Fundraising is shifting fast. Signals from 2025 were noisy; 2026 brings new patterns worth tracking. Investors are tightening on proof of value, efficient growth, and real AI advantage. This session separates speculation from substance by asking funded founders and active investors exactly what they’re prioritizing in 2026—what changed, what still works, and how to prepare.

🎯 Why You Should Attend
Clear up misconceptions. Hear the most common mistakes founders made in 2025 and how to avoid them in 2026.
Get the investor read. What partners are scouting for now: proof points, metrics, and AI defensibility that win term sheets.
Leave with a plan. Practical steps to refine your narrative, metrics, and data room so your process is fast and focused.
 
🙋 Who You’ll Meet
B2B Tech/AI founders planning or in market for Seed–Series A
Investors active in B2B (angels, micro-VC, institutional seed, corporate venture)
Operators and C-level pros who influence readiness (finance, RevOps, product, security)
Ecosystem builders (accelerators, law firms, venture debt, platform partners)
 
🎤 Who’s on the Panel
Zhihao Zhao
 - Co-founder & CEO of Genia
Growing up in a construction family, Zhihao Zhao is the Co-founder and CEO of Genia, helping structural engineers design permit-ready drawings 10x faster with Generative AI. A serial entrepreneur and seasoned product executive, Zhihao specializes in launching emerging technologies into new markets. He has previously built the world's first consumer AR glasses at XREAL, led AI product development at Amazon, and developed AI-native tools for the creator economy at VOILA. His multidisciplinary expertise is grounded in a robust educational background, holding a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Yale University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Psychology from UCLA.
 
Julia Delin
 - CEO & Co-Founder of Cheque
Julia Delin is the co-founder of Cheque, an invoicing platform for agencies to get paid faster without using credit or loans. Prior to founding Cheque, Julia ran one of Europe’s top incubators for seven years, and started an early-stage venture fund to invest in startups before early traction. She has raised +$10m for the venture fund, and another $670k for her own startup, and has coached 100+ startups in how to run a fundraising process. Julia has a BSc in Business from the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, where she is originally from. Now she lives in New York.
 
Aidan Richards
 - Co-Founder & COO of Rezora IO
Aidan Richards is the cofounder of Rezora IO, an AI voice platform for real estate professionals that automatically calls leads, books meetings, and handles follow up at scale. With a background in real estate sales, fintech enterprise sales, and early stage startups, Aidan focuses on building practical AI systems that drive revenue. He has founded and scaled multiple businesses and brings a strong operator mindset to GTM execution, partnerships, and product strategy.
 
Moderator:
Haoqian Zheng
 - Director of AI Engineering at Aprio LLC
Hao started his career as Product Manager at Google before going into the startup world. He was Cofounder & CTO at TimeCredit AI, an AI SaaS in the Accounting space, which got acquired by Aprio in 2025.
 
💬 What We’ll Talk About
Hard lessons: timing misses, over-optimizing valuation, under-prepping diligence
Round mechanics: extensions, inside rounds, flat/down dynamics and how founders navigated them
Signals that mattered: traction proof, retention quality, payback, and efficient GTM
Looking ahead to 2026
What investors are looking for:
Compelling wedge and durable advantage (data, workflow lock-in, distribution)
Metrics that travel: NRR, gross margin with AI costs accounted for, CAC payback, pipeline conversion
AI readiness: model choices, cost control, evals, safety/governance, security and compliance
Structures & capital mix: priced rounds vs SAFEs, venture debt, non-dilutive options, when each fits
Process that wins: narrative memo, proof stack, customer references, fast data room, founder scheduling strategy
 
🤝 Co-Hosted With
NYC B2B
 
- Join 5,000+ founders, operators & VCs in NYC’s top B2B startup community—get NYC startup events, resources & deal flow.
GREY Journal
 – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).

🤝 Community Partner
The Startup Station
 helps early-stage founders build investor-ready financials and tell their funding story with confidence. Our next 6-week virtual Fundraising Bootcamp starts Feb 24 — learn MBA-level finance designed for founders with no prior experience, craft your financial story like a CFO, and accelerate your fundraising with guidance from a veteran investor. 
 
🤝 Venue Partner
The Yard
 - Private offices & coworking spaces for individuals and teams
 
⭐ About Ugly Talk:
Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Official Website: 
UglyTalk.com
 
🎥 Get a taste of past Ugly Talk energy:





