01
Operational Excellence
Improve every decision you make by integrating the experiences of your peers. Solve problems faster and achieve better operational results.
Connect, collaborate, and conquer business challenges together!
A COMMUNITY EXCLUSIVELY FOR VENTURE-
SCALE FOUNDERS
Where elite founders spend the most impactful hour of their week
FounderNexus connects you with other talented, experienced Founders in your area and around the world. Intended for ALL Founders, regardless of role. We help you build your team, get immediate advice on current challenges, and learn from other successful entrepreneurs.
This community is for established Founders looking to expand their business, as well as experienced Founders looking to start something new.
Our promise: TRIPLE your odds of success
Where experienced founders go to up their game
I can say with confidence that I get far more value from FounderNexus than the cost of the membership, and I'm not even taking full advantage! This community is going to be an important part of my journey as I continue building and growing my company.
Steve Tout
founder, Identient
I really loved how welcoming the vibe felt from the moment I arrived.
Katrina Romatowski
founder, reSpace
It was awesome
Edan Shahar
founder, Wild Zebra
The event was great! Highlight: Encouragement of diverse viewpoints and good founder mix
Darian Parrish
founder, PwrOn
I think the breakout sessions are a loose but useful way to get people talking about challenges and resolutions.
Mark Fiebig
founder, Payscore
I was initially hesitant to join yet another group as there is no shortage of people claiming to help entrepreneurs, but Court Lorenzini and FounderNexus are the real deal. Any serious founder will benefit immensely from joining FounderNexus.
Jasper Kuria
co-founder, ConversionMagic
Great event, I learned a lot! Looking forward to next one
Shama Keskar
founder, Mudita Studios
FounderNexus fills a gap for entrepreneurs by complementing traditional incubator and early investment programs with a high-quality peer founder network.
Bob Lach
founder, Lightbridge Solutions
I also felt a sense of real community for the first time as a founder. You're all onto something special here!
Elias DeFaria
co-founder, SDF Labs
This was a fast track to relevant experience/advice in a room where you hold nothing back.
Nicole Resch
Co-founder, Imperative
I have attended events nationwide and joined so-called “MasterMind” groups, but nothing comes close to the network and support I have experienced at FounderNexus.
Arthur Baranovskiy
co-founder, ARY Engineering
What is
FounderNexus?
FounderNexus is an engaged community of experienced Founders dedicated to helping each other excel throughout their Founder’s journey. We provide the opportunity and tools to connect, learn, and succeed together.
This community turns the entrepreneurial journey into a collective endeavor, where shared knowledge and experience become key drivers of individual and communal success.
02
Challenge Validation
Being a founder is really hard! Find support and experience to make your own journey less challenging and lonely.
03
concept Development
Improve your products, operations and management techniques by hearing the results of what others have tried.
04
Team Building
Add founder-level talent to your existing team, or find the ideal co-founder for your next venture. FounderNexus makes sure you find the best possible fit.
Upcoming events
Upcoming events
Upcoming events
Upcoming events
Upcoming events
Upcoming events
Upcoming events
Upcoming events
expert event
From SAFEs to Preferred Stock: A Founder's Guide to Fundraising Instruments with Becki Degraw, Wilson Sonsini
09
February
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Zoom
Becki DeGraw, Wilson Sonsini
From SAFEs to Preferred Stock: A Founder's Guide to Fundraising Instruments
Raising capital? Let's talk about what you're actually signing.
When you're fundraising, the documents matter—and not just the valuation. The difference between a SAFE, a convertible note, and preferred stock can reshape your cap table, your control, and your future funding rounds. Most founders navigate these decisions with incomplete information and a lot of anxiety.
This Expert Session is different. You'll get direct access to Becki DeGraw, Partner at Wilson Sonsini, one of the leading startup law firms in the world. Her wheelhouse is exactly this: the nitty-gritty of fundraising instruments and how they actually work.
This isn't a lecture. It's a small group Q&A where you bring your real questions—whether you're deciding between a SAFE and a note, trying to understand dilution, or figuring out what preferred stock terms actually mean for your company. Becki will walk you through the landscape and help you make informed decisions about the equity structures that matter most right now.
