Smart Investor Series
Join us for a high-impact, virtual event series designed to sharpen your investing instincts and give you a behind-the-scenes look at how smart investors evaluate early-stage startups—especially in today’s fast-evolving AI startup landscape.
Hosted by The Bond Fund, a collective startup investment and social group that empowers members to co-invest, learn, and grow together, this series is a unique opportunity for non-members to participate, meet current Bond Fund investors, and experience the collaborative spirit of our investing community.
Led by Anne Cocquyt, founder of The GUILD (The Bond Fund’s official education partner), UC Berkeley educator, and bestselling author of Dare to Launch, these sessions go beyond theory. You’ll watch real startup pitches, engage in hands-on analysis, and discuss how to make better investment decisions, faster.
Session 1: Decoding Startup Financials – Smart Questions Investors Must Ask (May 29th)
Learn how to dissect startup financials like a pro—even if you’re not a numbers person. This session walks you through how to assess financial health, challenge forecasts, and surface red flags—especially in AI-native startups where burn rates and capital efficiency matter more than ever.
You’ll walk away with:
• A fast, focused approach to evaluating financials
• Smart questions that uncover the real story behind the numbers
• Red flags to watch for in pitch, models, margins, and market assumptions
Session 2: Evaluating Product Innovation & Competitive Defensibility (June)
How do you know if a startup’s product is truly innovative—or just great storytelling? In this session, you’ll learn how to assess product-market fit, innovation claims, and the startup’s competitive edge, especially when evaluating AI infrastructure like custom LLMs or “data moats.”
You’ll gain:
• Tools to evaluate product traction and innovation
• Insight into what makes a startup’s moat real (or not)
• A collaborative opportunity to analyze a real founder pitch
Format:
• 60 minutes via Zoom
• Includes live instruction, startup pitch viewing, and breakout discussion
• Open to current and prospective Bond Fund members
Why Attend:
• Experience The Bond Fund’s collaborative approach to investing
• Meet current members and explore how the fund works
• Learn from one of the leading educators in early-stage startups
• Walk away with practical tools you can use in your own portfolio
Register now to deepen your investing knowledge and connect with a values-aligned community of investors.