discover GREY

Business

Director

Fundraising is shifting fast. Signals from 2025 were noisy; 2026 brings new patterns worth tracking. Investors are tightening on proof of value, efficient growth, and real AI advantage. This session separates speculation from substance by asking funded founders and active investors exactly what they’re prioritizing in 2026—what changed, what still works, and how to prepare. <h4>🎯 Why You Should Attend</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Clear up misconceptions. Hear the most common mistakes founders made in 2025 and how to avoid them in 2026.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Get the investor read. What partners are scouting for now: proof points, metrics, and AI defensibility that win term sheets.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Leave with a plan. Practical steps to refine your narrative, metrics, and data room so your process is fast and focused.</li></ul>&nbsp;<h4>🙋&nbsp;Who You’ll Meet</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">B2B Tech/AI founders planning or in market for Seed–Series A</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Investors active in B2B (angels, micro-VC, institutional seed, corporate venture)</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Operators and C-level pros who influence readiness (finance, RevOps, product, security)</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Ecosystem builders (accelerators, law firms, venture debt, platform partners)</li></ul>&nbsp;<h4>🎤&nbsp;Who’s on the Panel</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sabir-94-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir (94)" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhihaozhao/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">Zhihao Zhao</a>&nbsp;- Co-founder &amp; CEO of GeniaGrowing up in a construction family, Zhihao Zhao is the Co-founder and CEO of Genia, helping structural engineers design permit-ready drawings 10x faster with Generative AI. A serial entrepreneur and seasoned product executive, Zhihao specializes in launching emerging technologies into new markets. He has previously built the world's first consumer AR glasses at XREAL, led AI product development at Amazon, and developed AI-native tools for the creator economy at VOILA. His multidisciplinary expertise is grounded in a robust educational background, holding a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Yale University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Psychology from UCLA.&nbsp;<img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sabir-97-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir (97)" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliadelin/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">Julia Delin</a>&nbsp;- CEO &amp; Co-Founder of ChequeJulia Delin is the co-founder of Cheque, an invoicing platform for agencies to get paid faster without using credit or loans. Prior to founding Cheque, Julia ran one of Europe’s top incubators for seven years, and started an early-stage venture fund to invest in startups before early traction. She has raised +$10m for the venture fund, and another $670k for her own startup, and has coached 100+ startups in how to run a fundraising process. Julia has a BSc in Business from the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, where she is originally from. Now she lives in New York.&nbsp;<img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sabir-99-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir (99)" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidanrichards526aba/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">Aidan Richards</a>&nbsp;- Co-Founder &amp; COO of Rezora IOAidan Richards is the cofounder of Rezora IO, an AI voice platform for real estate professionals that automatically calls leads, books meetings, and handles follow up at scale. With a background in real estate sales, fintech enterprise sales, and early stage startups, Aidan focuses on building practical AI systems that drive revenue. He has founded and scaled multiple businesses and brings a strong operator mindset to GTM execution, partnerships, and product strategy.&nbsp;Moderator:<img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sabir-2026-01-06T030339.827-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir 2026 01 06T030339.827" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/haoqianzheng/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">Haoqian Zheng</a>&nbsp;- Director of AI Engineering at Aprio LLCHao started his career as Product Manager at Google before going into the startup world. He was Cofounder &amp; CTO at TimeCredit AI, an AI SaaS in the Accounting space, which got acquired by Aprio in 2025.&nbsp;<h4>💬&nbsp;What We’ll Talk About</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Hard lessons: timing misses, over-optimizing valuation, under-prepping diligence</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Round mechanics: extensions, inside rounds, flat/down dynamics and how founders navigated them</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Signals that mattered: traction proof, retention quality, payback, and efficient GTM</li></ul><h4>Looking ahead to 2026</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">What investors are looking for:</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;" class="ql-indent-1">Compelling wedge and durable advantage (data, workflow lock-in, distribution)</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;" class="ql-indent-1">Metrics that travel: NRR, gross margin with AI costs accounted for, CAC payback, pipeline conversion</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;" class="ql-indent-1">AI readiness: model choices, cost control, evals, safety/governance, security and compliance</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Structures &amp; capital mix: priced rounds vs SAFEs, venture debt, non-dilutive options, when each fits</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Process that wins: narrative memo, proof stack, customer references, fast data room, founder scheduling strategy</li></ul>&nbsp;<h4>🤝 Co-Hosted With</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-4-300x300.png" alt="Image (4)" height="145" width="145" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://nycb2b.beehiiv.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">NYC B2B</a>&nbsp;- Join 5,000+ founders, operators &amp; VCs in NYC’s top B2B startup community—get NYC startup events, resources &amp; deal flow.<img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Final-with-Margin-and-white-background-300x113.jpg" alt="Final with margin and white background" height="66" width="174" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://greyjournal.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">GREY Journal</a>&nbsp;– Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News). <h4>🤝 Community Partner</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Startup-Station-logo-6-271x300.png" alt="The Startup Station logo" height="300" width="271" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://thestartupstation.com/fundraising-bootcamp/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">The Startup Station</a>&nbsp;helps early-stage founders build investor-ready financials and tell their funding story with confidence. Our next 6-week virtual Fundraising Bootcamp starts Feb 24 — learn MBA-level finance designed for founders with no prior experience, craft your financial story like a CFO, and accelerate your fundraising with guidance from a veteran investor.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h4>🤝 Venue Partner</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/the-yard-logo-1-300x176.png" alt="The yard logo (1)" height="176" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://theyard.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">The Yard</a>&nbsp;- Private offices &amp; coworking spaces for individuals and teams&nbsp;<h4>⭐ About Ugly Talk:</h4>Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.Official Website:&nbsp;<a href="http://uglytalk.com/?__hstc=149698537.02d3a3067355aeed59c3216c338d3fd4.1759237887972.1767723088106.1767794901203.163&amp;__hssc=149698537.1.1767794901203&amp;__hsfp=2731758795" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1); background-color: transparent;">UglyTalk.com</a>&nbsp;<h4>🎥 Get a taste of past Ugly Talk energy:</h4><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7333583432737796098?compact=1" height="399" width="504"></iframe> <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7336390716870299648?compact=1" height="399" width="504"></iframe> <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7311125345984733184?compact=1" height="399" width="504"></iframe> <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/moMfGsBPjpE" height="557" width="990"></iframe>

General Admission

Ugly Talk: 2026 Fundraising Playbook for B2B and AI Founders

To be shared on approval

Got a case of the Monday’s? Us too. Join your favorite corporate underlings and comedians Sam Doctor and Rosemary Cipriano for an evening of raging against the workplace. Featuring the funniest women in your team meeting, and sometimes one man (for diversity purposes). $10 Entry!

February 2026 Big Boss Headliner: Alexis Bradby

February 2026 Thought Leaders:

Sibo
Katherine Duffy
Karthik Raj
Alejandra Jimenez
Get updates on the agenda @WomenAreWorkingHereComedy


Shortcut

Sr. Product Manager

<div style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px;">Got a case of the Monday’s? Us too. Join your favorite corporate underlings and comedians Sam Doctor and Rosemary Cipriano for an evening of raging against the workplace. Featuring the funniest women in your team meeting, and sometimes one man (for diversity purposes). $10 Entry! February 2026 Big Boss Headliner: Alexis Bradby February 2026 Thought Leaders: SiboKatherine DuffyKarthik RajAlejandra Jimenez Get updates on the agenda @WomenAreWorkingHereComedy </div>

Reserve a spot, tickets can be purchased at the venue or on QED’s website.

