Showcase Presentation and Fireside Chat: Pre-Seed Fundraising

NEF Startup Community Champion Award

This award recognizes two individuals who have made a huge positive impact by devoting their time and energy to building a robust startup community in our region and who have directly and indirectly fostered the growth of numerous entrepreneurs. The NEF Startup Community Champion award for 2024 goes to Alexa and Johnnie Turnage, Co-Founders of Black Tech Saturdays. 

Black Tech Saturdays (BTS) is an inclusive movement that is not just reshaping tech, but fundamentally shifting the trajectory of Black, Brown, and underestimated founders in America. What began as a single event has transformed into a nationwide force, drawing nearly 20,000 visitors across six states and generating over $30 million in economic impact through venture capital raised, cumulative job salaries, business contracts, and company revenues. Powerhouse husband-and-wife Alexa and Johnnie have attracted new resources, built bridges where barriers once stood, and been recognized by the Governor, the Mayor of Detroit, and countless leaders as one of the most significant forces in Michigan’s innovation economy. 

Showcase Presentation

Krishnan Kandasamy and ZenHedge. ZenHedge offers peace of mind by protecting Shippers from the financial impact of tender rejection, freight rate volatility, and other supply chain disruptions - risks that were once hard to “hedge” against. 

Krishnan Kandasamy has held leadership roles in risk management, business development, product innovation, marketing, and finance in energy and insurance space, and his academic training includes degrees in chemical and environmental engineering and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Krishnan is a licensed Property & Casualty (P&C) and Surplus Lines insurance producer in Michigan, New Jersey, South Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  Krishnan is also the founder of Ann Arbor FinTech - A meetup group that has grown to 650+ members interested in learning about the latest developments in the Finance + Technology space. 

Pre-Seed Fundraising: Strategies for Success

NEF is happy to present an engaging fireside chat featuring two early-stage investors as they discuss what it takes for startups to be truly investment-ready. This conversation will provide founders with critical insights into the pre-seed fundraising journey, covering:

• The evolving pre-seed investment landscape in Michigan and beyond
• Key indicators that signal investor readiness
• Common fundraising pitfalls and how to avoid them
• Valuation strategies and managing investor feedback
• How founders can turn investor rejection into future opportunities

This session will be valuable for both founders preparing to raise capital and investors looking to support high-potential startups. We are looking forward to an insightful discussion and the opportunity to exchange perspectives on early-stage investing!

Guests

Doron York of City Side Ventures. A Tel Aviv-born entrepreneur, Doron York has been building and scaling tech companies since his early 20s, achieving multiple successful exits. With deep expertise in turning vision into business reality, he has coached Fortune 100 executives and worked with over 200 startups worldwide. His intrapreneurship systems have driven breakthrough growth, with clients reporting significant revenue and market share increases. As former Navy SEAL officer, Doron applies high-performance leadership principles to business, and as dedicated Michigander for 32 years, he is committed to making Michigan a global tech hub.

Other guests to be announced soon!

Networking

Come join us in person to enjoy food and drink and conversation with members of the local startup community.

Featured Sponsor

TBA