSpace, Founder Institute, etc. advising on strategy, growth, and market positioning. She has also led international partnerships across North America, Europe, and Asia, and played a key role in driving funding outcomes for companies at all stages. With a foundation in psychology and research, Eropa brings a structured, insight-driven approach to mentorship, helping founders navigate complex challenges and make high-impact decisions.
Harsh Pujara
Co-Founder & COO of Actuality
Harsh Pujara is a 2x entrepreneur and Co-Founder & COO of Actuality, an AI platform helping AEC firms win more work by automating RFP responses. Backed by Jason Calacanis and selected for the 2026 Google for Startups Accelerator: Canada, Harsh has navigated the full fundraising journey — from early pitches to rooms with major investors. He also mentors early-stage founders across several programs and brings a candid, founder-first perspective on what it takes to turn investor interest into a yes.
Talli Koren
Lead Pitch Coach, YSpace | Storytelling Coach for Teams & Executives
Talli Koren is an executive communication and pitch coach who has supported 500+ pitches and trained 1,500+ executives across tech, pharma, finance, and nonprofits in 12 countries. Her clients include global organizations such as Roche, Align Technology, and Monday.com.
As Lead Pitch Coach at YSpace, Talli works with early-stage founders to transform complex ideas into investor-ready narratives, turning "I hate pitching" into "I got the investment." Her direct, results-driven approach has made her a trusted voice across Toronto's accelerator ecosystem, where she has coached founders through programs at YSpace, ELLA, ChaiTech, OBIO, and EmpowHER.
Moderated by IDEA