Reserve a Spot ($10 ENTRY)

Comedy Show: Women Are Working Here

Q.E.D.

Startup Grind
 is the world’s largest community of startups, founders, innovators and 
builders. We accelerate the tech ecosystem with curated events, expert content, and connections that drive growth.

This is the monthly Startup Grind social mixer. It's a low-key way to 
connect with the NYC tech and startup community
 to explore areas for collaboration or 
find your next co-founder or key hire.

It's a casual happy hour to build connections. 
No pitches. No presentations. No agenda.

This happy hour is for:
Startup Founders & Employees
Technologists, Developers & Tech Workers
Product Managers & Designers
Investors, VCs, Advisors & Mentors

Agenda:
5:00 PM: Happy Hour starts. Come and go as you please.

We're at the brand new 
Time Out Market at Union Square
. It features a selection of the city's best food and drink together under one roof, offering a wide variety of excellent options to choose from throughout the event.

Look for Startup Grind table signs toward the back near the outdoor patio.

University of North Texas

Startup Grind

Executive Director

<a href="http://startupgrind.com/new-york-city" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">Startup Grind</a>&nbsp;is the world’s largest community of startups, founders, innovators and builders. We accelerate the tech ecosystem with curated events, expert content, and connections that drive growth. This is the&nbsp;monthly Startup Grind social mixer. It's a low-key way to&nbsp;connect with the NYC tech and startup community&nbsp;to&nbsp;explore areas for collaboration or&nbsp;find your next co-founder or key hire. It's a casual happy hour to build connections.&nbsp;No pitches. No presentations. No agenda. This happy hour is for:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Startup Founders &amp; Employees</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Technologists, Developers &amp; Tech Workers</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Product Managers &amp; Designers</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Investors, VCs, Advisors &amp; Mentors</li></ul> Agenda:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">5:00 PM: Happy Hour starts. Come and go as you please.</li></ul> We're at the brand new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timeout.com/time-out-market-union-square" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit; background-color: transparent;">Time Out Market at Union Square</a>. It features a selection of the city's best food and drink together under one roof, offering a wide variety of excellent options to choose from throughout the event. Look for Startup Grind table signs toward the back near the outdoor patio.

Tech Happy Hour by Startup Grind

Time Out Market Union Square

Join Tech Gather NYC for our Women in Tech mixer!

This is an awesome opportunity to connect and vibe with women from all corners of the tech universe, whether you’re a developer, founder, product or anything in between, you belong in our [she, her, they] array.

Sign up now to meet like-minded women, share stories, and spark new collaborations.

techgathernyc.com

Founder

Join Tech Gather NYC for our Women in Tech mixer! This is an awesome opportunity to connect and vibe with women from all corners of the tech universe, whether you’re a developer, founder, product or anything in between, you belong in our [she, her, they] array. Sign up now to meet like-minded women, share stories, and spark new collaborations.

Women In Tech Gather Mixer

The Dynamo Room

Ambition is big, resources are tight, and the path rarely looks like a highlight reel. Building in 2026 means shipping through constraints, competing with legacy players, and carrying the emotional load that comes with long runways to traction. The founders who break through turn limits into lenses: they prioritize cleanly, pivot with intention, and cultivate communities that sustain the work between milestones. This conversation centers those in-between moments and turns them into a playbook.

🎯 Why You Should Attend
Turn limited resources into leverage so you can punch above your weight.
Use nimbleness as an edge with speed, focus, and tight feedback loops to outmaneuver bigger teams.
Build a resilient, consistent mindset for entering bigger markets and facing larger competitors.
Grow an accountability circle: mentors and peers who open doors, give honest feedback, and root for your success.
 
🙋 Who You’ll Meet
Founders and creatives with bold visions operating on tight budgets
Early-stage B2B and consumer builders navigating bootstrapped or underfunded realities
Operators and C-level pros who know how to stretch scarce resources
Ecosystem enablers: angels, accelerators, community leaders, service partners, and platform allies
 
🎤 Who’s on the Panel
Coralie Saint-Louis
 - Founder & CEO of Enpak
Coralie Saint-Louis is a journalist-turned-tech entrepreneur with over a decade of experience across broadcast, print, and digital media. She founded Enpak, a certified MWBE media and technology company focused on strengthening local communities through strategic communications, digital marketing, and technology-driven engagement. Inspired by her commitment to credible local news and underrepresented voices, Coralie launched the Enpak app, a platform connecting residents to verified local news, events, and small business resources. As CEO, she blends storytelling, data, and software to combat misinformation, boost civic engagement, strengthen local economies, and help organizations build meaningful community connections across New York State.
 
Kiyeon Nam
 - CEO of B'ZT, LLC.
Kiyeon Nam is an inventor, entrepreneur, and creative strategist based in New York. She is the founder of MESH, a human-centered technology company dedicated to protecting children, seniors, and vulnerable individuals through soft, wearable safety solutions seamlessly integrated into everyday life.
 
Dr. Neva Alexander
 - Leadership Development Consultant at Nevalliance
Dr. Neva Helena Alexander is a TEDx Speaker, leadership development consultant, and international trainer with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She is the Founder of Nevalliance, a certified MWBE leadership development company, and leads the Nevalliance Foundation, dedicated to women’s empowerment and community engagement. Since 2017, she has hosted the International Women’s Conference on Long Island, creating global experiences that help leaders and entrepreneurs grow with clarity, confidence, and strategy.
 
Dawn Kelly
 - CEO of The Nourish Spot
Dawn Kelly is a visionary entrepreneur, community advocate, and Founder & CEO of The Nourish Spot, a wellness café and juice bar rooted in Jamaica, Queens. A former corporate and nonprofit executive with over 30 years of experience, she transitioned from the C-suite to build a purpose-driven, family-owned business centered on health, culture, and economic empowerment. Dawn is a Howard University alumna, a trained journalist, and a multilingual storyteller. She serves on multiple civic and business boards and is widely recognized for championing small businesses, workforce development, and community-based wellness initiatives.
 
