TechCrunch Early Stage 2024

The final countdown: Early Stage 2024 ticket savings end tonight

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TechCrunch Early Stage 2024

The final countdown is on! Today, March 29, marks the final opportunity to grab your early-bird savings for TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 — a one-day event set to ignite your entrepreneurial journey on April 25 in Boston.

Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity to gain invaluable insights, resources, and connections to propel your startup forward. From engaging roundtable sessions to expert-led discussions and exclusive 1:1 meetings with investors, TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 has everything you need to supercharge your startup journey.

Here’s what awaits you:

Engaging roundtable sessions: Join in collaborative conversations with industry experts.Sessions led by leaders like: Alex Kayyal, Rudina Seseri, Tom Blomfield and so many more!Exclusive 1:1 meetings: Schedule meetings with potential investors and partners.Exciting Side Events: Immerse yourself in partner-hosted meetups, workshops, and happy hours.Valuable transcripts and slides: Access session materials for ongoing learning.Connect with partners and service providers: Network with startup service providers offering valuable tools.

But time is of the essence! This is your last chance to secure your early-bird ticket at a discounted rate. Don’t wait until it’s too late — buy your early-bird ticket today by 11:59 p.m. PT and ensure your spot at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024. Don’t let this opportunity slip away — act now and take your startup to new heights!

Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024? Reach out to our sponsorship sales team by completing this form.

TechCrunch Early Stage 2024

HAX at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024: Empowering hard tech founders

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TechCrunch Early Stage 2024

Discover the forefront of hard tech innovation in an exclusive session sponsored by HAX at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024. Led by SOSV general partner Duncan Turner and HAX chief science officer Dr. Susan Schofer, and moderated by SOSV’s Dr. Sabriya Stukes, this session offers a deep dive into the world of hard tech entrepreneurship. With a focus on solving challenges in climate, industrial independence, and healthcare, HAX brings together expertise and investment to drive impactful change.

Learn firsthand how HAX supports startups in translating groundbreaking research into commercial reality. Duncan and Susan will share insights into HAX’s investment philosophy and the exciting opportunities they see in hard tech sectors. Additionally, get an inside look at HAX’s newest venture: a cutting-edge office space in Newark, New Jersey, serving as a dynamic hub for 30 pioneering startups.

TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 is your opportunity to engage with the leaders shaping the future of hard tech. Don’t miss out on this chance to explore innovative solutions and connect with like-minded founders. Join HAX at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 and be part of the movement driving meaningful change in hard tech innovation — buy your tickets now before prices go up at the door.

Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024? Reach out to our sponsorship sales team by completing this form.

TechCrunch Early Stage 2024

The complete TC Early Stage 2024 agenda is here!

by with No Comment Tech

TechCrunch Early Stage 2024

We’re excited to reveal the complete agenda, packed with keynote stage speakers and interactive roundtable sessions. From fundraising insights to growth strategies, join us as we navigate the startup landscape together at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 on April 25 in Boston.

Don’t miss out — secure your spot now for an unforgettable experience of learning, connection, and inspiration. Prices go up at the door!

The Agenda

Women in Tech Sunrise Breakfast: How AI Is Impacting Founders

Lily Lyman, Partner, Underscore VCRudina Seseri, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Glasswing VenturesMilo Werner, General Partner, Engine Ventures

Selecting the Right Accelerator or Incubator

Emily Knight, President, The Engine Accelerator

The Ins and Outs of Seed Funding — Roundtable

Sponsored by: Latham & Watkins LLP

Spencer Ricks, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLPNaomi Smith, Associate, Latham & Watkins LLPDan Hoffman, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLPStephen Ranere, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP

Adapt & Thrive: Mastering the Chameleon Mindset — Roundtable

Sponsored by: Prepare 4 VC

Christopher Dube, Chief Innovation Officer, Prepare 4 VCJason Kraus, CEO, Prepare 4 VC

