TechCrunch Disrupt 2022

Here’s a peek at what’s happening on day one at Disrupt • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 18, 2022Posted in Disrupt, Startups, TechCrunch Disrupt 2022No Comments

Welcome to the first day of ZebethMedia Disrupt! Yeah, baby, we are ready to jump right into a jam-packed day dedicated to the growth and success of the entire early-stage startup ecosystem. Check out our day-one highlights to whet your appetite and then dig in! Latecomers always welcome: Buy a pass right here. You’ll find all the day’s programs, stage location and times listed in the Disrupt agenda and in the event app. Expo Hall & Demo Booths Head to the expo hall each day to check out early-stage Startup Battlefield 200 exhibitors and sponsor booths. Investor ReceptionReceptions | 12:00 pm Meet and network with fellow investors attending ZebethMedia Disrupt at this Investor Luncheon OPEN TO INVESTOR TICKET TYPES ONLY. Live on Stage: ZebethMedia’s EquityTC Plus Stage | 9:05 am Start your day off right — join Mary Ann Azevedo, Natasha Mascarenhas and Alex Wilhelm at the ZebethMedia+ stage for a live recording of Equity, the podcast about the business of startups. They’ll unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines and will wade through the hype to keep you up-to-date on the world of business, tech and VC. Come for the news and analysis, stay for the jokes — and for breakfast! Winning the War on RansomwareTC Plus Stage | 11:30 am Ransomware attacks are escalating at an alarming rate. We’ll hear from experts about what winning the war on ransomware looks like and how startups can play their part — with Brett Callow, threat analyst at Emsisoft, and Katie Moussouris, founder and CEO of Luta Security. How to Secure Those Hard to Find HiresTC Plus Stage | 10:50 am Hiring is not easy, even in the best of times. With a tight tech talent market and an increasingly remote-friendly — and therefore globally competitive — corporate landscape, founders have never had more places to hire from and more competitors to measure up against. So we’re going to talk with Chris Herd (Firstbase), an advocate for remote work, and Emil Yeargin, VP of talent at Gusto, which is not only hiring but also helps other companies manage their staff. And we’ll hear from Janine O’Neill (Sequoia), who knows a thing or two about hiring for startups. We’ll go deep on hiring with a special focus on hard-to-fill roles. Framing Innovation Through Collaborations Big and Small with AT&TTC Plus Stage | 2:10 PMConnectivity isn’t a nice-to-have for innovation. It’s mandatory, and collaboration between AT&T and startups at all stages could push the world forward and provide the framework for innovation. Join this session with AT&T CTO Jeremy Legg and a special guest panelist as they discuss the key elements your startup needs to drive tomorrow’s next connectivity innovation breakthrough. Marc’s LoreDisrupt Stage | 10:00 am Billionaire Marc Lore sold his startup to an everything store, twice. After inking deals with Amazon and Walmart, the Quidsi and Jet.com co-founder has launched Wonder to tackle a common problem — food delivery — in an unconventional way. Get ready for a delicious conversation. Bankrolling the Blockchain with a16z CryptoDisrupt Stage | 10:25 am Venture firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is the largest and one of the best-known funding sources for web3 startups. Alongside a16z founder Marc Andreessen, general partner Chris Dixon has been integral to the firm’s rise as a giant in the crypto VC world — he was an early investor in startups, including Coinbase, Uniswap and Oculus VR. Hear from Dixon about how a16z crypto is putting its massive $7.6 billion pool of capital to work by backing early-stage web3 companies. ZebethMedia Startup Battlefield presented by Capital Connect by J.P. MorganDisrupt Stage | 10:50 am & 2:30 pm ZebethMedia’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Startup Battlefield Cup and $100,000.Live Making Care Actually WorkDisrupt Stage | 1:40 pm Cityblock Health has experienced considerable growth on the back of a care model designed to actually meet the recipients of care where they already are — while still satisfying the needs of payers. It appears to be true accessibility in a framework that works with the existing U.S. healthcare infrastructure, but we’ll hear from CEO Toyin Ajayi about the work that remains to be done. Breaking Into the Healthcare Monolith: Strategies for working with Payors and Providers with InterSystemsRoundtable | 10:30 am How do you build a health-tech startup that can achieve high growth? What can startups do to make their technologies more compelling to the biggest players in healthcare: payors and health systems? In this session we will discuss the pain points of getting into healthcare, as well as strategies to open doors to these organizations for pilots and sustainable revenue. You’ll leave this round table discussion with a list of best practices from InterSystems’ 40+ years in the healthcare industry. Design and Scale Using Behavioral ScienceRoundtable | 11:00 am We are building technology for the future but have forgotten that our users still rely on a brain that hasn’t changed in 40,000 years. To design and scale successful products, learn how to leverage the power of behavioral science, and cater to the ancient decision-maker inside all of us — with Shirin Oreizy, founder and CEO, Next Step. The CPO-to-CEO Pipeline with Egon ZehnderRoundtable | 11:00 am The product function has never been as important as it is today. As we see it continuously evolve and expand in importance, are product leaders poised to develop into the next generation of CEOs? Join a discussion with advisors who offer their expertise in evaluating future CEOs, hearing how other product leaders have made this transition. Additionally, compare notes with others on what this trend, along with the expanding mandate of the product role, could mean for the function. Why nine out of ten startups fail with MayfieldRoundtable | 1:00 pm Two-time entrepreneur Dheeraj Pandey (former co-founder and CEO of Nutanix and current CEO and co-founder of DevRev) will talk about what he learned from founding a company and taking it to a

Nigeria’s AltSchool increases course options amidst soaring tech-skill demand • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 18, 2022Posted in AltSchool Africa, Nigeria, Startups, TechCrunch Disrupt 2022No Comments

After launching its inaugural school of engineering earlier this year and raising pre-seed funding, Nigeria’s AltSchool has expanded its catalog to include data and product schools, responding to the growing demand for these technical skills by youth and employers. Among the new courses are product marketing, design and management, and data science, engineering and analysis. This is in addition to a software engineering course where students specialize in either frontend, backend, and cloud engineering. AltSchool’s co-founder and CEO Adewale Yusuf told ZebethMedia that since launch, the school has received increased interest for the courses it offers, pointing to a growing pool of youth that are keen on careers in tech. To paint a picture of the demand, AltSchool, one of the exhibitors at ZebethMedia Disrupt 2022, received 9,200 applications in its initial call, but could only admit about half. “The year has been great so far; we’ve experienced tremendous growth. We got an exemption from California’s Bureau of Post-Private Secondary Education (BPPE), are on the path to $1 million Annual Recurring Revenue, and we have helped people get jobs in more than seven countries,” said Yusuf. Tuition at AltSchool costs $30 per month, an equivalent of a dollar a day, making it a learning path that is much more affordable than traditional college options. The school currently has students in over eight countries across Africa, having recently set up a hub in Rwanda to support its growth beyond West Africa. For admission, students are required to pass an entrance assessment test, but the online school offers a three-month probation for those that do not meet the metrics in the first round. Its courses are short, lasting up to a year (including an internship), enabling the school to churn talent out fast enough to meet the market demand. Overall, the demand for developers is expected to grow especially within the startup ecosystem, which already hires half of Africa’s developers, as more startups are launched or scale up powered by VC funding. Additionally, tech giants like Amazon and Google are scouting for talent in Africa further raising the demand for local developers. “The demand for technical talent is at an all-time high. And companies are looking outside of their primary market to hire talent. This is a significant opportunity for African countries like Nigeria and Ghana among others, as English is the primary Language, and the time zone is favorable,” Yusuf said. Yusuf founded the startup together with Akintunde Sultan and Opeyemi Awoyemi in October last year after noticing a knowledge gap among software engineers while running TalentQL, another startup that recruits and manages remote talent on behalf of companies. They launched AltSchool to upskill these software engineers lacking “foundational knowledge” and to train people making a career switch to technology. The school has partnered with higher learning institutions across Africa to offer diplomas to students.

Announcing the ZebethMedia Startup Battlefield 20 companies on the Disrupt Stage • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 18, 2022Posted in Battlefield, Disrupt, Startup Battlefield, Startup Battlefield 200, Startup Battlefield 2022, Startups, TechCrunch Disrupt 2022No Comments

We’re positively thrilled that Startup Battlefield is live and in person at ZebethMedia Disrupt 2022. In a new era of the legendary startup competition, ZebethMedia editorial hand selected 200 startups, out of thousands of applicants, to comprise the Startup Battlefield 200. The top 20 companies will pitch on the Disrupt Stage. Startup Battlefield Finalists are famous for their success. Come watch these companies compete for the Disrupt Cup and $100,000 equity-free grand prize. Disrupt runs Tuesday through Thursday, October 18-20 in San Francisco.. The agenda is packed full of the heavyweights of the industry hashing it out on stage stage with ZebethMedia Editors. Newsmakers, luminaries and founders will take the stage to share insights and breaking news. For 2022, ZebethMedia reworked Startup Battlefield, and we’re thrilled with the response. For the first time, ZebethMedia hosted this curated cohort of founders at ZebethMedia Disrupt, providing special programming and trainings in advance of and during the event. The top companies will follow in the footsteps of Startup Battlefield legends on the Disrupt Stage. With over 900 alumni participating in the program, Startup Battlefield Alumni companies raised over $13B in funding with 124 successful exits (IPOs or acquisitions). Starting today, the top 20 companies will pitch on the Disrupt Stage for six minutes followed by a six minute Q&A with our expert panel of judges. These all-star VCs include folks like Peter A Boyce ll (Stellation Capital), Aileen Lee (Cowboy Ventures), Ulili Onovakpuri (Kapor Capital), Lo Toney (Plexo Capital) and Milo Werner (The Engine) to name just a few. ZebethMedia Disrupt Stage Schedule for Startup Battlefield Tuesday, Oct 18, Disrupt Stage Semi-Finals (Session 1): 10:50 am – 12:00 pm Semi-Finals (Session 2): 2:30 pm – 3:40 pm Wednesday, Oct 19, Disrupt Stage Semi-Finals (Session 3): 10:55 am -12: 00 pm Semi-Finals (Session 4): 2:40 pm – 3:45 pm Thursday, October 20, Disrupt Stage Finals: 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm Winner Announced: 4:10 pm Without further ado, let’s check out the companies and their respective sessions: Advanced Ionics (Session 4): Advanced Ionics has developed a new class of electrolyzer that enables green hydrogen production that’s cost competitive with cheaper fossil-fuel based hydrogen production. Ally Robotics (Session 3): Starting with a low cost, reliable, easy to teach and smart robotic arm, we develop and manufacture robotic systems that are designed to work alongside people. Anthill (Session 1): Anthill, a machine learning-enabled HR service center that builds solutions for the desk-less workforce, formed in 2020 to disrupt the internal communication stumbling blocks most companies experience when providing information to the 80% of global employees who don’t sit at a desk — all through text messaging. AppMap (Session 1): AppMap elevates the developer experience by providing continuous observability mapping and runtime quality feedback in the code editor to improve software performance, stability and security. Betterdata (Session 4): BetterData technology makes data sharing instant for data/AI teams by converting real data into synthetic data that looks, feels and behaves the same. As synthetic data belongs to no real individual, privacy laws do not apply, and it can be shared globally with 100% compliance while also unlocking data licensing/monetization opportunities. Circular Genomics (Session 1): Circular Genomics is a venture-backed startup company developing precision diagnostics utilizing circular RNAs as biomarkers to provide personalized care for patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders. Digest.ai (Session 2): Digest.ai is building an experience around a collaborative knowledge database to accelerate discovery and education. Hormona (Session 2): Hormona is building an end-to-end solution targeting hormonal health with our innovative hormone test that allows women to quantitatively measure their hormone levels from the comfort of the home without the need for a lab. Incooling (Session 3): With a mission to cool down the planet one server at a time, Incooling has adapted the unique properties of phase change cooling and created next-generation 2 phase cooling servers dedicated to achieving the data center industry’s full potential. Intropic Materials (Session 4): Intropic Materials addresses the plastic waste problem, making self-degrading products that can be composted or perfectly recycled. Kayhan Space Corp (Session 4): A coordinated and autonomous satellite collision detection and avoidance solution for satellite operators. Labby (Session 4): Labby is a hardware and optical AI startup born out of MIT, building next-generation mobile sensing technology for the dairy industry to provide fast, accurate and affordable milk-testing solutions and deliver instant results on milk composition and quality information. Minerva Lithium (Session 3): Direct Lithium extraction technology. Mother Honestly (Session 2): Mother Honestly is building a community-powered care infrastructure for employers and employee caregivers to flourish at home and in the workplace. Nat4bio (Session 3): Nat4Bio develops naturally-sourced and clean-labeled coatings that protect fruit and vegetables from spoilage. NxGen Port (Session 1): NXgenPort is addressing an unmet need in cancer care by remotely managing patients between chemotherapy visits with a Digital Health Platform and an implanted Smart Port with intravascular cytometry sensors. Omneky (Session 1): Omneky utilizes state-of-the-art deep learning to personalize experiences across all digital channels. Reverion Gmbh (Session 3): Reverion manufactures highly efficient power plants for carbon negative electricity generation and energy storage. Staax (Session 2): Staax enables peer-to-peer payments via fractional shares of stock, creating transparency and a social network around investing. Swap Robotics (Session 2): One hundred percent electric robots for grass cutting on solar sites (1,000+ acres) and snow plowing on sidewalks.

Disrupt kicks off tomorrow — check out the highlights • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 17, 2022Posted in Disrupt, Startups, TechCrunch Disrupt 2022No Comments

Happy ZebethMedia Disrupt eve! That’s right, tech’s OG conference dedicated to early-stage startup founders — and the ecosystem that supports them — kicks off tomorrow at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. No FOMO zone: It’s not too late to buy a pass and get in on all the action and opportunity. We’d love to see you! Here’s a quick look at just some of the sessions, speakers and other happenings you can take in over the next three days. Have a look at the agenda for times and stage locations and then fire up your event app, build your schedule and start connecting and networking with other attendees. Tuesday, October 18 Live on Stage: ZebethMedia’s Equity: Join Mary Ann Azevedo, Natasha Mascarenhas and Alex Wilhelm for a live recording of Equity, the podcast about the business of startups. They’ll unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines and will wade through the hype to keep you up-to-date on the world of business, tech and VC. How to Build Your Early VC Network — Turning Social Capital into Financial Capital: If you haven’t heard of Nik, Josh or Gefen, where have you been? They are founders who are not only building very interesting companies but have also taken a forward approach toward making noise on social media. We want to dive into how being a public person can help founders build a future public company. This is a panel that will be informative and lots of fun. Nik Milanović founder, This Week in Fintech, and general partner, The Fintech Fund; Joshua Ogundu, CEO, Campfire; and Gefen Skolnick, founder, Couplet Coffee. Winning the War on Ransomware: Ransomware attacks are escalating at an alarming rate. We’ll hear from experts about what winning the war on ransomware looks like and how startups can play their part. Brett Callow, threat analyst at Emsisoft, and Katie Moussouris, founder and CEO at Luta Security. Wednesday, October 19 The Art of Inclusivity with Kevin Hart: Financial inclusion is multifaceted: you’re fighting against homogeneous networks, deceptive warm intros and the basic need for more fluency across different demographics. There’s an art to it. Comedian and actor Kevin Hart, Mike Elanjian of Capital Connect by JPMorgan, and Robert Roman of HartBeat Ventures are joining us to talk about these very complexities. HartBeat Ventures will also chat about their work investing in the likes of Beyond Meat, Fabletics and Therabody, while JPMorgan will give us a look at how institutions are breaking down barriers. Michael Elanjian, head of digital investment banking and digital private markets at JP Morgan; Kevin Hart, founder at HartBeat Ventures; and Robert Roman, president and co-founder of HartBeat Ventures. Acing Venture: Serena Williams is the greatest to ever play the game of tennis, and she’s already made a name for herself as a VC in the tech world. At Disrupt, Williams and her Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport will join us to discuss the next chapter of Serena’s career, swapping out the racket for several (hundred) inbound pitch decks. We’ll talk about their investment thesis, her plans to bring more diversity into tech, and what she brings to the table as a VC. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner of Serena Ventures, and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner of Serena Ventures. From Court to Cast: Basketball stars are no strangers to diversifying their portfolios. For four-time NBA champion and Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green, that’s meant moving from the court to behind the mic. He joins us to discuss his successes on and off the court, including The Draymond Green Show podcast and the Prime Video special, “The Sessions: Draymond Green.” Draymond Green, NBA 4x champion and host of The Draymond Green Show. Thursday, October 20 State of VC in 2022: VCs have never had so much capital socked away — with $100 billion more in so-called dry powder than the end of last year, according to Preqin — but with a tightening exit market, many are “slowing their roll” and asserting more control over deals after years of feverish dealmaking. What new terms are they introducing into deals? Where are they forging ahead — and pulling back — and why? What do founders need to know for their startups to survive and thrive in 2023 and beyond? For a clearer understanding of what’s happening on the ground right now, this will be a must-see conversation. Niko Bonatsos, managing director of General Catalyst and Caryn Marooney, GP of Coatue Management. Steering Toward an Autonomous Future: A decade ago, Lyft launched in San Francisco as the friendly pink mustache–wearing ride-hailing service. Today, the company is the second-largest ride-hailing service in the U.S., runs a bike share business, has acquired and created and then sold a self-driving car unit — all while facing rival Uber, regulatory headwinds, lawsuits and the public market. Co-founder John Zimmer will talk about how it aims to remain competitive, what inflation and regulatory pressures may bring and where the next wave of growth will come from. Surveillance in Startup Land: Join us for a crash course in the surveillance state — from spyware makers to location data brokers. Find out what the changing cybersecurity threat and legal landscape means for today’s data-hungry startups. Jennifer Stisa Granick, surveillance and cybersecurity counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Maddie Stone, security researcher, Project Zero, Google. There’s so much more to experience at Disrupt — roundtables, breakout sessions, the Startup Battlefield 200 companies exhibiting on the expo floor and, of course, the Startup Battlefield competition. ZebethMedia Disrupt starts tomorrow, October 18, and run through October 20 in San Francisco. Latecomers are always welcome. Buy your pass right now, and we’ll see you at the Moscone Center! Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at ZebethMedia Disrupt 2022? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

last day to save on Disrupt passes • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 15, 2022Posted in Disrupt, Startups, TechCrunch Disrupt 2022No Comments

It’s time for procrastination to stop here. Well, it is if you’ve put off buying your pass to ZebethMedia Disrupt. Today is your final opportunity to avoid paying full freight. Nobody likes full freight, just sayin’. You can still save $700 if…and only if…you buy your pass before the deal expires precisely at 11:59 p.m. (PDT) on Friday October 14. Do whatever it takes to get the job done, because Disrupt is packed with opportunities to expand your network, grow your business and potentially change the trajectory of your life in the best ways possible. Take a look at the full event agenda, and read on for just some of the people, events and activities waiting for you. The Startup Battlefield 200: Thousands of early-stage startups applied, but only 200 made the cut. You’ll find them showcasing their tech and their talent in the Disrupt exhibition hall. Do your SB 200 homework now, and start mining for opportunities the minute your feet hit the expo floor. Roundtables: Choose from more than 50 expert-led, topic-specific discussions designed for small groups of up to 20 people. Time to go deeper, ask questions and get answers. Yes! Pro tip: You can filter the agenda to make finding roundtables quick and easy. Disrupt stage speakers: Hear from leading voices across tech, including Johanna Faries (Activision Blizzard), Amy Gan (OnlyFans), Marc Lore (Wonder Group), RJ Scaringe (Rivian), Serena Williams (Serena Ventures) and so many more. The Startup Battlefield pitch competition: Twenty startups will compete over three days to see which one stands supreme and takes home the title, lifelong bragging rights and $100,000 in equity-free prize money. Look for the three Battlefield preliminary sessions — and the final — in the agenda and go, because how often do you have a chance to watch the birth of tomorrow’s tech giants? ZebethMedia Disrupt takes place on October 18–20 in San Francisco. You have just a few hours left to save $700. Don’t pay full freight. Buy your pass right now — before 11:59 p.m. (PDT) on Friday October 14 — and we’ll see you in San Francisco! Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at ZebethMedia Disrupt 2022? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

Layoffs and H1-B visas, SaaS growth levers, blockchain startup tips • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 14, 2022Posted in blockchain, EC roundup, economic downturn, immigration law, SaaS, Startups, TechCrunch Disrupt 2022, VentureNo Comments

For cash-strapped SaaS startups trying to reach scale, the math doesn’t look great. A slump in the public markets has dragged the entire sector down, but customer acquisition isn’t getting any cheaper. In the meantime, runways are shrinking like a wool sweater in an electric dryer, and teams that hope to fundraise better have some good news to show potential investors. So, what’s the plan? “The key is to focus on scaling sustainably by tapping into more overlooked and underrated sources of revenue,” says Paddle CEO Christian Owens. Full ZebethMedia+ articles are only available to membersUse discount code TCPLUSROUNDUP to save 20% off a one- or two-year subscription In his TC+ guest post, Owens shares several tactics “SaaS leaders can use to supercharge their expansion revenue,” such as adding upsell tiers and charging customers for priority support. Just for a moment, forget about onboarding new customers. Seed-stage startups that demonstrate strong gains in expansion revenue, i.e., money “generated after the customer’s initial purchase,” will always get a second look from investors. And boosting expansion revenue during a downturn? Well, that’s even more impressive. I won’t be sending a TC+ newsletter on Tuesday, October 18, but will return a week from today with more resources for founders and early recaps from ZebethMedia Disrupt. Thanks very much for reading, Walter ThompsonEditorial Manager, ZebethMedia+@yourprotagonist Dear Sophie: How can I protect my H-1B and green card if I am laid off? Image Credits: Bryce Durbin/ZebethMedia Dear Sophie, I am considering leaving my current, steady job for a job with a big name in tech. I’m excited, but nervous. I’ve been hearing that you can lose your H-1B status if you are laid off. Is there any way I can protect my immigration status while making a bold job move? — Leap of Faith Dear Sophie, My early stage startup hasn’t been able to hire as quickly as I would like due to fierce competition. Now that we’re seeing some movement in the job market, we think we can probably finally compete for some top engineering talent in our budget. How can I hire people who were recently laid off on H-1B? — Strategic Sponsor DIY: 5 ways disruptive component startups can win over OEMs Image Credits: Alan Rubio (opens in a new window) / Getty Images Hardware startup founders have a uniquely hard time. Only a small fraction of tech investors will even take meetings with them, and building product pipelines is often an irregular, chaotic process. Instead of relying on sales and marketing teams to build a customer base for his hardware components startup, Ori Mor’s company started building devices that used his company’s tech. “There’s no point rushing when building a hardware startup,” says Mor. “Instead, start by making just a single prototype that you can use to show OEMs.” ‘Me too’ investing is eating returns Image Credits: Catherine Falls Commercial (opens in a new window) / Getty Images Considering the number of investors who are all-in on e-commerce, fintech, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, crypto and B2B SaaS, a room full of VCs might look like a crowd of Spider-Man clones pointing at each other. “Marc Andreessen once said that ‘software is eating the world,’” writes Alan Feld, founder and managing partner of Vintage Investment Partners. “Unfortunately, ‘me-too’ investing is eating returns,” he says, suggesting that investors get out of their rut and explore “four relatively underfunded areas that could produce huge winners over the next 10 years.” How to go from popular to profitable during a downturn Image Credits: Patrik Giardino (opens in a new window) / Getty Images Product-led growth startups are like a car with a manual transmission that needs a push to get going: one driver just can’t do it all on their own. According to Nick Mills, whose sales experience includes stints at Stripe, Facebook and CircleCI, “all companies eventually face a similar challenge: To keep growing, sales teams must be hired and a pipeline must be built.” After explaining how to calculate your serviceable addressable market, AKA “the piece of that pie you can win right now,” Mills shows how to define product-qualified leads that will get sales engines firing on all cylinders. “Telling investors about your viral user growth is no longer enough,” says Mills. “They want to know how it translates to revenue, resilience and runway.” ZebethMedia Disrupt 2022: Taking the BS out of your TAM Every founder must understand the sector in which they intend to compete, but calculating Total Addressable Market (TAM) is a daunting process, especially for first-timers. In reality, TAM just is a planning tool that gives potential investors a better understanding of a company’s upside potential. Next Wednesday, at ZebethMedia Disrupt in San Francisco, I’m moderating a discussion with three investors to find out how they approach TAM and what they’re looking for during a pitch: Kara Nortman, managing partner, Upfront Ventures Aydin Senkut, founder and managing partner, Felicis Ventures Deena Shakir, partner, Lux Capital I’ll ask them to share tactics and strategies for finding TAM, how to calculate it for new products and services, and the red flags they see most often from novice entrepreneurs. Make sure to bring warm layers if you’re visiting SF for Disrupt — if you can’t make it, please join us online. 6 tips for launching a blockchain startup Image Credits: Kinga Krzeminska (opens in a new window) It will take much more than a downturn in the public markets, record inflation and global instability to get between blockchain founders and their dreams. Unfortunately, “having a solid roadmap, real-world use cases and a war chest are only a small part of a blockchain startup’s survival strategy,” advises Wolfgang Rückerl, co-founder and CEO of Istari Vision and Entity. Although it’s true that many of the skills required to launch an early stage startup also apply to web3 companies, “the road to achieving success in the blockchain industry is paved differently,” he writes.

Receptions, parties and more at ZebethMedia Disrupt • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 13, 2022Posted in Disrupt, Startups, TechCrunch Disrupt 2022No Comments

Hey, party people! As if you won’t find plenty to keep you occupied at ZebethMedia Disrupt — which kicks off in less than a week on October 18–20 — take a look at this list of receptions and happenings that complement and coincide with your Disrupt experience. Note that while some events are open to all, others are invitation-only or role-specific. Nonetheless, these receptions are the perfect way to relax, enjoy a meal or refreshments, meet new people and expand your network. You never know who you might meet or when inspiration will strike. Procrastination station: Buy your pass by tomorrow, October 14 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT) and save $700. Ready to party ZebethMedia style? Check out the list below, and edit your calendar accordingly. Startup Battlefield 200 Sneak Peek Location: Moscone West, Expo Hall Date/Time: Oct. 18 from 8 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. PDT Access: Registered Investor Badge Holders Only, Startup Battlefield 200 Description: Investors enter the ZebethMedia Disrupt Expo Hall an hour early to network with the Startup Battlefield 200 founders and get a head start on identifying the next crop of unicorns. Investor Reception Location: Moscone West, 2nd floor, reception room 1 Date/Time: Oct. 18 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. PDT Access: Registered Investor Badge Holders only Description: Kick off day one and network with fellow investors over a delicious lunch. Start Small, Dream Big LuncheonSponsored by: Dropbox Access: Invitation-only Description: Join us for lunch, and network and make new connections with other startup founders. Grab exclusive swag and snap a few pics in our photo booth. Google Cloud Meet and GreetSponsored by: Google Cloud for Startups Access: Invitation-only Description: Check out our session on How to Supercharge Growth, Utilize Cloud and Reduce Burn, and then bring your questions to our Meet and Greet. Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while chatting with our experts. Satellite Party — Singapore: The Gateway to Asia-PacificSponsored by: Singapore Global Network Location: Trellis Workspace, 91 Mission St. Date/Time: Oct. 18 at 4:30 p.m. PDT Access: All registered attendees can attend Description: Glean a better understanding of the tech ecosystem in Singapore and Asia-Pacific. This will also be an exclusive opportunity to network with many of our exciting speakers and guests, including our event partner (Robert Walters, Singapore), ZebethMedia speakers (Elizabeth Yin, Hustle Fund; Hongyi Li, Open Government Products), plus VCs and startup founders from the Bay Area (Prajit Nanu, Nium; Clarence Chio, Unit21). Stripe for StartupsSponsored by: Stripe Description: Stripe for Startups at ZebethMedia DisruptOn October 18 at TC Disrupt, Stripe is bringing together high-growth founders and local investors who are at the forefront of SaaS, ecommerce, and fintech. Join us for great conversations and bites at an eatery (near Moscone Center), and meet your next strategic partner, advisor, or investor. Access: Invitation only. Space is limited – registration is required, and your TC Disrupt badge will be checked at entry. Oct. 18 Agenda:• 5:30 p.m.—Investors-only meet-up• 6:30 p.m.—Doors open to registered founders• 8:30 p.m.—That’s a wrap! Women of Disrupt powered by Elpha Bay Area Meetup Location: Moscone West, 2nd floor, reception room 1 Date/Time: Oct. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PDT Access: Registered attendees who identify as women Description: ZebethMedia and Elpha invite you to network with other women of Disrupt over a delicious breakfast. Arrive early to grab breakfast and a seat, as this is always one of our most popular receptions at Disrupt. Breakfast is first come, first served. UnderRep Founder Lunch with MicrosoftSponsored by: Microsoft for Startups Access: Invitation-only Description: Microsoft for Startups presents a lunch for founders who self-identify as underrepresented. Hear from founders about their journey and take away tips on how to overcome obstacles faced by underrepresented founders. InterSystems Developer Meetup in San FranciscoSponsored by: InterSystems Location: Bartlett Hall, 242 O’Farrell St. Date/Time: Oct. 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. PDT Access: All registered attendees can attend Description: Join us for an InterSystems Developer Meetup where speakers will discuss how developers can bring the code to the data, not data to the code with Embedded Python and Integrated ML on InterSystems IRIS. Live Career Fair: Climate TechSponsored by Terra.do Access: Invitation-only Description: A live career fair featuring 10 stellar climate tech startups that are hiring for several technology and business roles. We will do a live, interactive Q&A with each company founder covering their climate solution, key hiring needs, open roles and more. We will end with open networking among companies and attendees. A must-attend for top talent looking to work in climate! Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at ZebethMedia Disrupt 2022? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

