Wednesday, 10/13: fnSummit Kick-Off!

4pm – Summit Registration & Room Check-in

Arrive early for your fnSummit badge, gift bags and room check-in. Relax before dinner with a swim in the pool, munch on some pre-dinner snacks or a stroll on the resort grounds.

5pm – Covid Rapid test and Vaccination Check-in (Waypoint Deck)

Arrive at Waypoint Deck to recieve your rapid Covid test (takes 1 minute) and to show proof of your vaccination card if not already provided. Then let the fun begin!

5:30pm – 6:30pm - Opening Sabrage Ceremony & Icebreaker (Waypoint Deck)

Lifetime Members and certified sommelier Neha Sampat (March '13 Cohort) and Nishant Patel (November ‘18 Cohort), Founder & CTO at Contentstack, will lead a champagne opening ceremony. Contentstack, which aims to help developers and builders create better digital experiences across websites, mobile apps and digital displays, raised a $57.5 million Series B round led by Insight Partners. In this fun and interactive workshop, you'll learn how to open a champagne bottle with a sword - a key survival skill to navigating the ups and downs of founderhood! As Napoleon once said, "Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it."

Series-A+ Member Tyler Welch (July ‘20 Cohort), founder and CEO of Tyler’s Mystery Tours, will then lead an icebreaker. Enjoy meeting everyone in a fun, relaxed environment.

6:30pm – 8:00pm – Founder Helping Founders Dinner

Celebrate the spirit of founders helping founders, raise a toast to each others' biggest wins of the year and gratitude to those FN'ers who helped. Settle in for a delicious meal prepared by Executive Chef Brian Parks with food and drink that reflects The Quail Lodge & Golf Club’s commitment to sustainability by working with local family farms, organic growers, and sustainable/fair trade producers in order to present you with fresh, delicious food made from the best and most responsibly sourced ingredients possible.

8:00pm – 8:45pm – Fireside Chat with Meetul Shah (Waypoint Deck)

Join founders around a real fire for intimate conversation led by Meetul Shah, an engineer and the founder of technographics provider DemandMatrix, which was recently bought by Demandbase. Meetul started creating innovative companies at age 18. but it was his curiosity about marketing, in addition to his gifts at technological innovation, that helped him find his niche. He’ll talk about how he learned to turn customers into investment partners and why he recommends that other founders consider out-of-the-box funding options.

Meetul will be introduced by Lifetime Member David Ordal (Aug'15 Cohort), Founder and CEO of ExaVault which provides business file sharing services to business customers worldwide, from small businesses to large corporations, as well as fnSan Francisco Chapter Director.

8:45pm – 10:00pm - Fireside Chatter

Meghan Pulles reigns as an emo-positive singer-songwriter who heals the world through her lyrical lens. The New Yorker has touched fans across the globe with her music: taking her listeners on a cathartic journey of mental and emotional healing and wellness.

Thursday, 10/14: Theme of the day: Growth as a Startup

8:00am – 9:00am - Breakfast Stage Based Roundtables with FN Leaders (Clubhouse Foyer)

Get to know founders at your stage over a delicious breakfast roundtable. Check the back of your conference badge for your table assignment. Make sure you introduce yourself to everyone at your table then dig into relevant topics from last night’s fireside talk, share your own challenges and get help from other founders. Thursday arrivals check-in.

Facilitated by:

• Jags Krishnamurthy (Sept'18 Cohort, Lifetime Member), COO at Object Edge, which offers a range of IT strategy, software consulting, and software development services and solutions
• Peter Imburg (May'18 Cohort, Lifetime Member & fnSF Growth Chair), Founder and CEO of Elfster, the top-rated Secret Santa generator
• Ataer Arguder (June'19 Cohort), fnLondon Chapter Director and Co-Founder at Aura, the world's leading content platform for museums, storytellers and visitors, which recently raised $966 K
• Amy Wister (Jan'14 Cohort, Women's Leadership Committee Chair), Co-Founder & CEO of RevShopp, a platform that scales the intuition of a personal stylist, unlocking the next generation of personalization in the $1T apparel market

9:00am – 9:30am - Welcome & Opening Remarks with Kevin Holmes (Peninsula Ballroom)

Introduction to fnSummit featuring Kevin Holmes, Founder of Founders Network. Late registration room check-in.

