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For early-stage founders, the leap from founder to CEO is more than just a title change ā it's a transformation.
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Join a select group of fellow startup CEOs for a private, invite-only evening of candid conversation, tactical insights, and shared experiences from leaders whoāve been in your shoes. This is not a panel of polished talking points. This is real talk, real stories, and real strategies from those whoāve navigated the pressures of scaling a startup ā professionally and personally.
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This is an exclusive evening for early-stage founders who are building fast-paced, ambitious companies ā and want to lead them well.
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š§ Personal Growth & Reflection
Ā Ā Ā - Staying grounded through pressure and isolation
Ā Ā Ā - Systems and routines that support mental health
Ā Ā Ā - Candid reflections: what we wish we knew earlier
š§ Balancing the Demands of Leadership
Ā Ā Ā - How do successful CEOs structure their days?
Ā Ā Ā - Staying focused in a world of distractions and āshiny objectsā
Ā Ā Ā - Prioritization frameworks that actually work
š„ Building High-Performing Teams
Ā Ā Ā - From the first hire to the first 100: lessons in team building
Ā Ā Ā - Evolving your leadership style as your company scales
Ā Ā Ā - Maintaining momentum, trust, and culture through growth
š” Founder Advice You Can Actually Use
Ā Ā Ā - Tactical takeaways
Ā Ā Ā - āNow vs Thenā: Advice we ignored, and what we regret
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Kunal is the founder of KStar Holdings and ZeroToIP, and previously founded and sold KStar ecom, which he ran for six years. He is also the host of the DeTox podcast, a 100+ episode series on mental health that explores the realities behind high performance through conversations with billionaires, Olympians, and other top performers on how they deal with stress. He is a TED speaker and serves on the boards of for-profit and non-profit organizations in both India and the United States.
Kunal draws on both his personal journey as a founder and his conversations with high achievers to explore how to perform under stress.
Jason is the co-founder and CEO of Octane. Octane offers merchants a suite of products to help them serve their customers throughout the purchasing journey, from research through point-of-sale financing to driving subsequent purchases.
Octane has raised over $240M in venture capital, originated over $7B, and has over 2,400 active merchants across recreational vehicle and auto markets.
Denis leads Tech Startup Banking for Eastern US, based in Boston. Denis has held numerous strategy, operating, and consulting roles across tech banking, private credit, and fintech. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Denis has been named one of āSilicon Valley Northāsā Biggest Names and one of Canadaās Top 50 Emerging Leaders.
All non-SVB named companies listed are independent third parties and are not affiliated with Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company.
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Banking, lending, and trust products or services are offered by Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company. Accounts are subject to credit approval. Restrictions and limitations may apply.Ā Ā
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