Fundraising for The Rest of Us: How to Build Your Pitch, Navigate Bias, and Raise Capital on Your Terms
The first 50 attendees will receive a free copy of Allison Byers' new book, Fundraising for The Rest of Us.
Most fundraising advice is built for founders already inside the VC bubble. This night is for everyone else.
Join us during Chicago Tech Week for a candid conversation about how capital really moves, how to find it where most founders don't look, and how to raise on your own terms instead of someone else's script.
On the panel:
Allison Byers, founder of Scroobious, the capital access platform for founders and investors, who raised millions for her own startups and co-authored California's first law on VC funding transparency.
Tim Huelskamp, co-founder of 1440 Media and Fifth Star Funds, which provides first-time founders the friends-and-family round they never had
Rebecca Sholiton Kahnweiler, managing partner at LongJump, an early-stage Chicago VC, plus a Kellogg faculty member and a former founder herself
Stephen Ross, partner at Hyde Park Angels, a Chicago-based early-stage investor.
What you'll leave with:
How capital actually moves: the timing, trust, and unwritten rules
Practical ways to think like an investor so your pitch lands
Capital sources beyond the loudest names in the room
Honest tactics for navigating bias without shrinking
A room full of Chicago founders and investors worth knowing
The night will include a panel discussion, Q&A, food/drink, and the opportunity to build real, authentic relationships with founders and investors.
Space is extremely limited. Please RSVP
Thank you to our Sponsors:
Silicon Valley Bank (Part of First Citizens Bank) - Longtime supporters of Chicago startups, specializing in financial services for founders and their companies.
Pilot - Your outsourced finance and operations support for startups, including bookkeeping, tax, CFO, and COO services. They help early-stage companies scale from Pre-Seed to Series C with accurate financials, operational discipline, and investor-ready insights. Get a 20% discount on bookkeeping for 6 months and 10% discount on CFO Services for a year
Latham & Watkins - Latham & Watkins, a leading global law firm with deep tech expertise, guides founders, startups, and VCs through each stage of the company lifecycle – from founding and financing to global growth and blockbuster exits.
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