Moderator:
Miya Jones
 - Producer & Writer at Shades of Long Island
Miya Jones is an award-winning journalist and media producer with over a decade of experience in storytelling across digital, broadcast, and branded media. She is the senior editor, content producer and executive producer of Shades of Long Island, a production company and media platform that creates high-impact commercials, sizzle reels, and video content for businesses, nonprofits, and organizations. Through Shades of Long Island, she leads creative strategy and production while also overseeing a news platform with 44,000+ monthly views. A Temple University journalism graduate, Miya has worked with News 12, Essence, Newsday, and The Latin Times, blending sharp editorial instincts with modern production storytelling.
 
💬 What We’ll Talk About
Building without a safety net
How resource constraints reshape choices in product, GTM, and hiring, and the tactics that keep you moving.
Burnout, rejection, and quiet resilience
Practical ways to handle constant pitching, slow cycles, and delayed traction while staying effective.
Strategic pivots and survival-mode thinking
Adapting the vision without abandoning it: trigger signals, decision trees, and post-pivot operating plans.
Imposter syndrome and internal pressure
Tools for confidence, boundary setting, and advocating for yourself in rooms built for incumbents.
Trusting the process when progress is slow
Redefining milestones, building feedback loops with customers, and using community to lower CAC and R&D costs.
Capital-efficient growth in 2026
Scrappy distribution, partner-led plays, mini-MVPs, pricing tests, and the metrics that actually guide your next step.
 
🤝 Co-Hosted With
 
Enpak
 connects communities to trusted local news, events, civic updates, and small businesses—helping people stay informed and engaged where they live.

GREY Journal
 – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
 
🤝 Venue Partner
 
Greater Nexus
 is a community-focused coworking space in downtown Jamaica, Queens offering affordable flexible workspaces, offices, meeting rooms, and creative amenities designed to support entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses in Southeast Queens.

⭐ About Ugly Talk:
Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Official Website: 
UglyTalk.com
 
🎥 Get a taste of past Ugly Talk energy:





