Category: Presentations

  • Teaching the IREX Young Leaders of the Americas VC Funding Seminar

    Teaching the IREX Young Leaders of the Americas VC Funding Seminar

    Today I served as the principal VC educator for a seminar with Blue Mesa Ventures, guiding 120 Central and South American entrepreneurs. The seminar, part of a U.S. Department of State-funded IREX fellowship, covered U.S. venture positioning, engagement strategies with VC firms, typical investor inquiries, and business differentiation.

  • Why I Fly – Ignite Denver 39

    Why I Fly – Ignite Denver 39

    At Ignite Denver 39, a speaker shared insights into solo flying single-engine aircraft, emphasizing unexpected reasons behind this choice. The fast-paced presentation involved a 5-minute slot, 20 automatically advancing slides, and gratitude expressed to the production team and fellow speakers.

  • Teaching the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Startup Investor Pitch Workshop

    Teaching the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Startup Investor Pitch Workshop

    Today, I led a Startup Investor Pitch Workshop for the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative alongside entrepreneurs Don Novak and Danny Effron. During a three-hour session, we coached 12 entrepreneurs from the Americas on their pitches, covering topics like storytelling, value proposition, and handling rejection. The workshop included interactive individual and group sessions, culminating…

  • Judging the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative Fellowship Program Eastern European Startup Pitches

    Judging the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative Fellowship Program Eastern European Startup Pitches

    This week I served as a lead judge at the US State Department’s YTILI Fellowship Program Eastern European startup pitch event. I observed impressive pitches by entrepreneurs from 36 countries. The program provides intensive entrepreneurship and leadership training. Ukrainian startup Uff, led by Alona Prenkovska, won, advancing to the next round in Washington DC. Supporting…

  • Teaching Global Innovation Catalyst’s iX Online October Program Fundraising and Ownership Workshop

    Teaching Global Innovation Catalyst’s iX Online October Program Fundraising and Ownership Workshop

    Recently, I was honored to teach the Global Innovation Catalyst’s iX Online October 2021 Program Fundraising and Ownership Workshop for a great group of global entrepreneurs: Webinar 11: Fundraising and Ownership | GIC iX Online October 2021 Program – January 13, 2022 The Global Innovation Catalyst (GIC) Innovation Execution (iX) Program takes participants through the…

  • Speaking on Entrepreneurship with the Russian CIEE Russia Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Virtual Exchange Program

    Speaking on Entrepreneurship with the Russian CIEE Russia Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Virtual Exchange Program

    Thanks to the Russian CIEE Russia Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Virtual Exchange Program for having me speak with them about startup investing and entrepreneurship. Looking forward to hearing the business pitches at the end of the program. Russia Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Virtual Exchange Program Program description This virtual exchange program for Russian and American…

  • Judging Denver Startup Week Elevator Pitches.. in an Elevator!

    Judging Denver Startup Week Elevator Pitches.. in an Elevator!

    Going up? We sure were at the Denver Startup Week Elevator Pitch Event. I stood in an elevator in downtown Denver and listened to short 1 minute pitches from emerging startups.. super fast, super fun. I also had a chance to introduce Boomtown, and speak a bit about how we work with founders. GAN, a…

  • Reverse Pitching Boomtown at Denver Startup Week

    Reverse Pitching Boomtown at Denver Startup Week

    This week, I was happy to pitch Boomtown Accelerators at the Denver Startup Week Reverse Accelerator Pitch Session. Thanks GAN for hosting, and for all of the great questions from the audience. GAN is a highly-curated community of accelerators, partners, and investors who all share a collective purpose of creating opportunities for startups around the…

  • Mentoring German Marshall Fund YTLI Fellows

    Mentoring German Marshall Fund YTLI Fellows

    This week, I was proud to spend a bit of time working with a group of international entrepreneurs participating in the German Marshall Fund of the United States Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative Fellowship, supported by the U.S. Department of State. We discussed: The quick expansion of the Denver/Boulder area entrepreneurship landscape and opportunities for…

  • Leading the Montreal StartupFest 2019 “Startup Accelerator Communities” Roundtable Discussion

    Leading the Montreal StartupFest 2019 “Startup Accelerator Communities” Roundtable Discussion

    At Montreal StartupFest 2019, I led a roundtable discussion on Building Startup Accelerator Communities, accompanied by industry colleague Tariq Haddadin of Techstars. Thanks to the StartupFest team for putting on a solid event! Discussion Notes: Montreal StartupFest 2019 – Building Startup Accelerator Communities Roundtable Discussion Led by Jeffrey Donenfeld of Boomtown Accelerators and Tariq Haddadin…

  • Guiding discussion on Startup Network Building at Montreal StartupFest

    Guiding discussion on Startup Network Building at Montreal StartupFest

    This year at Montreal StartupFest, I hosted a discussion with startup accelerator and venture investment leaders on startup network building, alumni services, and dealflow community. Thanks to Montreal StartupFest for a solid event. Startupfest is the leading startup event in Canada. Founded in 2011, it has become the annual gathering at which entrepreneurs, investors, makers,…

  • Keynote – “Startup Investing in the United States” at Kazakhstan’s GoViral Conference

    Keynote – “Startup Investing in the United States” at Kazakhstan’s GoViral Conference

    During the June 2019 GoViral Conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, I gave the keynote speech on Startup Investing in the United States. Featured on: Instagram – GoViral.kz, Facebook – GoViral.kz, Facebook – US Embassy Kazakhstan Go Viral is an international festival sponsored by the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan that brings together innovators in media, culture, business,…

  • Forbes KZ – Making the connection between US and KZ investors

    Forbes KZ – Making the connection between US and KZ investors

    I had a wonderful time speaking with journalist Ulyana Salapaeva writing for Forbes Kazakhstan about making the connecting between US and KZ investors. In summary, I feel that there are a ton of options for Kazakh startups to approach US investors. It’s important to understand the mindset of the US investor, fully realize the type…

  • Discussing Kazakh startups going international at GoViral Almaty

    Discussing Kazakh startups going international at GoViral Almaty

    On Day 1 of GoViral in Almaty, Kazakhstan, I participated in an engaging panel discussion covering details, nuances, and issues with Kazakh startups appealing to an international audience. Thanks for a solid discussion, panel! Go Viral is an international festival sponsored by the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan that brings together innovators in media, culture, business, and…

  • How to position your startup for investors – GoViral KZ Interview

    How to position your startup for investors – GoViral KZ Interview

    I had a solid discussion about how to position your startup for investors during GoViral.kz in Almaty, Kazakhstan with U.S. Embassy Tashkent Information Officer Susannah Wood. Thanks for the awesome discussion! Go Viral is an international festival sponsored by the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan that brings together innovators in media, culture, business, and technology to…

  • Interviewing on How Central Asian startups can position themselves for US investors at GoViral.kz

    Interviewing on How Central Asian startups can position themselves for US investors at GoViral.kz

    Aliya Shaikhina and I sat down during the Go Viral Conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan to discuss how Central Asian startups can position themselves for US investors, #entrepreneurship, #investing, #technology, and Boomtown Accelerators. Thanks for your time Aliya, and thanks to the U.S. Consulate Almaty for hosting me at GoViral.kz! Go Viral is an international festival sponsored…

  • Discussing Where Traditional and Digital Nomads Meet at GoViral Almaty

    Discussing Where Traditional and Digital Nomads Meet at GoViral Almaty

    Thanks to GoViral Organizers and my amazing conference colleagues Rolf Potts, Gani Abadan, Daniyar Amanaliyev, and Saken Nigma for an engaging panel discussing long term travel, working remotely, and the changing landscape of digital productivity. Go Viral is an international festival sponsored by the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan that brings together innovators in media, culture, business,…

  • Mentoring Startups from Emerging Markets at Seedstars World Summit 2019

    Mentoring Startups from Emerging Markets at Seedstars World Summit 2019

    I’m proud to have spent an action-packed week mentoring startups from global emerging markets at part of the Seedstars 2019 World Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland on behalf of Boomtown Accelerators (where I currently serve as Investment Director) It’s always a pleasure to connect with founders from across the globe, trade ideas, and teach them about…

  • Discussing life in Antarctica on REN TV Russia’s “The Riddles of Humanity”

    Discussing life in Antarctica on REN TV Russia’s “The Riddles of Humanity”

    This week, I appeared on REN TV Russia’s adventure show “The Riddles of Humanity”, Episode 255 to discuss life at the South Pole, Antarctica. Skip to minute 12 of the clip for my segment. My part of the segment covers (Google Translated from Russian: “Why is Antarctica called white Mars? How do people survive in…

  • Mentoring startups at the Seedstars CEE Summit

    Mentoring startups at the Seedstars CEE Summit

    In December 2018, I was honored to mentor startups and speak at the Seedstars CEE Summit. Meeting with leading edge entrepreneurs in the CEE region was an inspiring project, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with this engaging group. A few of the key topics covered included: Key considerations for CEE startups appealing…

  • Pitching Boomtown at the University of Colorado’s Tech Transfer Office Accelerator Seminar

    Pitching Boomtown at the University of Colorado’s Tech Transfer Office Accelerator Seminar

    Today I had the opportunity to speak to a group of grad students and early entrepreneurs about the details of the startup accelerator and incubator ecosystem in Boulder. I was joined by industry colleagues from Innosphere, Rockies Venture Club, Boulder Small Business Development Center, and CatalyzeCU. Boomtown Accelerator is currently accepting applications.  

  • Mentoring Startup Summer Pitch Night

    Mentoring Startup Summer Pitch Night

    This week, I was pleased to mentor Startup Summer Pitch Night with Silicon Flatirons, at the Boomtown Accelerators office.  What a great set of teams! Pleasure working with Sarah Phillips of Boulder Bits. Startup Summer 2018 concludes with a pitch competition, where students from the program pitch their unique startup ideas. This summer, students have interned at local tech startups and built their…

  • Teaching the Galvanize Workshop: What’s Next for My Startup?

    Teaching the Galvanize Workshop: What’s Next for My Startup?

    This week, I was proud to develop and teach the Galvanize workshop titled “What’s Next for My Startup?“. During this hour-long workshop, I worked with a group of emerging entrepreneurs to discuss pathways for their startups, analyze the state of venture capital, and go over the model we’re pursuing at Boomtown.  

  • Discussing International Investing and Russian Startups on The Syndicate Podcast

    Discussing International Investing and Russian Startups on The Syndicate Podcast

    This week, I had the pleasure of recording an interview with Matt Ward of The Syndicate Podcast: “The Russian Startup Scene and What Founders and VCs Need to Know with Jeffrey Donenfeld of Boomtown Accelerator” Listen to me on The Syndicate Podcast: Apple Podcasts, Android, RSS, Direct Here’s what I discuss with Matt on the…