Nucleate Arizona - Venture Capital 101
About the Event:
Join for a hands-on workshop and fireside chat exploring how venture capital fuels biotech and life science startups. Gain practical insights into startup financing, investor expectations, term sheets, and cap tables.
No prior experience or knowledge of venture capital is required.
📒 You will receive a comprehensive venture capital guidebook prepared by Nucleate Arizona leadership. Bring your laptops!
Featuring Aly Saxe, angel investor and serial entrepreneur, who will share her expertise in startup development and venture investment.
🍽️ Dinner will be provided!
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm : Food & Drinks + Nucleate Arizona Introduction + Student Entrepreneurial Organization (SEO) Introduction
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm : Venture capital workshop featuring Aly Saxe
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm : Fireside chat with Aly Saxe
Event Location:
ASU Engineering Center A (ECA), Room 221
About the Speaker:
Aly Saxe, M.M.C
Venture Development Leader
Aly Saxe is an angel investor, serial entrepreneur, and Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Business Development at Local First Arizona, where she helps entrepreneurs access the capital, resources, and support they need to launch and grow their businesses. She brings more than two decades of experience spanning strategic communications, entrepreneurship, and venture development.
Aly founded and led Ubiquity PR, an agency serving early-stage technology companies, and Iris, a software platform helping public relations teams manage their work and measure performance. Her experience includes bringing products to market, building teams, and leading strategy and operations for startups. She previously served as Vice President of Communications at CampusLogic, which was acquired by Ellucian in 2022, and Executive Director of PHX FWD, supporting Phoenix’s software startup community. She has also advised accelerators, venture studios, nonprofits, and economic development organizations, and teaches entrepreneurship at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business.
Aly also founded The Jane Project, a community dedicated to expanding women’s participation in venture capital. Through education, events, and connections, she helps women understand the investment landscape and become active participants in funding innovation. Her work combines practical company-building experience with a commitment to mentorship and broadening access to capital and opportunity.
LinkedIn: alysaxe
About the Host:
Nucleate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. With chapters spanning 41 geographic regions and participation from over 280 academic institutions, Nucleate sparks new intellectual communities and embeds emerging talent within a global biotech community. Through open-access educational programming, Nucleate helps democratize biotech innovation — removing barriers and helping founders concentrate on building transformational technologies. Visit www.nucleate.org for more information, and visit https://nucleate.org/privacy-policy/ to read our privacy policy.
We want to thank our HQ supporters for championing our open-access mission and empowering the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs!
Platinum: Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, MilliporeSigma
Philanthropic Support: Lyda Hill Philanthropies
Preferred Partners: Pillar VC, Amino Collective, Fenwick, Excedr, Mercury, Brex, Fedsprout, Browne Consulting
In-Kind Support: AcademicLabs, Lens.org