How to Fund Your Startup

The funding landscape is shifting fast, reshaping how founders raise capital and how
investors evaluate opportunities. This session provides founders with a grounded,
practical view of what it really takes to raise capital today. Investors are scrutinizing
business fundamentals more intensely, rounds are taking longer, and expectations
around traction, efficiency, and storytelling have shifted. At the same time, new pools of
capital, alternative financing models, and sectorspecific tailwinds are creating fresh
opportunities for the founders who know where to focus.

This panel brings together leading Angels, advisors, and capital partners who are
working directly with earlystage companies and scaling teams in today’s market. They
will explain where capital is flowing, which areas are slowing or quietly gaining
momentum, what is actually being funded, and which founder missteps cost companies
time, leverage, and credibility. You will hear practical guidance on positioning your
company, refining your story, navigating diligence, and building resilience in a market
that values clarity over hype.

Whether you are raising now or preparing for your next round, this discussion gives
founders a clear-eyed view of the realities of today’s funding climate.

MODERATOR:

Jed Weiner
Partner and Head of Corporate Practice, Alconbury Law PLLC
Jed Weiner helps founders find practical solutions to complex legal challenges. He’s Partner and Head of Corporate Practice at Alconbury Law PLLC, where he advises companies, executives, and investors across the business lifecycle, from formation and growth through strategic transactions and exits. Over 20+ years, Jed has advised on 100+ M&A and financing transactions for startups, PE-backed companies, public companies, and institutional investors. Read full profile…

PANELISTS:

Brian Christie
Chair & Co-founder, BioTech Social Inc.
Brian Christie is Chair and Co-founder of BioTech Social Inc., parent company of BioTech Funding Portal, an SEC-registered, FINRA-member funding portal helping early-stage life science companies raise capital through Regulation Crowdfunding. He has spent much of his career working at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, and capital formation, with a particular focus on expanding funding options for startups and emerging companies. Read full profile…

Andres Mendoza
Founder and CEO, IsNull Softworks
Andres Mendoza is Founder and CEO of IsNull Softworks, a software engineering and
consulting firm that supports in-house development teams in implementing human-driven AI
tooling and autonomous QA testing. He also serves as CTO of CFrame, an experience-data
platform. With more than a decade of software development experience at international firms such as Experient, a Maritz Global Events company, he developed a passion for early-stage ventures while co-founding Suited Rundown and leading its engineering team as CTO. Read full profile…

Mike Schrader
Private Funds
Mike focuses his practice on representing private investment funds in all stages of operations, including fund formation, regulatory compliance, operational matters and small business investment company (SBIC) licensing. Prior to joining the firm, Mike spent several years as a Senior Counsel in the Investment Management Division at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) providinglegal advice and policy guidance on Investment Advisers Act and Investment Company
Act issues. Read full profile…

Jennifer K. Zimmons, PhD, MBA
President, Zimmons International Communications, Inc. (ZIC)
Jennifer K. Zimmons, PhD, MBA is the President of Zimmons International Communications, Inc. (ZIC), a boutique investor relations firm founded in 2012 and based in New York City. The firm specializes in working with international companies as well as with portfolio companies of leading family offices and private equity firms. Clients include both public and private entities looking to increase their exposure within the investment community. ZIC advises clients in healthcare, natural resources, and aerospace and defense technology. ZIC prides itself on delivering bespoke strategies, customized programs, and high-touch service to clients. Read full profile…