Curated, one-on-one pitch sessions between selected startups and investors.
Think of it like “business speed-dating,” a structured networking event format where participants have a series of short, timed meetings with potential business connections. The primary goal is to quickly determine if there are opportunities for investment, collaboration, partnership, or mutual benefit.

Depending on the specific event, Lightning Rounds are either in-person or virtual. Lightning Rounds are intimate, one-on-one settings where the startup pitches for about five minutes and then engages in brief 10-15 minute conversations before moving on to the next pitch. Lightning Round moderators give countdown warnings and indicate when it's time to switch.

Startup founders, Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists, and sometimes corporations looking to expand their portfolio or explore new business opportunities.

HAVE A FIVE-MINUTE PITCH (with a slide deck) READY TO PRESENT! If the meeting list is provided to you ahead of time, research the individuals and firms you're meeting with. Practice a concise elevator pitch about your business, bring business cards, and prepare specific questions that can help identify synergies quickly.

A pitch deck, Executive Summary, business cards, a notepad and pen for taking quick notes, any marketing collateral that might be relevant, and a positive, open-minded attitude.

Start with a brief introduction of who you are and what you do, quickly share your value proposition, ask relevant questions to understand the other person's needs and interests, and identify next steps if there's a potential match. Keep your pitch concise (five minutes max) to make sure you have enough time for discussion afterwards.

Review your notes, send a personalized follow-up email (with your executive summary and pitch deck attached) to each person you met, reiterate key points from your conversation, and propose a plan for further discussion if applicable. Ideally, follow up within 24-48 hours while the meeting is still fresh in both parties' minds. Timely follow-up demonstrates professionalism and interest.

Be punctual, stick to the time limits to respect all participants, listen actively, avoid dominating the conversation, and be clear and concise in your communication.

If you’re fundraising, the benefit is potential investment. Other benefits are efficiently meeting multiple potential contacts in a short amount of time, quick assessment of opportunities, practicing and refining your networking and pitching skills, and broadening your professional network.

The short meeting times can feel rushed, it might be difficult to make meaningful connections with everyone, and it requires strong preparation and quick thinking. Despite these challenges that we are well aware of, Lightning Rounds are purposefully short so that we can fit as many meetings for you in as short a time as possible. The goal is for you to schedule additional time with anyone who resonates with your pitch so you can move the conversation forward more fully at a later date.

No! We will never charge startups to pitch.

We typically recommend business casual, but we encourage you to dress in whatever you feel most comfortable in; we've seen attendees in VC casual, business professional, and lots of company swag!