STARTUP FUNDRAISING: Moving Forward in 2025

Join us for an insightful panel discussion to get updated on 2025 funding trends!

Discussion Topics:

• Current Deal Flow Statistics

• What Investors Are Looking For in 2025

• Successful Startup Funding

• WFN 2025 Fast Pitch Competition Details about this year's competition, when/where to apply

PANELISTS:

Madelin Williams, Vice President of Relationship Management, Silicon Valley Bank

Madelin Williams is a Senior Vice President in SVB’s Technology Banking practice in Los Angeles where she is responsible for serving the LA tech community with tailored lending solutions, commercial banking services, and acting as the connective tissue between investors, innovators, and ecosystem partners. Since joining SVB in 2018, she’s held various roles in Los Angeles and today manages the Consumer Technology Growth Portfolio in the region. Madelin began her career at General Electric Capital in New York, NY and earned her BA in Economics from Boston College. When not working, Madelin spends her time trying all the fabulous restaurants across LA.

Debra Fine, Managing Partner at Venture Fund – Tech Coast Angels-Three Funds

YPO Global One Integrated, Deal Network Board Chair

Debra serves as the Chair at SKOOG, SAAS Children's Learning, Managing Member at Bet365onlinesportsbook, Betting Buzz, and ODDZ Online, and is the proud founder of FineLineAccelerator.com a business growth consultancy specializing in fundraising, marketing, digital marketing, and branding. Outside of serving as the Deal Network Board Chair, Debra is a four-time Chief Executive Officer for both public and private companies. Debra's resounding track record includes leading IPOs for mid-market consumer products company public. Debra’s success as four-time CEO of over $2Billion in revenue includes execution across industries such as consumer products, media/entertainment, health and wellness, food and beverage, B-B-C, and e-commerce. As an entrepreneur and senior executive at Fortune 500 companies and global brands namely Kraft, Quaker, Disney consumer products, Digital Domain, American Express, Pepsi, Debra also serves as Venture Capital Partner at EM Ventures & Mike Milken Entertainment Technology Fund.

Amantha Bagdon, Founder & CEO, RxPost

Amantha Bagdon is the founder and CEO of RxPost, and winner of the 2024 WFN Fast Pitch competition in the Tech category. She has successfully raised substantial funding over the past year and will be sharing her experiences with us. Amantha is driven by a bold vision: a world without pharmaceutical waste. Her journey began with nearly 20 years as a pharmacy technician, where she worked alongside pharmacists preparing medications, managing inventory, and assisting patients. During her time behind the counter, Amantha witnessed a significant problem: good medicine going to waste due to overstocking and inflexible return policies. This inspired her to create RxPost, a marketplace where pharmacies can sell their excess, unexpired medications to others in need. The impact? Lower healthcare costs and stronger support for neighborhood pharmacies.

Panel Moderator:

Renée LaBran, Co-Founder of WFN / Investor / Board Director

Renée LaBran is a seasoned executive, investor, and Board Director with financial and digital expertise. She currently serves on the Boards of B. Riley Financial (NASDAQ: RILY), Idealab, and Iconic Sports Acquisition Corp (NYSE: ICNC-UN), as well as Stravos Education. In recent years, she has also served on the boards of Sambazon, Inc, TomboyX, and was Gov. Brown's appointee to the Board of the State Bar of CA (regulatory board) as a non-attorney public member, where she was been instrumental in the turn-around of the organization and the board itself. In addition to her boards, Renee is an adjunct professor at UCLA Anderson Business School, consults on strategy and M&A, and advises many early-stage entrepreneurs.

Agenda:

5:30-6:30  Networking Reception - food, wine & beverages will be served

6:30-6:40  Opening Remarks & Introductions

6:40-7:20  Moderated Panel Discussion

7:20-7:30  Q&A and Closing Remarks

Location:

Expert Dojo

395 Santa Monica Place, Unit 308

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Parking:

Located on the top level of Santa Monica Place Mall in the center courtyard, right on Third Street Promenade. Parking is available at the mall in structure 8 located at 1555 2nd Street (between 2nd and 4th street). From the parking structure, look for The Cheesecake Factory and Expert Dojo is next to it on the top floor.

Your ticket includes food, wine & beverages

Thanks to Silicon Valley Bank for sponsoring catering!