Most first-time founders learn the hard way—overpaying for services, missing tax advantages, and burning runway on things insiders know to avoid. In this session, Will shares the playbook that experienced operators use but rarely talk about: how to connect with third-party firms and partners who defer fees until funding, how to structure for QSBS tax benefits from day one, and the network of resources that can dramatically extend your runway. This is the stuff no one tells you until it's too late.
Breaking into Venture Capital Through Scouting
Venture capital can feel closed off, but scouting is one of the most accessible ways to break in. In this session, Nasir C. Qadree, Founder & Managing Partner of Zeal Capital Partners, explains how VC scout programs work, who firms look for, and how scouts get compensated. Attendees will learn how to turn insight, network, and pattern recognition into real investing opportunity, without raising a fund first.
NASIR QADREE
Founder & Managing Partner, Zeal Capital
Nasir Qadree is Founder and Managing Partner of Zeal Capital Partners, an early-stage venture firm investing in diverse, high-growth founders building the future of work. He is a leading voice on venture access and alternative entry points into investing, including scout networks and platform strategies. Previously, Nasir held senior roles at Village Capital and worked across the startup and investor ecosystem helping founders and operators navigate capital, networks, and opportunity with greater intention and impact.
The Hidden Playbook for Launching a Company
WILL DREWERY
Founder & CEO of Diagon Technologies
Will Drewery is Founder and CEO of Diagon Technologies, an AI-powered procurement platform helping industrial companies build the factories of the future. A seasoned operator, Will has led large-scale supply chain and manufacturing efforts at Tesla, Astra, and Mitra Chem, managing billions in capital equipment and complex global operations. He's also a board director and advisor to venture-backed startups—giving him a front-row seat to what separates founders who scale efficiently from those who burn through capital learning lessons the hard way.
Launching with Intention: From Idea to Execution
Launching a startup requires more than a strong idea—it demands clarity, discipline, and intentional execution. In this session, Jewel shares what she’s learned as both a founder and investor about validating ideas, prioritizing early decisions, and building momentum from day one. Attendees will gain a practical framework for turning ideas into companies built to last.
JEWEL BURKS SOLOMON
Managing Partner at Collab Capital
Jewel Burks Solomon is Managing Partner at Collab Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm she co-founded to close the funding gap for Black entrepreneurs. Collab Capital manages $75M+ in assets and invests in high-growth companies building the future of work, healthcare, and commerce. Previously, Jewel served as Head of Google for Startups U.S., where she led initiatives deploying $45M+ in non-dilutive capital to Black and Latino-led businesses. She is also the Founder and former CEO of Partpic, an AI-powered startup acquired by Amazon.
Early-Stage Investing: Signals, Risk, and Leverage
Early-stage investing isn’t about picking unicorns, it’s about understanding signals before they’re obvious. In this session, Charles shares how institutional investors evaluate founders, markets, and momentum at the earliest stages, and where individual investors and advisors can actually add value. Attendees will gain a clearer picture of how early-stage capital works and how to participate more intelligently in this part of the market.
CHARLES HUDSON
Managing Partner at Precursor Ventures
Charles Hudson is Managing Partner of Precursor Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on leading first institutional rounds for standout software and hardware startups. Under his leadership, Precursor has raised four funds and manages $250M+ in assets, investing in more than 450 companies and supporting over 1,000 founders. His portfolio includes Bobbie Baby, Carrot, Incredible Health, Pair Eyewear, and The Athletic, which was acquired by The New York Times for $525M.
The Long Game: How Squire Went from Side Project to $750M
Dave Salvant and Songe LaRon met at a party in Harlem. A few years later, they quit their corporate jobs, spent $20,000 to buy a barbershop in Chelsea, and ran it for a year to learn the business from the inside. They didn't cut hair, but they did everything else. That experiment became Squire, a barbershop tech platform now valued at $750 million, backed by Tiger Global, ICONIQ, Y Combinator, and investors like Stephen Curry and Trevor Noah. In this session, Dave and Songe share the unfiltered story of building Squire: the pivots, the near-death moments, the scams, the fundraising rejections, and the decisions that got them to the doorstep of unicorn status. If you're serious about launching something and scaling it to the highest levels, this is what the road actually looks like.
DAVE SALVANT
President & Co-Founder, Squire Technologies
Dave Salvant is President and Co-Founder of Squire, the barbershop technology platform valued at $750 million. Started with his co-founder Songe LaRon in 2015, Squire has raised over $200 million from investors including Tiger Global, ICONIQ Capital, Y Combinator, Stephen Curry, and Trevor Noah. Before Squire, Dave worked as a private banker. He holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BS from SUNY Albany.
SONGE LaRON
CEO & Co-Founder, Squire Technologies
Songe LaRon is CEO and Co-Founder of Squire, the barbershop technology platform valued at $750 million. What started as a side project in 2015 — including buying and operating a barbershop in Chelsea to learn the business from the inside — has grown into a platform serving thousands of shops across three continents. Squire has raised over $200 million from investors including Tiger Global, ICONIQ Capital, and Y Combinator. Before Squire, Songe practiced corporate law. UCLA undergrad, Yale Law School.
The Billion-Dollar Business Model
Most founders who want to help people build consumer apps. Then they die on customer acquisition costs. Samir Goel did something different.
Esusu helps renters build credit, but renters aren't the customer. Landlords are. Property managers are. Blackstone, Freddie Mac, and the biggest real estate owners in the country are. That's how Esusu reached 12 million renters without spending a dime on consumer marketing.
In this session, Samir breaks down the B2B2C model that took Esusu from idea to $1.2 billion valuation. He'll also share what it took to raise $200 million as a first-generation founder, how the co-CEO model actually works, and what he learned building a nonprofit before building a unicorn. If you're thinking about launching something that matters and scales, this is the business model conversation you need to hear.
SAMIR GOEL
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Esusu
Samir Goel is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Esusu, the leading fintech platform using rent data to build credit and expand financial access. Esusu is valued at $1.2 billion, reaches 12 million renters across 5 million units, and has helped unlock $30 billion in mortgages for people who were previously credit invisible. Previously, Samir led Sales Strategy & Operations at LinkedIn for a $500 million business unit across EMEA. He also co-founded Transfernation, a nonprofit that rescued over 5 million pounds of food and impacted 2.5 million lives. Forbes 30 Under 30 (2020), TIME100 NEXT (2023), EY Entrepreneur of the Year (2023). NYU Stern.