The Venture Mindset: How VCs Decide What to Fund

🚀 Understand How Investors Really Make Decisions Most founders believe venture capital is all about having a great idea. In reality, investors evaluate far more than the product. They assess the founding team, market dynamics, timing, competitive advantage, execution ability, and whether the opportunity has the potential to become a venture-scale business. If you've ever wondered: Why do some startups raise millions while others struggle to get a second meeting?What are VCs actually discussing behind closed doors?How can founders prepare for difficult investor questions before they ever enter the room?What has changed in the AI era—and what investment principles remain timeless? This workshop will give you an insider's perspective on how venture investors think. Based on The Venture Mindset, the global bestseller co-authored by Alex Dang and Stanford Graduate School of Business Professor Ilya Strebulaev, this practical session combines proven venture investing frameworks with real-world lessons from Alex's experience at Amazon, AWS AI, and his own startup journey. Whether you're raising capital, building an AI startup, or leading innovation inside a large company, you'll leave with practical frameworks you can immediately apply. What You'll Learn Inside the VC Decision Room How venture capitalists actually evaluate startupsWhat separates investable companies from good ideasThe venture decision-making framework used by leading investorsCommon mistakes founders make during fundraising 2. Building a Venture-Scale Company What investors look for in foundersMarket size, timing, and competitive advantageUnderstanding risk versus upsideWhy some startups become unicorns while others plateau 3. Pitching Like a Fundable Founder How to tell a compelling investment storyPreparing for partner meetings and due diligenceHandling difficult investor questions with confidenceWhat investors are really trying to learn during a pitch 4. The AI Era Changes Everything... Or Does It? How AI is changing startup investingWhat AI-native founders should do differentlyWhich venture principles remain unchangedBuilding companies that can create long-term value Who Should Attend This workshop is designed for: AI founders and startup entrepreneursFirst-time founders preparing to raise capitalCorporate innovators and product leadersAngel investors and emerging VCsStudents and aspiring entrepreneursAnyone who wants to better understand venture capital and startup investing No prior fundraising experience is required. What You'll Walk Away With ✅ A clear understanding of how VCs think ✅ Practical frameworks used to evaluate startups ✅ Better fundraising and pitching strategies ✅ Greater confidence during investor conversations ✅ Insights into building venture-scale companies in the AI era About the Speaker Alex Dang is the co-author of the international bestseller The Venture Mindset, written with Professor Ilya Strebulaev of Stanford Graduate School of Business. Alex has held leadership roles at Amazon and AWS AI, advised startups and founders, and has firsthand experience building venture-backed companies. His work bridges Silicon Valley venture capital, technology innovation, and practical startup execution, helping founders understand how investors think and how breakthrough companies are built. About BFC AI Academy BFC AI Academy helps founders, operators, investors, and innovators develop the skills needed to build and scale in the age of AI. Through hands-on workshops taught by leading founders, investors, researchers, and industry experts, participants gain practical knowledge they can immediately apply to their companies and careers. Whether you're launching your first startup or building the next generation of AI companies, you'll join a community of ambitious builders shaping the future. Seats are limited to ensure an interactive experience. Register early to reserve your spot. Who Are Attending The BFC AI Academy…