Ambition is big, resources are tight, and the path rarely looks like a highlight reel. Building in 2026 means shipping through constraints, competing with legacy players, and carrying the emotional load that comes with long runways to traction. The founders who break through turn limits into lenses: they prioritize cleanly, pivot with intention, and cultivate communities that sustain the work between milestones. This conversation centers those in-between moments and turns them into a playbook. <h4>🎯 Why You Should Attend</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Turn limited resources into leverage so you can punch above your weight.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Use nimbleness as an edge with speed, focus, and tight feedback loops to outmaneuver bigger teams.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Build a resilient, consistent mindset for entering bigger markets and facing larger competitors.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Grow an accountability circle: mentors and peers who open doors, give honest feedback, and root for your success.</li></ul>&nbsp;<h4>🙋&nbsp;Who You’ll Meet</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Founders and creatives with bold visions operating on tight budgets</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Early-stage B2B and consumer builders navigating bootstrapped or underfunded realities</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Operators and C-level pros who know how to stretch scarce resources</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Ecosystem enablers: angels, accelerators, community leaders, service partners, and platform allies</li></ul>&nbsp;<h4>🎤&nbsp;Who’s on the Panel</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Sabir-2026-01-06T114717.767-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir 2026 01 06T114717.767" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/coraliesl/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Coralie Saint-Louis</a>&nbsp;- Founder &amp; CEO of EnpakCoralie Saint-Louis is a journalist-turned-tech entrepreneur with over a decade of experience across broadcast, print, and digital media. She founded Enpak, a certified MWBE media and technology company focused on strengthening local communities through strategic communications, digital marketing, and technology-driven engagement. Inspired by her commitment to credible local news and underrepresented voices, Coralie launched the Enpak app, a platform connecting residents to verified local news, events, and small business resources. As CEO, she blends storytelling, data, and software to combat misinformation, boost civic engagement, strengthen local economies, and help organizations build meaningful community connections across New York State.&nbsp;<img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Sabir-2025-12-31T013215.537-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir 2025 12 31T013215.537" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiyeon-nam-6386771/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Kiyeon Nam</a>&nbsp;- CEO of B'ZT, LLC.Kiyeon Nam is an inventor, entrepreneur, and creative strategist based in New York. She is the founder of MESH, a human-centered technology company dedicated to protecting children, seniors, and vulnerable individuals through soft, wearable safety solutions seamlessly integrated into everyday life.&nbsp;<img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Sabir-2025-12-31T013058.731-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir 2025 12 31T013058.731" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drneva?utm_source=share&amp;utm_campaign=share_via&amp;utm_content=profile&amp;utm_medium=android_app" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Dr. Neva Alexander</a>&nbsp;- Leadership Development Consultant at NevallianceDr. Neva Helena Alexander is a TEDx Speaker, leadership development consultant, and international trainer with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She is the Founder of Nevalliance, a certified MWBE leadership development company, and leads the Nevalliance Foundation, dedicated to women’s empowerment and community engagement. Since 2017, she has hosted the International Women’s Conference on Long Island, creating global experiences that help leaders and entrepreneurs grow with clarity, confidence, and strategy.&nbsp;<img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Sabir-2026-01-01T221739.973-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir 2026 01 01T221739.973" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mediarelationsexpert17/?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAAABrSbQB8bSiKozHon11NhPfMp8CLh7LG_Y" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Dawn Kelly</a>&nbsp;- CEO of The Nourish SpotDawn Kelly is a visionary entrepreneur, community advocate, and Founder &amp; CEO of The Nourish Spot, a wellness café and juice bar rooted in Jamaica, Queens. A former corporate and nonprofit executive with over 30 years of experience, she transitioned from the C-suite to build a purpose-driven, family-owned business centered on health, culture, and economic empowerment. Dawn is a Howard University alumna, a trained journalist, and a multilingual storyteller. She serves on multiple civic and business boards and is widely recognized for championing small businesses, workforce development, and community-based wellness initiatives.&nbsp;Moderator:<img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Sabir-2025-12-31T013306.563-300x300.jpg" alt="Sabir 2025 12 31T013306.563" height="300" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/miya-jones-2048749b/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Miya Jones</a>&nbsp;- Producer &amp; Writer at Shades of Long IslandMiya Jones is an award-winning journalist and media producer with over a decade of experience in storytelling across digital, broadcast, and branded media. She is the senior editor, content producer and executive producer of Shades of Long Island, a production company and media platform that creates high-impact commercials, sizzle reels, and video content for businesses, nonprofits, and organizations. Through Shades of Long Island, she leads creative strategy and production while also overseeing a news platform with 44,000+ monthly views. A Temple University journalism graduate, Miya has worked with News 12, Essence, Newsday, and The Latin Times, blending sharp editorial instincts with modern production storytelling.&nbsp;<h4>💬&nbsp;What We’ll Talk About</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Building without a safety net</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">How resource constraints reshape choices in product, GTM, and hiring, and the tactics that keep you moving.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Burnout, rejection, and quiet resilience</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Practical ways to handle constant pitching, slow cycles, and delayed traction while staying effective.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Strategic pivots and survival-mode thinking</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Adapting the vision without abandoning it: trigger signals, decision trees, and post-pivot operating plans.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Imposter syndrome and internal pressure</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Tools for confidence, boundary setting, and advocating for yourself in rooms built for incumbents.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Trusting the process when progress is slow</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Redefining milestones, building feedback loops with customers, and using community to lower CAC and R&amp;D costs.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Capital-efficient growth in 2026</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Scrappy distribution, partner-led plays, mini-MVPs, pricing tests, and the metrics that actually guide your next step.</li></ul>&nbsp;<h4>🤝 Co-Hosted With</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/948eaa64-6df6-4b70-ae47-0e8b0d393a8d-0-2company_logo-Sec-Logo-on-White-Background-2-476e99-1-scaled-e1767671846157-300x110.png" alt="948eaa64 6df6 4b70 ae47 0e8b0d393a8d 0 2company logo Sec Logo on White Background (2) 476e99 (1)" height="110" width="300" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;">&nbsp;<a href="https://enpaksocial.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Enpak</a>&nbsp;connects communities to trusted local news, events, civic updates, and small businesses—helping people stay informed and engaged where they live. <img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Final-with-Margin-and-white-background-300x113.jpg" alt="Final with margin and white background" height="66" width="174" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;"><a href="https://greyjournal.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">GREY Journal</a>&nbsp;– Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).&nbsp;<h4>🤝 Venue Partner</h4><img src="https://greyjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/greater-nexus-logo-1.jpg" alt="Greater nexus logo" height="107" width="250" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block;">&nbsp;<a href="https://thegreaternexus.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">Greater Nexus</a>&nbsp;is a community-focused coworking space in downtown Jamaica, Queens offering affordable flexible workspaces, offices, meeting rooms, and creative amenities designed to support entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses in Southeast Queens. <h4>⭐ About Ugly Talk:</h4>Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.Official Website:&nbsp;<a href="http://uglytalk.com/?__hstc=149698537.02d3a3067355aeed59c3216c338d3fd4.1759237887972.1767714748692.1767723088106.162&amp;__hssc=149698537.2.1767723088106&amp;__hsfp=2731758795" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(254, 12, 1);">UglyTalk.com</a>&nbsp;<h4>🎥 Get a taste of past Ugly Talk energy:</h4><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7333583432737796098?compact=1" height="399" width="504"></iframe> <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7336390716870299648?compact=1" height="399" width="504"></iframe> <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7311125345984733184?compact=1" height="399" width="504"></iframe> <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/moMfGsBPjpE" height="557" width="990"></iframe>

Ugly Talk: Small Fish, Big Pond

Invite & approval only: 
Founders who have 
$10M–100M+ in revenue or funding
. 

A complimentary exquisite dinner will be provided at an upscale private dining room. It will be a great time – expect to come away with new learnings, impactful connections, inspiring conversations with like-minded founders and funders, and a full stomach!

We will have a private room to ourselves, and individually-assigned seating using our proprietary AI algorithms. There will also be a seat change and ample time for mingling before & after dinner, so you'll get to know everyone in the room!

You are the cheerleader who believes in everyone’s potential, celebrating every milestone with genuine excitement

The Nurturer/Cheerleader

National University of Singapore

Supermomos

Assistant General Manager, New York

You are the social spark who knows everyone, everywhere, and loves connecting people like pieces of a puzzle

The Connector/Social Butterfly

The Wharton School

Co-Founder & CEO

Baruch College

Strategic Programs Lead

Assistant General Manager

Invite &amp; approval only:&nbsp;Founders who have&nbsp;$10M–100M+ in revenue or funding.&nbsp; A complimentary exquisite dinner will be provided at an upscale private dining room. It will be a great time – expect to come away with new learnings, impactful connections, inspiring conversations with like-minded founders and funders, and a full stomach! We will have a private room to ourselves, and individually-assigned seating using our proprietary AI algorithms. There will also be a seat change and ample time for mingling before &amp; after dinner, so you'll get to know everyone in the room!

Khosla Ventures is a private venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2004 by Vinod Khosla. The firm focuses on early-stage and growth-stage investments in innovative technologies across various sectors, including software, healthcare, energy, clean technology, and construction technology. With over $13 billion in assets, Khosla Ventures supports entrepreneurs who are developing impactful, technology-driven companies that address significant societal and environmental challenges.