Preparing to Raise: Cap Table Best Practices to Help You Close Fast

Sponsored by Fidelity Private Shares

Kristen Craft, Vice President and Business Partner Manager, Fidelity Private SharesLaura Stoffel, Partner, Gunderson DettmerMelissa Withers, Founder and Managing Partner, RevUp Capital

Exiting via M&A: What Acquirers Are Looking for and How You Can Prepare for a Successful Acquisition — Roundtable

Dana Louie, Senior Manager, Corporate Development, HubSpot

Grabbing Investors’ Attention in a Competitive Market: Tips for Early-Stage Startups — Roundtable

Sergey Gribov, Partner, Flint Capital

From Inception to Cash: How I Wandered into an Idea and Jump-Started a Company

Sponsored by HomeHQ.ai

Oliver Palnau, Co-founder & CEO, HomeHQ.aiVinny Romano, Co-founder and COO, HomeHQ.ai

Archetypes for Product-Market Fit

Jess Lee, Partner, Sequoia

PR 101 for Founders: Branding Strategies to Win Over Investors, Customers and Partners — Roundtable

Edith Yeung, General Partner, Race Capital

Never Raise VC Money (and How to Keep More of Your company if You Do) — Roundtable

Jake Cohen, Partner, Vinyl Capital

How to Build an MVP and Navigate the Startup-Industrial Complex

James Currier, General Partner, NFX

Building the Investor Relationships You Need — Before You Need Them and in the Right Way

Lily Lyman, Partner, Underscore VC

Product Myth Buster: The (Actual) Right Time to Hire a Product Leader as an Early-Stage Company — Roundtable

Rachel Weston Rowell, SVP, Onsite Product & Tech Center of Excellence, Insight Partners

Scaling Through Chaos: The Art & Science of GTM

Paris Heymann, Partner, Index Ventures

How to Raise Money and Come Out Alive

Tom Blomfield, Group Partner, Y Combinator

Getting to Series A: Common Pitfalls to Avoid as a Founder

Alex Kayyal, Partner, Lightspeed Venture Partners

Hard Tech for Early-Stage Founders: HAX Invests in Startups Solving the Hardest Problems in Climate, Industrial Independence, and Healthcare

Sponsored by HAX

Susan Schofer, SOSV Partner and HAX Chief Science Officer, HAXSabriya Stukes, SOSV Partner and IndieBio Chief Science Officer, SOSVDuncan Turner, SOSV General Partner and Managing Director of HAX

How to Intelligently Calculate Your TAM and Wow Investors

Tobi Coker, Deal Partner, FelicisJulia Neagu, Co-founder and CEO, Quotient AINabiha Saklayen, Co-founder and CEO, Cellino

How to Evolve Your Tech and Staff Strategies for Future Rounds

Sponsored by Sand Technologies

Brad Stanton, Managing Director, Sand Technologies

Early-Stage Fundraising: Convertible Notes, SAFE and Series Seed Financing

Rebecca Lee Whiting, Founder and Fractional General Counsel, Epigram Legal P.C.

The VC Pitch Blueprint: Strategies for Success

Sara Choi, Partner, Wing Venture Capital

Racing the Clock to $1M In ARR: Best Practices for Learning Fast from Launch Partners

Rudina Seseri, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Glasswing Ventures

Finance Fundamentals Before Your First Finance Hire: A Founder’s Guide to Navigating Early Financial Decisions

Dan Kang, VP of Finance, Mercury

So You Think You Can Pitch?

Paris Heymann, Partner, Index VenturesRachel Weston Rowell, SVP, Onsite Product and Tech Center of Excellence, Insight PartnersEdith Yeung, General Partner, Race Capital

TechCrunch Early Stage 2024

Tomorrow, TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 takes over Boston

by with No Comment Tech

TechCrunch Early Stage 2024

Tomorrow is the day we’ve all been waiting for! TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 kicks off in Boston, and we can’t wait to see you there!

We’re expecting 1,000+ attendees for a full day of all things early-stage startups.