Innovator's Edge
Becki DeGraw practices corporate and securities law in the San Francisco office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and is a co-leader of the firm's emerging companies practice. She serves as outside general counsel and advises technology and growth companies at all stages of development. Becki works closely with entrepreneurs to guide them through initial company formation issues, day-to-day corporate governance matters, financing transactions, and liquidity events.
Becki has extensive experience counseling investors of all sizes and stages of investment, including accelerators, family offices, venture funds, and corporate strategic investment arms. As a result, she has full coverage of the marketplace, from seed stage through growth equity. In addition, Becki has spearheaded Wilson Sonsini's specialized investor-focused team in this practice area.
upgrade your approach with our community
Experience transformative knowledge exchange and problem-solving through our curated group discussions. We use proprietary algorithms to ensure you're matched with the perfect peers for maximum insight and impact.
expert event
US Expansion for UK/EU Tech Companies: Navigating Capital, Compliance, and Competition (For London founders with > $2M ARR))
10
February
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Zoom
Daniel Glazer, Wilson Sonsini
For many UK/EU tech companies, the US offers an opportunity to access increased capital, commercial opportunities, and organizational rigor. However, successfully competing with US companies in their home market requires a willingness to re-evaluate many aspects of a UK/EU tech business. In this facilitated Q&A session led by Daniel Glazer, London Office Managing Partner and US Expansion Lead at Silicon Valley-headquartered Wilson Sonsini, we will discuss what it takes for a UK/EU tech company to compete and win in the US and to meet the expectations of US investors, commercial partners, employees, and acquirors.
Topics may include:
- When should we look to raise money from US VCs?
- How do US VC expectations differ from those of UK/EU VCs?
- Do US VCs require a US company to fund a UK/EU business?
- When is the right time to establish a US subsidiary and US-based operations?
- Does UK/EU management need to move to the US?
- Where is the best place to set up in the States?
Founder Blind Spots: The Psychology of Outliers
18
February
12:00 AM - 3:00 AM
San Francisco, CA
David Hersh
Founder Blind Spots: The Psychology of Outliers
Why This Matters
You've built something remarkable. You've scaled revenue, hired great teams, and you're approaching or thinking about an exit. But here's what most founders don't talk about: roughly 90% of the critical mistakes made during and after exits aren't about strategy or market dynamics—they're psychological.
Identity crises. Hero complexes. The inability to let go. The shock of sudden wealth. The existential void that comes after the finish line.
These aren't character flaws. They're predictable psychological patterns that derail even the most successful founders—and they're preventable.
What You'll Learn
Join Dave Hersh, founder and former CEO of Jive Software (IPO 2011, $60M+ revenue) and current executive coach and venture investor, as he breaks down:
- The psychological blind spots that cause founders to fumble in the final stretch before exit
- The post-exit identity crisis that catches 70% of founders off guard—and how to navigate it
- The exit wound: why the moment after you "win" is when you're most vulnerable
- Practical frameworks to protect your mental health, your relationships, and your next chapter—whether that's inside or outside your company
Dave has coached dozens of founders through exits and witnessed the patterns firsthand. He's also lived them. After taking Jive public, he spent 10 years in an existential crisis before achieving real clarity. He's here to help you skip that part.
Who Should Attend
- Series A/B founders thinking about or actively preparing for exit
- Founders who've hit product-market fit and are scaling fast
event attendance and Club admission
We select club members based on a number of different experiential aspects. Everyone must complete the application process to qualify for participation.
Application process:
01
Submit your application.
We curate event attendance based on a standard application process. You must be selected to attend an event. Additional screening is required to join the organization.
02
Qualify for attendance.
All applications will be reviewed for proper community fit. Applicants with no prior experience as Founders, and service providers (lawyers, accountants, etc.) will be deferred to a future date.
03
Receive invitation.
You will receive an invitation to attend an event once your application has been reviewed. Event attendance does not guarantee future club admission.
Candidate requirements:
01
1+ startup as a Founder
Co-Founded at least 1 company
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3+ years as a founder
Prior experience as a venture-scale founder
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Successfully raised outside capital
Prior experience raising capital from angels or VC
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Building a venture-scale business
Business targeting over $100M ARR
Interested in starting a FounderNexus chapter in your area?
If you're an experienced venture-scale founder that's passionate about growing your local entrepreneurial community and likes being at the center of things, we'd love to connect. We've got everything you need to get a local chapter started.