Partner

January Private Founders Dinner in NYC feat. Khosla Ventures ($15B+ AUM, Backed OpenAI & Doordash)

Invite & Approval: Founders & VCs only

Join us for an inspiring masterclass on navigating product innovation and strategic growth. This session will delve into the journey of 0 to 1, discussing product-market-fit, how to get to your first $1M in revenue/ ARR, and how to secure funding from VCs in today's market.

This event is part of our Female Founders & Funders series where we feature female founders & VCs as speakers. Attendees are founders and funders of 
all genders
.

Invite &amp; Approval: Founders &amp; VCs only Join us for an inspiring masterclass on navigating product innovation and strategic growth. This session will delve into the journey of 0 to 1, discussing product-market-fit, how to get to your first $1M in revenue/ ARR, and how to secure funding from VCs in today's market. This event is part of our Female Founders &amp; Funders series where we feature female founders &amp; VCs as speakers. Attendees are founders and funders of all genders.

Atomic builds critical financial infrastructure that allows fintechs, banks, and consumer-facing companies to offer engaging investing experiences to their customers in a frictionless way. 

Investment advice is provided by Atomic Invest LLC, an SEC-registered Investment Adviser. Brokerage services are provided by Atomic Brokerage LLC, FINRA member.

Co-Founder

Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE) is a growth equity firm that invests $10-$100 million in capital efficient, founder owned, software, payments, and marketplace companies. We've invested $4B+ across 100+ companies since inception.

Investing Partner and Board Member

January Founders & VCs Masterclass & Mixer feat. Investor at Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE) and Co-Founder of Atomic Invest ($55M+ raised)

Silicon Valley obsesses over AI agents for office workflows. But 70% of the U.S. workforce doesn't sit at a desk.

While most AI startups build LLM wrappers, 
Rachael Nemeth
 architected an AI-native engine for the most underserved segment of the economy: 
frontline workers.

Before that, Rachael spent 13 years in NYC hospitality (
including 
Union Square Hospitality Group
) before writing a single line of code. 

Now, as Co-founder and CEO of 
Opus
, she's using 
Agentic AI to solve the $100B+ training problem
 for workers juggling three jobs, subway commutes, and zero corporate email.

This is a masterclass in usable architecture and a high-stakes pivot that captured 50,000 users in a few weeks during the global pandemic.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
The Agentic Shift: 
How the Opus AI assistant delivers operational answers in 9 seconds.
Neural Translation at Scale:
 Automating content localization into 100+ languages with 99% accuracy.
Closing the Feedback Loop:
 Converting complaints into targeted training triggers that reduce issues by 60% in 30 days.
When to Burn the Boats: 
Why Rachael walked away from a growing business in March 2020 to build a venture-scale AI powerhouse.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Engineering Leads:
 Design AI-native systems for thin clients in zero-Wi-Fi, high-churn environments.
Product Managers:
 Move beyond theoretical AI to see real-time user data integrated into automated training loops.
Early-Stage Founders:
 Navigate pivots and build defensible moats from deep domain expertise.
Investors: 
Understand why the hidden 70% of the workforce is the next multi-billion dollar AI frontier.

Tickets for this event include food and drinks
, as well as exclusive access to this founder who will 
show you how to build a defensible, high-growth business 
by solving the gritty operational problems that standard tech often misses.

You'll also meet dozens of other high-performing entrepreneurs who are creating their next big thing. 
Seriously, it's some of the best founder networking in the city.

Getting a ticket guarantees admission. 
No waitlisting.

AGENDA
6:00 PM: Networking, Food & Drinks
7:00 PM: Fireside Chat with Rachael Nemeth
8:00 PM: Meet the Speaker

And don't miss our other monthly tech events.
 They are great opportunities for 
builders, founders, and operators
 to network with each other to share best practices and find new resources to grow your startup the right way. 

Silicon Valley obsesses over AI agents for office workflows. But 70% of the U.S. workforce doesn't sit at a desk. While most AI startups build LLM wrappers, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-nemeth/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 41, 69); background-color: transparent;">Rachael Nemeth</a> architected an AI-native engine for the most underserved segment of the economy: frontline workers. Before that, Rachael spent 13 years in NYC hospitality (including <a href="https://www.ushg.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 41, 69); background-color: transparent;">Union Square Hospitality Group</a>) before writing a single line of code.&nbsp; Now, as Co-founder and CEO of <a href="http://opus.so/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 41, 69); background-color: transparent;">Opus</a>, she's using Agentic AI to solve the $100B+ training problem for workers juggling three jobs, subway commutes, and zero corporate email. This is a masterclass in usable architecture and a high-stakes pivot that captured 50,000 users in a few weeks during the global pandemic. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">The Agentic Shift: How the Opus AI assistant delivers operational answers in 9 seconds.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Neural Translation at Scale: Automating content localization into 100+ languages with 99% accuracy.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Closing the Feedback Loop: Converting complaints into targeted training triggers that reduce issues by 60% in 30 days.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">When to Burn the Boats: Why Rachael walked away from a growing business in March 2020 to build a venture-scale AI powerhouse.</li></ul> WHO SHOULD ATTEND<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Engineering Leads: Design AI-native systems for thin clients in zero-Wi-Fi, high-churn environments.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Product Managers: Move beyond theoretical AI to see real-time user data integrated into automated training loops.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Early-Stage Founders: Navigate pivots and build defensible moats from deep domain expertise.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Investors: Understand why the hidden 70% of the workforce is the next multi-billion dollar AI frontier.</li></ul> Tickets for this event include food and drinks, as well as exclusive access to this founder who will show you how to build a defensible, high-growth business by solving the gritty operational problems that standard tech often misses. You'll also meet dozens of other high-performing entrepreneurs who are creating their next big thing. Seriously, it's some of the best founder networking in the city. Getting a ticket guarantees admission. No waitlisting. AGENDA<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">6:00 PM: Networking, Food &amp; Drinks</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">7:00 PM: Fireside Chat with Rachael Nemeth</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">8:00 PM: Meet the Speaker</li></ul> And don't miss our other monthly tech events. They are great opportunities for builders, founders, and operators to network with each other to share best practices and find new resources to grow your startup the right way.