9:30am – 10:15am - Keynote Session: “The SdbS Method to Startup Success” by Murli Thirumale (Peninsula Ballroom)

Murli Thirumale, the Co-founder and CEO of Portworx, which was recently acquired by PureStorage for $370M, was previously Co-founder and CEO of Ocarina Networks, which was acquired by Dell in 2010 and Co-founder and CEO of Net6 which was acquired by Citrix. Murli will discuss why passion is an overrated quality for a founder, and why he believes founders benefit when they listen to their customers and validate their product or service honestly. He will share his popular SdbS Method and will inspire the audience to find a more authentic – and lucrative – route to success.

Murli will be introduced by David Plonsky (Dec'14 Cohort), Founder of MyStandby, a service that allows businesses to efficiently fill expiring inventory, as well as fnNew York City Chapter Director.

10:15am – 10:30am - Break

10:30am – 11:15am - Product Panel (Peninsula Ballroom)

The panel will be moderated by Marjan Panic (Apr'18 Cohort), Founder of Zucchabar, an internet learning platform for self-driven education, as well as fnSilicon Valley Chapter Director.

Panelists:

• Trey Matteson, Co-Founder and Engineer of Roadster, which offers car dealers the tools to sell new and used vehicles online and was recently acquired by CDK Global for $360M
• Sonal Puri (May'19 Cohort, FN Membership Committee), CEO of Webscale, which recently entered a strategic partnership with Crownspeak, and was named SaaS/Cloud Security Winner at 2021 Global InfoSec Awards
• Rishi Bhargava (Mar'20 Cohort), Founder at Demisto and VP, Product Strategy at Palo Alto Networks

The panelists will be introduced by Ford Seeman (Sept’20 Cohort), Founder of Forest Founders Rewards, a platform that is built to allow any business to become carbon accountable, as well as fnNew York City Chapter Growth Chair.

11:15am – 12:00pm - Keynote Session: “7 Personal Lessons I Have Learned About Building Great Startups” by Micha Breakstone (Peninsula Ballroom)

Serial entrepreneur Micha Breakstone, Co-founder and CEO of NeuraLight and Co-founder of Chorus.ai, which was recently acquired by ZoomInfo for $575M, will speak openly about his experiences as a founder and startup advisor. Sharing very real anecdotes, he’ll detail seven ways founders can help improve their odds of success and will offer advice on topics including the importance of choosing the right co-founders, creating ‘perceived momentum,’ the importance of mission and vision, and building a team.

Micha will be introduced by Ataer Arguder (June'19 Cohort), currently a Co-Founder of two London-based tech startups (Aura and Breath Hub), as well as fnLondon Chapter Director.

12:00pm – 1:00pm - Sector Roundtable Lunch with FN Leaders (Clubhouse Foyer)

Gather for a casual lunch and conversation with fellow founders, partners and investors in your specific sector. Trade stories, ask for advice, and enjoy the beautiful setting.

Facilitated by:

• Marisa Bryce (Mar'13 Cohort, fnChicago Chapter Director), founder at Jack & Blue Capital, based in Chicago and Denver with extensive access to investors and investments globally.
• Scott Schreiman (Mar'13 Cohort, Lifetime Member), CEO of Samepage, which was acquired by Paylocity last November
• Jelle van Geuns (April'12 Cohort, Lifetime Member), Founder at Decisions on Demand, “The Business Rules Engine For Salesforce”
• Kevin Shrock (May'17 Cohort, Lifetime Member), Founder at WhichDocs, a crowd-sourced database which expedites the process of getting a patient to the right medical provider
• Whitaker Irvin (September'17 Cohort, Lifetime Member), Founder at Q Hydrogen, which develops and deploys disruptive technology in the energy & renewable space
• Mike Mack (April'13 Cohort, Lifetime Member), CEO and Co-Founder at Fract, provider of the first geospatial Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform that analyzes factors to improve retail performance and recently announced its partnership with Current, powered by GE

1:00pm – 1:15pm - Break

1:15pm - 2:00pm - Go-To-Market Workshop ft. Kris Bondi (Peninsula Ballroom)

In this presentation, Kris Bondi (April'21 Cohort), Mimoto CEO (and former CMO multiple times), will provide guidance about how go-to-market (GTM) goes beyond a sales or marketing approach. Getting it right is the difference between impressive revenue and adoption growth and a thud. Kris will provide guidance on how to move beyond buzzwords, create a GTM approach that leverages all aspects of your business and use market intelligence to quickly assess if your approach is working. Kris will also provide frank answers to your “what-if” GTM questions.

