VC Fireside Chat - Discussing Fundraising Pitfalls & Insights from the Frontline
Cooley LLP, Sequoia One, and Pilot are excited to host a fireside chat in Santa Monica where top advisors will share key insights on avoiding common pitfalls in the fundraising process. Hear first hand stories from Cooley lawyers, VCs and founders who have been on the frontlines, offering unique perspectives and practical tips for founders and investors alike. We are excited to have you join us as we dive into the strategies that can help you navigate the fundraising journey with confidence.
Panelists:
Dave Young, Cooley (Moderator)
David Young is a co-founder of Cooley’s Santa Monica office and represents emerging growth companies at all stages, as well as the venture capital firms, strategic investors and investment banks that finance these companies. In addition to providing strategic counseling, his practice encompasses venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, equity compensation matters, strategic counseling, complex corporate partnering transactions and corporate governance.
Dave represents both public and private companies, primarily in the digital media, software, technology, cleantech, life sciences, consumer products and media and entertainment sectors, and also frequently represents venture capital firms and other investors in financings.
Rick Smith, Crosscut Ventures
Rick Smith is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at Crosscut Ventures, the first and longest-enduring early-stage venture capital firm in Los Angeles. With over two decades of experience in venture capital, Rick has played a key role in funding and advising high-growth startups across consumer internet, enterprise software, gaming, and most recently, frontier technology that pushes the boundaries of technological development to solve critical market problems.
Throughout his career, Rick has backed and supported numerous successful startups, including JustFab, GumGum, Aalo, DataScience, and Umbra Space. His expertise in venture investing and deep connections in the tech ecosystem have helped shape Los Angeles into a thriving startup hub.
Mark Mullen, Bonfire Ventures
Mark is the Co-Founder of Bonfire Ventures, an LA staple venture capital firm that leads seed rounds and invests exclusively in the B2B software sector. He is also the founder of multiple investment firms, including Double M Partners I & II, early-stage VC funds; Mull Capital, an evergreen fund investing in startups and venture funds; and Double M Capital, a family office.
Mark has played a pivotal role in shaping both the Los Angeles tech ecosystem and the broader investment landscape. After leading over 100 major M&A and private equity deals globally, he brought his expertise to LA as COO and Senior Advisor to Mayor Villaraigosa, overseeing key city assets like LAX and the Convention Center while supporting business growth and innovation.
Jason Nazar, Founder/CEO of Comparably (acquired by ZoomInfo) and Docstoc (acquired by Intuit)
Jason Nazar is a serial tech entrepreneur with a track record of building and scaling successful companies. He was the Co-Founder and CEO of Comparably (acquired by ZoomInfo) and Docstoc (acquired by Intuit). Jason has also advised and served on the boards of notable companies, including Honey, Wondery, Flo, Tilly, and Stack Commerce, and currently sits on the boards of Sugar23, Bambee, and Collab.
Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Jason is an adjunct professor at UCLA, where he teaches entrepreneurship. He is the creator and host of Leadership Lessons on Entrepreneur.com and previously hosted Startups Uncensored, SoCal's largest tech community gathering.
Light bites and beverages will be served. We hope to see you there!