Ditch the Pitch: Founder Friendly Ways to Get Started (and Get Funded)
by Zack Steven | at MinneBar 14 | 11:15 – 12:00 in Challenge | View Schedule
What if all the time spent building decks and pitching investors were instead invested in building things and pitching customers?
If you're an early stage tech entrepreneur you may think that the VC/blitzscaling/unicorn path is the only option...
Good news - it's not!
For many entrepreneurs, independence is more valuable than anything. There are new models emerging that enable founders to get started more efficiently than ever and get funded while preserving options and control. This session will be an overview of some of the new models (indie.vc, Earnest Capital, Tiny Seed) and examples of entrepreneurs who are charting a different path.
Please bring your experience and your questions so we can learn from each other.
Zack Steven
I am a lifelong entrepreneur and leader passionate about good design, big ideas, and strong inclusive communities.
I created the Shared Success Agreement — open-sourced at SharedSuccessAgreement.org — and over the past eight years have structured over 50 of them, investing more than $500,000 in growth-stage companies through Cloudburst. I believe everyone should be able to invest what they have — whether that's money, time, or expertise.
I am a Founding Partner of Monkey Island Ventures, CEO of Cloudburst Studio, and host the monthly No-Code Coffee meetup for non-technical entrepreneurs building tech companies.
I have a degree in Studio Art from Grinnell College and have spent the past 20 years mastering the art of business in leadership roles across Product, Sales, Finance, and Operations for organizations ranging from startups to public companies. At its best, business is sculpture: beautiful and useful.
I hold several patents, am a Minnesotan on the Move award recipient, and have served on non-profit boards including MetroIBA and the St. Paul Central High School Foundation. I am a native of The North and live in Edina with my wife and two sons.
If any of this aligns with your interests, let's connect on X: @zacksteven or in person at MinneBar. Just @ me.
Links:
X: @zacksteven
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacksteven