(Dates for these events are being finalized.)

Early Adopters & Beyond

Customer Acquisition and Marketing

September 16, 2008

Topics Include

  • Generating an early base of passionate adopters and evangelists
  • Ramping up and expanding your business into the broader market
  • Defining “what you stand for” and building a defensible brand without jumping the shark
  • Creative marketing tactics for a Web- and social media-rich world

Panelists

  • Ethan Beard, Director of Business Development, Facebook
  • Robert T. Coneybeer, Managing Director, Shasta Ventures
  • Akash Garg, CTO and Co-Founder , Hi5
  • Philip J. Kaplan, CEO and President, AdBrite
  • Scott Raney, General Partner, Redpoint Ventures

Winning in a Crowded Market

Competitive Strategy

October 21, 2008
  • Competitive strategies & tactics (offensive vs. defensive…e.g., first mover vs. fast follower)
  • Dealing with copy cats, both domestic and international
  • Standing out in a crowded space when resources are limited
  • Creative competitive research, analysis and tracking

Panelists

  • Jonathan Abrams, Founder & CEO, Socializr
  • Rahim Fazal, CEO, Involver
  • Adriana Gascoigne, Director of Corporate Communications, hi5
  • Mike Speiser, Managing Director, Sutter Hill Ventures
  • George Zachary, Partner, Charles River Ventures

From Founders to the First 50: Managing and Growing a Superstar Team

Talent & Team

December 2008
  • Expectations and the evolution of a Founder’s role as the business grows
  • Becoming a magnet for top talent (especially on a limited budget)
  • The role of recruiters, consultants, contractors and outsourcing
  • Setting and maintaining a strong company culture

Panelists

  • Bryce Roberts, Managing Director, O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures (OATV)'
  • Max Shapiro, People Connect Staffing
  • Sven Strohband , Partner, Mohr Davidow Ventures (MDV)
  • Max Ventilla, Founder, The Mechanical Zoo

Each event will be held in the evening (6 to 9 pm) at Pivotal Labs headquarters in downtown San Francisco. Beer, wine, and light appetizers will be served. The format is an hour of networking, followed by a moderated panel discussion and Q&A with VCs and successful entrepreneurs, followed by more networking.


There is no charge to attend, but space is limited and by invite only. Attendance is restricted to founders and executives of web startups.