Tech Week Social
SF Tech Week Social
A16z, Ignite and 10X Growth invite you to an exclusive evening of insights, innovative perspectives, and networking from leading Venture Firms, Accelerators, and a Law Firm.
Join us on Thursday, October 10th, from 4:30PM - 8:00PM to learn about Venture investing in startups, key lessons from the Legal side and how to kick off your startup journey through an Accelerator.
Who should attend? Interested investors—LPs, Angels, Family Offices, VCs—and startup founders.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Agenda
4:30 - 5:00 pm: Registration and Networking
5:00 - 5:15 pm: Welcome by Organizers and Sponsors
5:15 - 6:00 pm: Accelerator Panel: Unleashing AI startups
6:00 - 6:15 pm: Snack / Drink Break
6:15 - 7:00 pm: VC Panel: Only the Bold Survive
7:00 - 8:00 pm: Dinner and Networking
Accelerator Panel: Unleashing AI startups
DJ Deep, Mentor, Advisor and Founder Coach (Moderator)
Mercedes Bankston, Program Director, Founder Institute
Iris Sun, Global Investment Team, 500 Global
Lior Zorea, Partner | Nixon Peabody LLP
VC Panel: Only the Bold Survive
Preethy Padmanabhan, Technology Executive, Host of 10X Growth Strategies podcast (Moderator)
Susan Akbarpour, Managing Partner, Candou Ventures
Yash Hemraj, General Partner, BGV
Priya Saiprasad, General Partner, Touring Capital
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Speaker bios
Mercedes Bankston is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in sustainability, venture acceleration, and global partnerships. Recognized as a LinkedIn “Top Venture Capital Voice,” she has launched startups across the US, EU, and UK, and mentored thousands of pitches annually. Her work spans sectors like healthcare and fintech, driving growth and innovation. As a Venture Partner and Capital Advisor, Mercedes is committed to impactful leadership and sustainable business practices.
Iris Sun is a tech ventures investor at 500 Global, with expertise in M&A and venture capital. She previously led investments at TSVC, focusing on sectors like embedded finance and cloud infrastructure. Iris is also a Young Leader at the Milken Institute and holds a Master's degree in Quantitative Risk Management from Columbia University. Passionate about empowering innovative startups, she actively supports early-stage founders through her work at 500 Global and is dedicated to fostering impactful partnerships.
Lior Zorea represents emerging growth companies and venture capital funds with respect to their formation, financing, and general corporate activities. He is a seasoned M&A practitioner, with extensive experience on both the buy-side and sell-side. Lior has worked with clients in nearly every information technology industry, including consumer-interfacing, enterprise, digital media, semiconductors, mobile technologies, health-tech and telemedicine, fin-tech, VR/AR, cryptocurrency, and AI.
Susan Akbarpour is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and leader in digital transformation across industries such as advertising, finance, retail, and media. With a Master’s in Management from Stanford GSB, Susan is the founder of the Akbarpour Aalaei Fellowship and actively supports Farsi-speaking students at Stanford.
As managing partner at Candou Ventures, she focuses on blockchain, AI, SaaS, IoT, and cloud infrastructure investments. Susan is a contributor to Forbes and other publications and an advocate for diversity on corporate boards through the NYSE Board Advisory Network.
Yashwanth Hemaraj, currently a GP at BGV, has over 17 years of experience in enterprise software, focusing on investments in early-stage B2B startups. He is also the Founding Partner of Arka Venture Labs, a cross-border accelerator supporting Indian B2B companies scaling globally. Yashwanth provides strategic guidance, analytic thinking, and financial oversight to portfolio companies. He is passionate about innovation, entrepreneurship, social impact, and actively mentors and advises founders. He serves on the boards of multiple startups.
Priya Saiprasad is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Touring Capital, with 13 years of experience in venture capital, M&A, and enterprise tech. She previously held leadership roles at SoftBank Vision Fund, Mayfield Fund, and M12. Her investments include Pixis, Go1, and Element AI. Priya was featured in Forbes' 30 under 30 in Venture Capital in 2018. Passionate about food and fitness, she also enjoys time with her two cats and dog.
ABOUT
IGNITE
Ignite drives early-stage success through targeted resources, influential connections, and tailored support to accelerate growth. By fostering a network of trust and collaboration, we create a force multiplier effect for all of us, paving the way for bold innovations and lasting impact.
10X Growth Strategies
Elevate Your Growth tiny.cc/10xspotify and tiny.cc/10xapple
Your go-to source for leadership interviews, growth strategies, and key takeaways from business and self-development books. Hosted by Preethy Padmanabhan (@preepadu), this podcast provides valuable insights to drive 10X Growth in your career, business, and life.
Leadership Interviews: Gain first-hand knowledge from top leaders in various industries who share their experiences and success stories.
Growth Strategies: Learn actionable strategies to fuel your personal and professional growth, directly from experts.
Book Takeaways: Save time by getting key insights and takeaways from popular business and self-development books.
Follow the 10X Growth Strategies Podcast to listen and gain insights.
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Sponsors
micro1 is an AI recruiter to hire top global talent - Source, vet, and hire talent using AI or hire pre-vetted engineers, designers, AI trainers, and more directly from micro1's 3k+ global talent pool. micro1 also partners with VC's to provide their portfolio companies exclusive offers for global talent and our AI Recruitment engine.
Waahe Capital is a vertically integrated Real Estate firm that acquires and manages value-add properties. With Acquisition, Asset Management, Property Management, and Construction verticals in-house, Waahe maximizes the value chain, increases NOI and delivers excellent predictable returns to investors as well as depreciation benefits. Visit them at waahecapital.com or text/call 650-313-4059
Nixon Peabody’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) Practice
Every entrepreneur has a vision. To bring that vision to life, technology and life sciences entrepreneurs make critical decisions across different disciplines at very high velocity—from creating an amazing product or service, to finding the product-market fit, to partnering with the right investors and hiring world-class talent, to making the best business, strategy, and legal decisions. The road to success is arduous.
Our Emerging Companies and Venture Capital team knows that you, the entrepreneur, need a caring and sophisticated legal team that can skillfully resolve your problems—whether complex challenges, novel issues of law, or more day-to-day problems.
We understand your journey and the ecosystems and markets in which you operate. Our team shares your commitment and drive for excellence and achievement. And that's precisely why we are committed to seamlessly taking care of the legal challenges you face, so you can focus on your vision.