As you gear up for an immersive dive into the world of startup success, here’s a quick reminder of what’s in store:

Speaker highlights

Edith Yeung, General Partner, Race CapitalEmily Knight, President, The Engine AcceleratorJames Currier, General Partner, NFXJess Lee, Partner, SequoiaRudina Seseri, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Glasswing VenturesSara Choi, Partner, Wing Venture CapitalTom Blomfield, Group Partner, Y Combinator

Partner sessions to supercharge your startup journey

Learn the Ins and Outs of Seed Funding, with Latham & Watkins LLPMaster the Chameleon Mindset, with Prepare 4 VCGet Insights on Cap Table Best Practices, with Fidelity Private SharesExplore the Journey from Inception to Cash, with HomeHQ.aiDiscover Hard Tech solutions, with HAXGet Ahead on Future Rounds, with Sand Technologies

Connect with these companies in the expo area

DescopeEstablishFidelityFlashIntelFye LabsHomeHQ.aiLatham & Watkins LLPRezoomexSand TechnologiesSkillcloud Consulting GroupWithumZeni

Engage in Braindates

Connect effortlessly through 1-to-1 and small-group Braindate networking. No more guesswork or spam — just meaningful connections!

Don’t miss side events

Early Stage Happy Hour, hosted by Descope on April 25, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Dive deep into Smart Contract Driven Development, with Rezoomex on April 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Experience the energy of Techstars Startup Weekend Boston, hosted by Techstars from April 26 to April 28.

Hurry! Prices go up at the door, so secure your spot now for an unforgettable journey into the world of startups and innovation!

See you bright and early tomorrow at TechCrunch Early Stage 2024! Let’s make magic happen.

Eniac Ventures team photo

Exclusive: Seed-stage firm Eniac Ventures raises $220M across two funds

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Eniac Ventures team photo

Image Credits: Eniac Ventures

Eniac Ventures has closed two funds totaling $220 million, the seed-stage firm shared exclusively with TechCrunch.

New York-based Eniac has raised $60 million for Select 1, the firm’s vehicle for follow-on later-stage investments in portfolio companies, and $160 million for Eniac VI. The firm has made 11 investments out of Select 1, which actually closed in 2021 but was not publicly announced until now. The firm plans to make its first investment “shortly” out of its sixth fund, according to co-founder and general partner Nihal Mehta. It plans to make about 40 investments across both funds.

When making new investments, Eniac’s average check size is $1.5 million. Follow-on checks are typically larger, Mehta said, with the largest check invested out of its Select fund being $6 million.

Eniac is a sector-agnostic firm, with Mehta describing the team as “pre-product-market-fit generalists.” Despite being sector agnostic, even Eniac has been bitten by the artificial intelligence bug, with Mehta noting that “machine learning and AI has been a predominant theme” for the firm over the past decade.

“There is some hype in AI, but we believe it to be the most transformative wave of computing we have seen since the internet,” he said.

Portfolio companies include 1up Health, Alloy, Anchor, Attentive, Brightwheel, Embrace, Ghost, Hinge, Hive, Level.ai, Maestro, Owlet and Vungle. Eniac also was an early investor in Airbnb and has seen exits in companies such as TapCommerce (to Twitter), Anchor (to Spotify), Dubsmash (to Reddit), Hinge (to IAC), Workflow (to Apple), Vungle (to Blackstone) and Vence (to Merck Animal Health).

Mehta declined to name specific LPs, noting only that they are a mix of “top foundations, endowments, pensions and fund of funds,” and that the majority of them are “mission-driven.”

Despite the challenging fundraising environment, Mehta said the fundraise “ironically was the quickest” Eniac has done in 15 years.

“We attribute this success to being able to return multiple funds in the past few years,” he told TechCrunch, though he declined to provide specific figures around returns.

The size of Eniac’s funds has grown significantly over the years. Eniac raised its inaugural $1.5 million fund in 2010, raised $100 million for its fourth fund in 2017 and raised another $125 million for Eniac Fund V in 2021. Over the years, it has backed more than 250 startups.