Discover Startup & VC Events
Curated networking opportunities for startup founders and investors worldwide.
Your OpenVC Kickoff
Your OpenVC Kickoff is a free 30-minute group session designed to help founders start their fundraising with a clear plan and avoid the mistakes that slow most founders down. The session is led by Stéphane Nasser, founder and CEO of OpenVC, who has helped hundreds of founders navigate the fundraising process and raise capital. 10 min: Fundraising strategy How to approach your raise, what investors look for, common mistakes, and where to focus first. 10 min: OpenVC walkthrough A practical demo of how to use OpenVC to find the right investors, manage your pipeline, handle outreach, and stay organized. 10 min: Live Q&A Ask anything about fundraising, investor outreach, OpenVC, or a specific challenge you're facing. The goal is for founders to leave with a better understanding of fundraising, how to use OpenVC effectively, and what to do next.
Your OpenVC Kickoff
Your OpenVC Kickoff is a free 30-minute group session designed to help founders start their fundraising with a clear plan and avoid the mistakes that slow most founders down. The session is led by Stéphane Nasser, founder and CEO of OpenVC, who has helped hundreds of founders navigate the fundraising process and raise capital. 10 min: Fundraising strategy How to approach your raise, what investors look for, common mistakes, and where to focus first. 10 min: OpenVC walkthrough A practical demo of how to use OpenVC to find the right investors, manage your pipeline, handle outreach, and stay organized. 10 min: Live Q&A Ask anything about fundraising, investor outreach, OpenVC, or a specific challenge you're facing. The goal is for founders to leave with a better understanding of fundraising, how to use OpenVC effectively, and what to do next.
Fundraising 101: How To Win Your First Round
This no-bullshit, 60-minute webinar gives you a clear, founder-friendly roadmap to raise your first round the right way. Whether you’re pre-seed or seed-stage, we’ll walk you through what really matters to investors and how to build a process that gets results. Packed with real-life examples from successful founders — no fluff, no theory dumps.
How to build a top 1% pitch deck
We’ll break down what makes a top 1% pitch deck. This session is packed with real-life, slide-by-slide examples from decks that actually raised.
How to get warm intros to VCs
Forget vague advice like “just network more.” We’ll walk you through proven, actionable tactics founders use to get warm intros to VCs.
Music Tectonics Conference 2026
Focus: startup–VC interactions (pitch comp, demo day, investor networking); top speaker: Andrew Kahn, Managing Partner, Yamaha Music Innovation Fund; themes: music tech, startups, funding.
Startup Showcase at MD&M Midwest 2026
Startup showcase with live pitch presentations to potential investors; topics: medtech, AI, manufacturing; startup-investor networking.
Global Health Exhibition 2026
Startup–VC focus with investor forums, pitch comps, startup zones; 1,000+ investors attend; top speaker Roy Jakobs, CEO, Philips; topics: digital health, AI, medtech; startup-investor networking.
Crossroads 2026: Startup Founders Summit
Founder–VC networking, pitches, and investor demos; startup–investor interaction with VCs.
The Smart Deal 2026: Startup Founders & Investors Networking Event
60+ startups; 6 pitching finalists; VC mentorship; VC jury; deal reveals; focus: smart city/urban tech; pitch day & investor networking.
Smart City Expo World Congress 2026
Startup–investor focus via investors program, pitch sessions, and startup challenges; enables startup–VC networking.
SiGMA World Startup Pitch 2026
Pitch sessions to investors; startup-investor networking; iGaming/tech focus.
Startup Nights 2026
Founders pitch and network with investors & peers; topics: ICT, sustainability, health tech; top speaker: Jürg Schwarzenbach, Investor (Höhle der Löwen Schweiz).
14th Annual San Diego Startup Week
Pitch days, demo days, and startup–investor networking; tech/AI focus; thousands of founders and investors attend.
Falling Walls Venture 2026: Science Start-ups Showcase in Berlin
Science start-ups pitch to international investors; coaching on pitching; investor networking; high-level audience of global leaders; focus: science & tech (biotech, AI, energy, materials).
Alaska Startup Week 2026
Startup–angel investor networking & funding; 21 startups and 17 angel investors participate; focus: angel investing.
Innovation 2026 Q1 Pitch Contest
Online two-week pitch contest where startups pitch to VCs and Angels; startup-investor networking and demo/pitch day.
Blockchain 2026 Q1 Pitch Contest
Blockchain-focused elevator pitch contest connecting startups with VCs/angels; investor judging.
How to raise with cold emails
Let's skip the generic tips and break down real cold emails that worked - including a free template you can copy.
Your OpenVC Kickoff
Your OpenVC Kickoff is a free 30-minute group session designed to help founders start their fundraising with a clear plan and avoid the mistakes that slow most founders down. The session is led by Stéphane Nasser, founder and CEO of OpenVC, who has helped hundreds of founders navigate the fundraising process and raise capital. 10 min: Fundraising strategy How to approach your raise, what investors look for, common mistakes, and where to focus first. 10 min: OpenVC walkthrough A practical demo of how to use OpenVC to find the right investors, manage your pipeline, handle outreach, and stay organized. 10 min: Live Q&A Ask anything about fundraising, investor outreach, OpenVC, or a specific challenge you're facing. The goal is for founders to leave with a better understanding of fundraising, how to use OpenVC effectively, and what to do next.
Your OpenVC Kickoff
Your OpenVC Kickoff is a free 30-minute group session designed to help founders start their fundraising with a clear plan and avoid the mistakes that slow most founders down. The session is led by Stéphane Nasser, founder and CEO of OpenVC, who has helped hundreds of founders navigate the fundraising process and raise capital. 10 min: Fundraising strategy How to approach your raise, what investors look for, common mistakes, and where to focus first. 10 min: OpenVC walkthrough A practical demo of how to use OpenVC to find the right investors, manage your pipeline, handle outreach, and stay organized. 10 min: Live Q&A Ask anything about fundraising, investor outreach, OpenVC, or a specific challenge you're facing. The goal is for founders to leave with a better understanding of fundraising, how to use OpenVC effectively, and what to do next.
How to get warm intros to VCs
Forget vague advice like “just network more.” We’ll walk you through proven, actionable tactics founders use to get warm intros to VCs.
Your OpenVC Kickoff
Your OpenVC Kickoff is a free 30-minute group session designed to help founders start their fundraising with a clear plan and avoid the mistakes that slow most founders down. The session is led by Stéphane Nasser, founder and CEO of OpenVC, who has helped hundreds of founders navigate the fundraising process and raise capital. 10 min: Fundraising strategy How to approach your raise, what investors look for, common mistakes, and where to focus first. 10 min: OpenVC walkthrough A practical demo of how to use OpenVC to find the right investors, manage your pipeline, handle outreach, and stay organized. 10 min: Live Q&A Ask anything about fundraising, investor outreach, OpenVC, or a specific challenge you're facing. The goal is for founders to leave with a better understanding of fundraising, how to use OpenVC effectively, and what to do next.
How to build a top 1% pitch deck
We’ll break down what makes a top 1% pitch deck. This session is packed with real-life, slide-by-slide examples from decks that actually raised.
Fundraising 101: How To Win Your First Round
This no-bullshit, 60-minute webinar gives you a clear, founder-friendly roadmap to raise your first round the right way. Whether you’re pre-seed or seed-stage, we’ll walk you through what really matters to investors and how to build a process that gets results. Packed with real-life examples from successful founders — no fluff, no theory dumps.
How to raise with cold emails
Let's skip the generic tips and break down real cold emails that worked - including a free template you can copy.
How to get warm intros to VCs
Forget vague advice like “just network more.” We’ll walk you through proven, actionable tactics founders use to get warm intros to VCs.
How to build a top 1% pitch deck
We’ll break down what makes a top 1% pitch deck. This session is packed with real-life, slide-by-slide examples from decks that actually raised.
Fundraising 101: How To Win Your First Round
This no-bullshit, 60-minute webinar gives you a clear, founder-friendly roadmap to raise your first round the right way. Whether you’re pre-seed or seed-stage, we’ll walk you through what really matters to investors and how to build a process that gets results. Packed with real-life examples from successful founders — no fluff, no theory dumps.