5 more reasons to jump off the fence and go to Disrupt • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 13, 2022Posted in Disrupt, Startups, TechCrunch Disrupt 2022, VentureNo Comments

Tick-tock, startup fans. We’re just days away from ZebethMedia Disrupt on October 18–20 in San Francisco. If you’re still perched on that fence, we have five more reasons why you should pry open the wallet, dust off the credit card and get yourself to the Moscone Center and build a better business. Buy your pass by Friday October 14 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT), and you’ll save $700. Ready? Start counting. 1. Top-tier talent The Disrupt stage is known throughout startup land for showcasing the brightest minds, rising stars, unique and often controversial thinkers. We’re proud to say we’ve truly outdone ourselves for our first in-person Disrupt in three years. You’ll hear from Parker Conrad, Amy Gan, Draymond Green, Kevin Hart, Marc Lore, RJ Scaringe and Serena Williams — and that’s just for starters. 2. The Startup Battlefield Twenty startups — selected from the Startup battlefield 200 — will take the stage over the course of three days, but only one will prevail to earn the title of champion, become the darling of Disrupt and take home $100,000 in equity-free prize money. What’s more, watching the judges’ feedback gives you a front-row seat to the way they think, how they access a pitch and what moves them to schedule a meeting. Check the times in the agenda so you don’t miss any of the three thrilling sessions and the off-the-hook finale. Future unicorns start here. 3. Crank up the crypto Learn more about the future of blockchain, DeFi, NFTs and web3 during these sessions at Disrupt. Bankrolling the Blockchain with Chris Dixon, founder and managing partner, a16z crypto. How to Thrive During a Crypto Winter with Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands The Great Expectations of Crypto and Blockchain with Denelle Dixon, CEO and executive director, Stellar Development Foundation, and Alex Holmes, chairman and CEO, MoneyGram NFTs for Real World Problems with Manuela Seve, CEO, Alphaa.io 4. Showcase Stage If you can’t get enough of watching startups pitch, then make sure to head over to the Showcase stage on the expo floor. That’s where you’ll find two groups — Startup Battlefield 200 companies and Pavilion startups — deliver their goods during live, fast-pitch sessions. Every day of Disrupt. Whether you’re an investor looking for potential or a future founder looking to learn, you’ll find a bevy of fascinating ideas flying off the Showcase stage. 5. Roundtable discussions We’ve created more opportunities for attendees to meet in smaller groups to go deeper on and connect over specific subjects. That’s what roundtables — 30-minute, expert-led discussions — are all about. Here are just a few examples of the more than 50 from which you can choose. Go hog wild. Scaling Responsibly: Walking the Talk on ESG and DEI Making Venture More Accessible Pricing for Competitive Advantage There are so many more reasons to attend, but this is the biggie — ZebethMedia Disrupt is where startups go to grow. Jump off the fence, buy your pass before October 14 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT) for your last chance to save $700. Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at ZebethMedia Disrupt 2022? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

Check out our partner roundtable topics and speakers at Disrupt • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 12, 2022Posted in Disrupt, Startups, TechCrunch Disrupt 2022No Comments

With less than a week to go, we’re absolutely stoked to see you all in San Francisco for ZebethMedia Disrupt, live and in person! You’re no doubt planning your days and with more than 50 roundtable discussions on tap, we want to call your attention to the info-rich topics that our partners will present. But first… Just two days left to save: Buy your Disrupt pass before October 14 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT) and save $700. Pro tip: Schedule conflict? Peruse the agenda to see which of these roundtables take place on multiple days. OK, startup fans, check out these roundtables designed to help you — and your startup — grow. From IPO Frenzies to Delays: What’s Changing with Equity, with Vieje Piauwasdy, senior director of equity strategy at Secfi. Sponsored by Secfi. Breaking into the Healthcare Monolith: Strategies for Working with Payors and Providers, with Neal Moawed, global head of industry research at InterSystems. Sponsored by InterSystems. The CPO-to-CEO Pipeline, with Anna Auerbach and Karena Man, consultants at Egon Zehnder. Sponsored by Egon Zehnder. Why Nine Out of Ten Startups Fail, with Dheeraj Pandey, CEO and co-founder at DevRev. Sponsored by Mayfield. Navigating Silicon Valley: OG Advice for African Founders, with Jake Bright, venture partner at Fast Forward Venture Studio; Ayanna Kerrison, investor at Precursor Ventures; and Joshua Ogundu, CEO at Campfire. Sponsored by Fast Forward Venture Studio. What the Heck Is Interoperability Anyways, with Neal Moawed, global head of industry research at InterSystems. Sponsored by InterSystems. Rewiring Founders to Hire for Tomorrow, with Anna Auerbach, Kristen Burke, Karena Man, consultants at Egon Zehnder. Sponsored by Egon Zehnder. Saving the World: The Playbook for Building Planetary Health Unicorns, with Arvind Gupta, partner at Mayfield Fund. Sponsored by Mayfield. Using AI to Cut Meeting Costs and Time, with Sam Liang, CEO and co-founder at Otter.ai. Sponsored by Otter.ai. Why African Tech Needs Venture Studios, with Omolara Ajele, operating partner at Fast Forward Venture Studio; Idris Bello, founding partner at LoftyInc Capital Management; and Kelvin Umechukwu, CEO and co-founder at Bumpa. Sponsored by Fast Forward Venture Studio. Web3, Crypto, Blockchain: Unlocking Prosperity for Tech and Creative Industries in Africa, with Brylan Donaldson, CEO and co-founder at 7th Ave, and Guled Yousuf, web3 angel investor and product lead at DeFi Pulse. Sponsored by Fast Forward Venture Studio. Scaling Responsibly: Walking the Talk on ESG and DEI, with Margaret Glover-Campbell, COO at Virtual Gurus. Sponsored by Virtual Gurus. Delivering Value and Driving Pipeline: How B2B Marketers Can Tackle Both, with Dan Horowitz, senior director; Ruby James, manager of startups; Tom Eschbacher, director of new and emerging business; and Kate Kamel, director of growth at LinkedIn. Sponsored by LinkedIn. Trust as the New Currency in Tech, with Anna Auerbach and Karena Man, consultants at Egon Zehnder. Sponsored by Egon Zehnder. How Startups Can Survive the Downturn with Financial Planning, with Rajeev Batra, partner at Mayfield, and Christina Ross, CEO and co-founder at Cube. Sponsored by Mayfield. Exit Pathways for Africa Startups, with Opeyemi Awoyemi, managing partner at Fast Forward Venture Studio; Ngozi Dozie, CEO and co-founder at Carbon; and Adewale Yusuf, CEO and co-founder at AltSchool. Sponsored by Fast Forward Venture Studio. A Serial Software Entrepreneur Shares the Playbook for Building Breakout Companies, with Rehan Jalil, founder and CEO at Securiti. Sponsored by Mayfield. Don’t miss out on roundtables — from our partners and other subject-matter experts — or your last chance to save $700. Buy your Disrupt pass before October 14 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT) and join us in San Francisco! Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at ZebethMedia Disrupt 2022? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

72 hours left to save on ZebethMedia Disrupt passes • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on October 12, 2022Posted in Disrupt, Startups, TechCrunch Disrupt 2022No Comments

That sound you hear is the countdown clock on your chance to attend ZebethMedia Disrupt on October 18–20 — and keep extra cheddar in your bank account. Set aside any distractions and get ’er done. Buy your pass before October 14 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT), and you’ll save $700. The four stages at Disrupt offer a wide range of programming, and they’re a big reason this top-notch tech conference is where startups go to grow. Pro tip: Head to the event agenda, where you can use filters to see the speakers, session descriptions and times for each day. The Disrupt stage: Hear from the likes of Toyin Ajayi, Parker Conrad, Chris Dixon, Johanna Faries, Amy Gan, Draymond Green, Kevin Hart, Marc Lore, Serena Williams and so many more. The ZebethMedia+ stage: You’ll find topics all startup founders need to understand. Like what? Like these. What Does Product-Market Fit Mean When Hype Tanks? How to Secure Those Hard to Find Hires Taking the BS Out of Your TAM The Discovery stage: ZebethMedia partners share their expertise on essential startup issues. You’ll also find fab speaker Q&As. Like what? Like these. From Capital and Counsel, to Partnerships and Profits: How to Maximize Your Investor Relationships What the Startup World Is Really Like for Underrepresented People Speaker Q&A: How to Get into Y Combinator The Showcase stage: You’ll find two groups — Startup Battlefield 200 companies and Pavilion startups — delivering live, fast-pitch sessions on every day of Disrupt. If you love watching startups pitch, you’ll find plenty of action going down on the expo floor. What else can you do at Disrupt? Check out all the breakout sessions and more than 50 roundtable discussions. Get networking with the event app. Find people, schedule meetings, make valuable connections and try your hand at speed networking. Time-sensitive opportunity: Today, October 12, is the last day you can sign up for Dinner for 6 to get matched with like-minded folks and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant on Tuesday, October 18. Buy your pass today, and you’ll be able to register for dinner through a link in the event app. There’s plenty more activity and opportunity waiting for you at ZebethMedia Disrupt. Don’t miss out on your last chance to save $700. Buy your Disrupt pass before October 14 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT) and join us in San Francisco! Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at ZebethMedia Disrupt 2022? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.