2:00pm – 3:00pm - Outdoor Foundation with Tyler Welch of Tyler’s Mystery Tours (Tennis Courts across from Clubhouse)

Facilitated by Tyler Welch (July'20 Cohort), Founder & CEO at Tyler’s Mystery Tours. Choose from several options to help you disengage from the grind and connect with others in surprising ways.

• Fort Battle: Using cardboard boxes that fit together like Legos, teams build and then try to knock down opponents’ forts – with a dodgeball component! The battle is team strategy at its finest with capture-the-flag style rules, and the team with the largest fort at the end wins!
• Alternative Lawn Game Tournament: Go old-school with fun, casual games that you may never have tried before.

4:00pm - 4:30pm - Mini Q&A with David Meltzer (optional - Clubhouse Foyer) David Meltzer will be holding a optional Q&A before his keynote on Friday morning to answer any questions you may have . He will also be providing his book to anyone who attends.

4:30pm - 5:30pm - Blind Wine Tasting with Nicolas Mendiharat of Palate Club (Clubhouse Foyer)

Join a blind wine tasting and happy hour with fellow FN’er Nicolas Mendiharat (May ‘19 Cohort), founder of Palate Club. We’ll taste several reds and whites using the Palate Club app to rate and rank your favorites.

5:30pm – 6:30pm - Lifetime Dinner on the Terrace (Clubhouse Terrace)

Celebrating with a toast to FN’s Lifetime Members, enjoy outdoor dinner featuring local, organic, and handcrafted ingredients prepared by Executive Chef Brian Parks, the food and drink reflects The Quail Lodge & Golf Club’s commitment to sustainability by working with local family farms, organic growers, and sustainable/fair trade producers in order to present you with fresh, delicious food made from the best and most responsibly sourced ingredients possible.

6:45pm – 7:30pm - Fireside Spirits Tasting: American Whiskeys (Edgar's on the Patio)

Facilitated by Blake Tucker (August'18 Cohort), Founder of Boozephreaks. Have you ever wondered what makes whiskey different from gin or vodka? Or perhaps you’re a whiskey aficionado and want to take a deep dive into scotch styles? Call your Doctor! Dr Inkwell is your “spirit guide,” with expertise in all classes of libations and more than 20 years of experience. With this knowledge and restaurant background, Blake Tucker (aka Dr Inkwell) brings a deep understanding of beverage taste, flavor, and pairing. He has had speaking engagements both on television and at industry events around the Bay Area, including the Exploratorium’s Science of Cocktails, the Spirits and Cocktails segment host on local TV show CHNnow, and the Boozephreaks YouTube channel. He has worked with makers and distillers, formulating recipes, filling bottles, and finding customers.

Blake provides sophisticated, professional service using the tools and techniques found in today’s world class bars and lounges. He’s excited to share his passion for the science, history, and craft of enjoying spirits and making incredible cocktails. As his motto states: “I don’t want you to drink more, I want you to drink well.”

7:30pm – 8:15pm - Fireside Chat with Zachary Smith (Edgar's on the Patio)

Zachary Smith started his first business at the age of 10 mowing lawns with his brother. For the past 20 years, he has been focused on using software to build automated infrastructure platforms, helping to grow Voxel, a Linux-based hosting platform sold to Internap in 2011, into one of the early leading cloud hosting companies.

In 2014, he co-founded Packet to empower technology-enabled Enterprises with automated bare metal infrastructure no matter where it was, what it was or who owned it. Backed by SoftBank, Dell Technologies, Third Point and Battery Ventures, the business became the leader in bare metal compute automation and was acquired by Equinix in March 2020for $335 million. Zac now serves as Managing Director at Equinix, leading the strategy, product and go to market for Equinix’s bare metal compute and edge services platform.

Zac lives in Manhattan with his wife and two children. He graduated from the Julliard School in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performance.

Zac will be introduced by Lifetime member Mike Mack (April'13 Cohort), CEO and Co-Founder at Fract, provider of the first geospatial Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform that analyzes factors to improve retail performance and recently announced its partnership with Current, powered by GE

8:15pm – 10:00pm - Fireside Chatter (Edgar's on the Patio)

Meghan Pulles reigns as an emo-positive singer-songwriter who heals the world through her lyrical lens. The New Yorker has touched fans across the globe with her music: taking her listeners on a cathartic journey of mental and emotional healing and wellness.