Fundraising Q&A + Deck review with Shaun Gold
Got questions or a deck to review? Join Shaun Gold in this intimate session for Premium OpenVC members and get personalized, actionable feedback.
Valuation & legal for startups
We focus on how investors think about valuation, how legal structures affect your leverage, and where founders most often shoot themselves in the foot.
How to raise with cold emails
Let's skip the generic tips and break down real cold emails that worked - including a free template you can copy.
How to build a top 1% pitch deck
We’ll break down what makes a top 1% pitch deck. This session is packed with real-life, slide-by-slide examples from decks that actually raised.
Fundraising Q&A + Deck review with Shaun Gold
Got questions or a deck to review? Join Shaun Gold in this intimate session for Premium OpenVC members and get personalized, actionable feedback.
Fundraising 101: How To Win Your First Round
This no-bullshit, 60-minute webinar gives you a clear, founder-friendly roadmap to raise your first round the right way. Whether you’re pre-seed or seed-stage, we’ll walk you through what really matters to investors and how to build a process that gets results. Packed with real-life examples from successful founders — no fluff, no theory dumps.
Fundraising Q&A + Deck review with Shaun Gold
Got questions or a deck to review? Join Shaun Gold in this intimate session for Premium OpenVC members and get personalized, actionable feedback.
Valuation & legal for startups
Let's skip the generic tips and break down real cold emails that worked - including a free template you can copy.
How to reach investors and VCs
Learn how startup funding works, how VCs evaluate pitches, the types of founders VCs are looking for, and more. Bring your questions for Steph and Naimul!
Startup and VC Events FAQs
Finding startup events near you usually starts with general event platforms like Eventbrite and Meetup, where many local meetups, panels, and networking events are listed. It also helps to check startup websites and curated event directories like OpenVC, which focus specifically on startup and VC events rather than general networking events.
Following local accelerators, coworking spaces, and venture capital firms is another practical way to discover smaller, high-quality gatherings that may not appear on large platforms. Most founders get better results by consistently tracking a few reliable sources instead of searching from scratch each time, which makes it easier to spot relevant upcoming events and conferences as they are announced.
The top startup events for founders to attend in 2026 include TechCrunch Disrupt (Oct 13–15, San Francisco), SaaStr Annual (May 12–14, SF Bay Area), and the Startup Grind Conference (Apr 27–29, Silicon Valley), all known for strong investor attendance and high founder density. Major cross-industry events include SXSW (Mar 12–18, Austin) and London Tech Week (Jun 8-12, London), which combine startups, investors, and enterprise partners in one place. International entrepreneurs looking to connect with emerging markets and global capital should explore LEAP 2026 (Apr 13–16, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) for its scale, investor participation, and focus on innovation.
Startup founders typically connect with VCs at events through small group conversations, introductions from other founders or operators, and follow-up after panels or networking sessions. The goal is not to pitch immediately but to start a relevant conversation around what you’re building and why it fits the investor’s focus. Strong connections usually happen after the event through a short follow-up message that references the conversation and shares context like a deck or update.
Founders usually benefit from attending VC events once they have a clear narrative on the problem, market, and the company's early direction, even if fundraising has not started yet. Early attendance helps build familiarity with investors, understand how VCs evaluate opportunities, and start relationships before capital is needed. The most productive conversations happen when founders are gathering feedback and learning how their story resonates, rather than actively pitching for a check.
Yes. Many startup and VC events now run in virtual or hybrid formats, including demo days, investor panels, pitch sessions, workshops, and networking events. Virtual VC events make it easier for founders to connect with investors outside their local ecosystem and attend events without travel constraints.
The quality varies, so it helps to prioritize special events with curated attendees or clear investor participation rather than open networking sessions. OpenVC’s startup and VC events directory includes both in-person and virtual events, making it easier to find relevant opportunities based on format, stage, and focus.
Before attending an upcoming VC event, founders should research the investors who will be there and understand where real alignment exists based on stage, thesis, and check size. A concise 30-second elevator pitch is essential, focused on the problem, solution, and why the timing makes sense now.
Founders should also be fully confident in their numbers, including key metrics, growth trends, and basic financials, since conversations often move quickly into traction and execution. The goal is not to pitch everyone, but to have informed conversations with investors where there is a clear fit.