Straight Talk: AoA Virtual Fireside Chat with Meredith Powell

We’re ready to kick off 2021 answering your most burning questions about early stage startup growth & investment. Like what really happens behind the velvet curtain of VC once you wrap your pitch? If an investor says “we’re very interested, but not going to participate right now”, how should a founder interpret this? Valuations – art or science? How do I create fomo for my round? How do I build an inclusive culture from day 1 and can it really help grow my company? What impact does it have if my co-founder(s) and I part ways? Are accelerators still a good choice these days and what do the big strategics like AWS, Google and MS offer startups? When do I walk away from an investment offer, a customer, or possibly even my startup? What about Advisors – are they necessary at pre-seed / seed stage, how should equity or pay be allocated, how do I divest myself of a poor Advisor?

We’ll be getting candid in this fireside chat. Come join us!

Meredith Powell is an award-winning brand and business builder with 20+ years experience across feature film and short form content production, retail innovation and eComm, B2C and enterprise software, and DEI. She has built and brought to market many brands and startups from zero to millions in revenue and/or other exit including B2B marketplace Shopthefloor.com (acquired by UBM) and Odd Molly (STO: ODD). Meredith most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft for Startups and currently is a Venture Partner with Seattle-based Voyager Capital ($520m aum) as well as active angel investor. Fun facts: Meredith grew up with pet racoons, used to dress Julia Roberts and SJP, and once nabbed the closing show at Bryant Park for NY Fashion Week.

* Zoom info will be sent closer to the date