In this SB exclusive session, Juliette Richert of the Artemis Fund will break down how VC funds are structured, who’s involved, and what happens from first conversation to signed deal. Student Board members can expect clear frameworks, interactive learning, and the confidence to navigate VC conversations with more clarity, whether you’re raising capital, joining a fund, or building in a ...
Spark Founders Program Orientation is the official kickoff to the semester, welcoming the cohort into a community built to turn early-stage ideas into real ventures. This full-day orientation introduces program expectations, key milestones, and the resources available throughout the semester, including mentorship, workshops, and peer connection. Participants will also have dedicated time to meet fellow founders and begin building relationships ...
Funding can unlock growth, but only if you understand the tradeoffs. This workshop breaks down the startup financing landscape, from venture capital to non-dilutive options, and introduces the building blocks of term sheets, valuation, and deal structure. We’ll also name real barriers founders face in fundraising and contracts, including gender bias, and focus on strategies that help you advocate for ...
This session covers core negotiation strategy, win-win outcomes, and how to understand the other side’s position (without giving away yours). You’ll also learn tactics to navigate common disadvantages founders can face, so you can show up prepared in contracts, partnerships, and high-stakes conversations. Spark Founders will walk away with: negotiation frameworks, language you can use immediately, and a stronger ability ...
This interactive workshop helps students strengthen self-trust, refine communication strategies, and practice taking professional risks with intention. The guest speaker, Anita Desai from Tiktok will identify common barriers (internal and external), practice assertive communication tools, and leave with frameworks to show up more boldly in rooms where decisions are made.
A great venture starts with focus. In this workshop, participants will identify their beachhead market, the earliest adopters most likely to say “yes”, and translate customer discovery into a clear, actionable customer persona. They'll move from broad assumptions to sharper insight, helping them tighten their messaging, product decisions, and go-to-market priorities. Spark Founders will walk away with: a defined early ...
This session introduces the fundamentals of positioning, category design, value proposition clarity, and strategic differentiation, so founders can own their space with intention. They'll explore positioning maps, “moat” thinking, and how to craft messaging that resonates with the customers they're built to serve. Spark Founders will walk away with: sharper positioning, clearer differentiation, and language that strengthens your go-to-market foundation.
This workshop equips founders with frameworks to explore and validate channels, measure performance, and build a culture of iteration. From experimentation strategy to feedback loops and product-market fit tracking, they'll learn how to test, learn, and scale what works, without wasting time or budget. Spark Founders will walk away with: channel experimentation frameworks, a plan to test traction, and tools ...
Revenue growth starts with a repeatable path from interest to action. In this session, founders will map their sales funnel, identify top-of-funnel (TOFU) strategies, and learn practical approaches to lead generation and conversion. Whether they're building B2C or B2B, they'll focus on how customers make decisions and what their venture needs to move them forward. Spark Founders will walk away ...
Negotiation shows up everywhere, in compensation conversations, team dynamics, partnerships, and big decisions. This workshop, hosted by Dr. Melissa Murphy (UT Austin), equips students with practical strategies and frameworks to negotiate with clarity and confidence. Through exercises and real-world scenarios, you’ll learn how to prepare, communicate value, and advocate for outcomes that move you (and your goals) forward.
This workshop introduces core pricing principles, common models, competitive analysis, and how to balance profitability with growth. Founders will also explore tools like willingness-to-pay methods so you can price with confidence and build a monetization strategy that matches their market and venture goals. Spark Founders will walk away with: a pricing direction you can test, stronger value-based thinking, and practical ...
This session demystifies the basics of financial statements, cash flow thinking, forecasting, and the metrics investors look for. Founders will learn how to connect operations to outcomes, plan for scenarios, and build financial confidence that supports smarter decisions and stronger storytelling. Spark Founders will walk away with: foundational finance fluency, investor metric awareness, and a clearer path to building a ...