Agentic AI in the Trenches: Scaling Intelligence for the Real World

The Yard: Herald Square Coworking Office Space Manhattan

The AI Briefing is a new recurring 
AI deep-dive for decision-makers
.

Each month, we select one high-signal industry report, circulate it in advance, and meet to cut through the noise.

This Month’s Source:
 
The State of Enterprise AI
 (
OpenAI 2025
)

This is a look under the hood of how 1 million+ businesses are actually using GPT-4 and o1. The data reveals a shift: enterprises are moving from chatting to doing, with reasoning token usage up 320x and agentic workflows finally hitting production.

The Mission: 
Bridge the gap between strategy and execution. We'll dissect the data to answer one question: What does the Agentic Enterprise actually look like in 2025?

📊 The Format:
10-Minute Executive Download:
 A rapid-fire summary of the report’s critical metrics (
e.g., the 8x growth in message volume and the rise of non-technical coding
).
Cross-Pollinated Debate: 
Founders share what they are shipping; Executives share what they are actually deploying (
and blocking
).
Operational Reality Check:
 We’ll discuss the Shadow AI reality: 75% of workers are completing tasks they previously couldn't do. And how IT is scrambling to govern it.

🤝 Who Should Attend:
Enterprise Executives: 
Benchmark your adoption curve. Are you in the AI Leader bracket seeing 1.7x revenue growth, or falling behind?
Founders & Builders: 
Stop guessing what enterprises want. See the exact use cases (
IT, Marketing, HR
) that are scaling right now.
Operators: 
Learn how non-technical teams are using AI to write code and automate their own workflows.

📍 Where: 
Location on approval 🗓️ 
When:
 Friday, January 23rd | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

📬 The Prep: 
This is a working session, not a lecture. Review the report 
here
. Skim the executive summary. Bring your perspective.

RSVP to be considered. Strictly limited capacity to ensure high-quality dialogue.

The AI Briefing is a new recurring AI deep-dive for decision-makers. Each month, we select one high-signal industry report, circulate it in advance, and meet to cut through the noise. This Month’s Source: <a href="https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/7ef17d82-96bf-4dd1-9df2-228f7f377a29/the-state-of-enterprise-ai_2025-report.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The State of Enterprise AI</a>&nbsp;(OpenAI 2025) This is a look under the hood of how 1 million+ businesses are actually using GPT-4 and o1. The data reveals a shift: enterprises are moving from chatting to doing, with reasoning token usage up 320x and agentic workflows finally hitting production. The Mission: Bridge the gap between strategy and execution. We'll dissect the data to answer one question: What does the Agentic Enterprise actually look like in 2025? 📊 The Format:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">10-Minute Executive Download: A rapid-fire summary of the report’s critical metrics (e.g., the 8x growth in message volume and the rise of non-technical coding).</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Cross-Pollinated Debate: Founders share what they are shipping; Executives share what they are actually deploying (and blocking).</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Operational Reality Check: We’ll discuss the Shadow AI reality: 75% of workers are completing tasks they previously couldn't do. And how IT is scrambling to govern it.</li></ul> 🤝 Who Should Attend:<ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Enterprise Executives: Benchmark your adoption curve. Are you in the AI Leader bracket seeing 1.7x revenue growth, or falling behind?</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Founders &amp; Builders: Stop guessing what enterprises want. See the exact use cases (IT, Marketing, HR) that are scaling right now.</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Operators: Learn how non-technical teams are using AI to write code and automate their own workflows.</li></ul> 📍 Where: Location on approval&nbsp;🗓️ When: Friday, January 23rd | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM 📬 The Prep: This is a working session, not a lecture. Review the report <a href="https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/7ef17d82-96bf-4dd1-9df2-228f7f377a29/the-state-of-enterprise-ai_2025-report.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. Skim the executive summary. Bring your perspective. RSVP to be considered. Strictly limited capacity to ensure high-quality dialogue.

The AI Briefing by Startup Grind

Invite & approval only: Founders and VCs with $500k-$10M+ in revenue or funding 

Make meaningful connections with other like-minded founders and VCs over a complimentary full, hearty breakfast. Expect a morning filled with new learnings, curated connections, and impactful conversations that will leave you inspired (and well-fed!). 

We will have a short panel session and Q&A with our speakers. You’ll have the chance to ask them questions and gain valuable insights.

We’ll have a private room reserved exclusively for this event, where discussions will be facilitated at your table over breakfast. There will also be ample time to network and meet other Founders and VCs in attendance. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and connect with peers in an intimate, engaging environment!

Invite &amp; approval only: Founders and VCs with $500k-$10M+ in revenue or funding&nbsp; Make meaningful connections with other like-minded founders and VCs over a complimentary full, hearty breakfast. Expect a morning filled with new learnings, curated connections, and impactful conversations that will leave you inspired (and well-fed!).&nbsp; We will have a short panel session and Q&amp;A with our speakers. You’ll have the chance to ask them questions and gain valuable insights. We’ll have a private room reserved exclusively for this event, where discussions will be facilitated at your table over breakfast. There will also be ample time to network and meet other Founders and VCs in attendance. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and connect with peers in an intimate, engaging environment!

Percent is unlocking private credit by enabling unprecedented access, liquidity and data for all market participants. Through its digital primary issuance and secondary markets platform, Percent empowers all deal counterparties with a unified environment to source, structure, distribute, service and trade private credit assets. Founded in 2018, Percent has set the market standard for a historically fragmented asset class, powering billions in primary and secondary transaction volume in a multi-trillion-dollar private credit industry.

645 Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that partners with exceptional founders who are building iconic companies. We manage $550m AUM, and we invest at the Seed and Series A stages and leverage our Voyager software platform to enable our Success team and Connected Network to help founders scale to the growth stage. Select portfolio companies that have reached the growth stage include Iterable, Goldbelly, Resident, Eden Health, FiscalNote, and Squire.

We invest in four main areas: SaaS for the Second Wave, Citizen Professionals, The Engineering Value Chain Revolution, and Personalized Consumer Applications.

Managing Partner and Co-Founder

January Private Founders Breakfast in NYC feat. Managing Partner & Co-Founder of 645 Ventures ($550M AUM) and
Founder & CEO of Percent ($48M+ Raised)

Overview
Join us for an evening exploring the hidden idols shaping the tech industry and how we can respond.
We live in an age where technology promises to solve our biggest problems, but what happens when the tools we build start to shape us more than we shape them?
On Wednesday, January 21, Joshua Chu (Chief of Staff / VP of Generosity at FaithTech) will speak about the idols that quietly compete for our attention, ambition, and allegiance in the tech world.
What to Expect:
An honest look at the cultural forces driving innovation
A time to understand how we can live and approach technology differently
Practical insights for technologists, founders, and entrepreneurs navigating faith & work
Whether you're building a startup, working at a tech giant, or curious about the intersection of faith and technology, this is a space to ask hard questions and connect with others who are working with the same things.
Event Details:
📅 Wednesday, January 21, 2026
⏰ 6:15–7:45pm (Doors at 6:00pm)
📍 7 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019 (Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church)
🍿 Light food will be provided
Come ready to think deeply, connect authentically, and leave with a clearer sense of what it means to build with a redemptive purpose.

Harvard University

Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLP

<h2>Overview</h2>Join us for an evening exploring the hidden idols shaping the tech industry and how we can respond.We live in an age where technology promises to solve our biggest problems, but what happens when the tools we build start to shape us more than we shape them?On&nbsp;Wednesday, January 21,&nbsp;Joshua Chu&nbsp;(Chief of Staff / VP of Generosity at FaithTech) will speak about the idols that quietly compete for our attention, ambition, and allegiance in the tech world.<h4>What to Expect:</h4><ul style="margin: 0px;"><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">An honest look at the cultural forces driving innovation</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">A time to understand how we can live and approach technology differently</li><li style="padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px;">Practical insights for technologists, founders, and entrepreneurs navigating faith &amp; work</li></ul>Whether you're building a startup, working at a tech giant, or curious about the intersection of faith and technology, this is a space to ask hard questions and connect with others who are working with the same things.<h4>Event Details:</h4>📅 Wednesday, January 21, 2026⏰ 6:15–7:45pm&nbsp;(Doors at 6:00pm)📍 7 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019 (Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church)🍿 Light food will be providedCome ready to think deeply, connect authentically, and leave with a clearer sense of what it means to build with a redemptive purpose.

The Idols of the Tech Industry

Special Thanks to the Event Sponsor: 
ICAA
Event Host: 
Sunday Studio
Watercolor Art Supply: 
Sketch Box

​🎨 Watercolor Painting Workshop — Create, Relax, and Bring Art Home （ beginners friendly, bring the watercolor set home with you )

​📍 Midtown Manhattan
Room 2-4
134 W 29th St floor 2, New York, NY 10001, USA

​🗓 Sunday, January 18, 2026
​🕑 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

​Step into a world of color and calm in the heart of New York City! Whether you’ve never held a paintbrush or already love to paint, our Watercolor Painting Workshop is the perfect creative escape.

​Under the guidance of professional instructors, you’ll learn essential watercolor techniques — blending colors, layering washes, and creating soft, dreamy textures. Our teaching process is friendly, structured, and designed for absolute beginners.

​✨ What’s included:
​All painting materials provided — just bring yourself!
​Step-by-step guidance from professional artists
​A relaxed and inspiring atmosphere
​A complete watercolor tool set to take home, so you can keep painting long after the class ends

​No experience needed — just curiosity and a love for creativity. Come enjoy a mindful afternoon surrounded by color, art, and good vibes.

​Reserve your spot now — seats are limited!

Pratt

Pratt Institute

Interior Designer

Special Thanks to the Event Sponsor: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/icaassociation_?igsh=MTdiN2pmY2Yyemhxeg==" title="">ICAA</a><div>Event Host: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sundaystudio___?igsh=MXZpZ2x0bzI5aDhnaQ==" title="">Sunday Studio</a></div><div>Watercolor Art Supply: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/getsketchbox?igsh=c2Y4Z285eWtrZzBm" title="">Sketch Box</a></div><div> </div><div>​🎨 Watercolor Painting Workshop — Create, Relax, and Bring Art Home （ beginners friendly, bring the watercolor set home with you )</div><div> </div><div>​📍 Midtown Manhattan</div><div>Room 2-4</div><div>134 W 29th St floor 2, New York, NY 10001, USA</div><div> </div><div>​🗓 Sunday, January 18, 2026</div><div>​🕑 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM</div><div> </div><div>​Step into a world of color and calm in the heart of New York City! Whether you’ve never held a paintbrush or already love to paint, our Watercolor Painting Workshop is the perfect creative escape.</div><div> </div><div>​Under the guidance of professional instructors, you’ll learn essential watercolor techniques — blending colors, layering washes, and creating soft, dreamy textures. Our teaching process is friendly, structured, and designed for absolute beginners.</div><div> </div><div>​✨ What’s included:</div><div>​All painting materials provided — just bring yourself!</div><div>​Step-by-step guidance from professional artists</div><div>​A relaxed and inspiring atmosphere</div><div>​A complete watercolor tool set to take home, so you can keep painting long after the class ends</div><div> </div><div>​No experience needed — just curiosity and a love for creativity. Come enjoy a mindful afternoon surrounded by color, art, and good vibes.</div><div> </div><div>​Reserve your spot now — seats are limited!</div>

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