Friday, 10/15: Theme of the day: Growth as a Founder

8:00am – 9:00am - Stage Roundtable Breakfast with FN Leaders (Clubhouse Foyer)

Get to know founders at your stage over a delicious breakfast. Dig into relevant topics and make a conference connection as you plan your day. Thursday arrivals check-in.

Facilitated by:

• Jags Krishnamurthy (Sept'18 Cohort, Lifetime Member), COO at Object Edge, which offers a range of IT strategy, software consulting, and software development services and solutions
• Peter Imburg (May'18 Cohort, Lifetime Member & fnSF Growth Chair), Founder and CEO of Elfster, the top-rated Secret Santa generator
• Ataer Arguder (June'19 Cohort), fnLondon Chapter Director and Co-Founder at Aura, the world's leading content platform for museums, storytellers and visitors, which recently raised $966 K
• Amy Wister (Jan'14 Cohort, Women's Leadership Committee Chair), Co-Founder & CEO of RevShopp, a SaaS that modifies sales engagement through optimization of operations, messaging and strategies.

9:00am - 9:05am - Opening Remarks ft. Kevin Holmes (Peninsula Ballroom)

9:05am – 9:45am - Game-Time Decision Making: Crucial Decisions in Finding Investment with David Meltzer (Peninsula Ballroom)

Prepare yourself and your team to make the right decision in the toughest of situations, no matter the odds against you. When it comes to utilizing the best tactics and strategies to lead through times of change, Game-Time Decision Making is the playbook for positioning yourself (and those around you) for success.

David Meltzer is the Founder at David Meltzer Enterprises, Co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing and formerly served as CEO of the renowned Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, which was the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire. He is a three-time international best-selling author, a Top 100 Business Coach, the executive producer of Entrepreneur ‘s #1 digital business show, Elevator Pitch, and host of the top entrepreneur podcast, The Playbook.

David will be introduced by Lifetime member Kevin Shrock (May'17 Cohort), founder at WhichDocs, a crowd-sourced database that expedites the process of getting a patient to the right medical provider.

9:45am - 10:00am - Break

10:00am – 11:00am - Founders Values Panel (Peninsula Ballroom)

Join founders who are making a difference in the world for an inspiring discussion on doing good as well as doing well!

The panel will be moderated by Lifetime Member Chaitanya Vaidya (Jan'15 Cohort), Founder of DeepRisk.AI, a FinTech startup that helps banks manage portfolio risk using artificial intelligence, as well as fnVirtual Chapter Director.

Panelists:

• Max Shapiro Founder of executive staffing agency PeopleConnect (Moderator), active angel investor and member of Keiretsu Forum since 2001, member of Silicom Ventures, Co-founder of Runway Incubator, and producer of three monthly pitch events
• Ivy Walker (July'20 Cohort), Founder of Helios Digital Learning, which uses storytelling to teach ethical lessons; CEO of Purpose Workforce Solutions, Forbes contributor and adjunct professor at Northwestern Kellogg School of Management
• Doug Lessing (Aug'18 Cohort), Founder of Phin,a social good marketing platform that helps companies boost engagement through social impact, and fnNYC Membership Chair

The panelists will be introduced by Matias Troccoli (May’19 Cohort), Founder of Gybe, which develops devices and solutions that improve the connectivity, digital security and engagement of employees in modern work infrastructures, and fnSeattle Chapter Director.

11:00am – 12:00pm - Mini-workshop (How to Level-Up as CEO: Growing Your Inner Game)

Facilitated by Nathan Parcells (Sept'11 Cohort), Executive Coach at Sharpend

Nathan Parcells is a former founder ($20 million+ raised) and current executive coach with a focus on co-founder relationships. He’ll share practical skills on how to expand your range as CEO. Through understanding strengths and weaknesses and being open to change, Nathan believes many CEOs can avoid the pitfalls. At the end of the talk. he’ll have small-group sessions aimed at identifying your own leadership growth goals.

12:00pm - Closing Remarks, Group Photo, Check Out & Departure

Check-in & check-out times: allows ample time Wednesday AM and Friday PM for attending while also minding your startup: