Startup Summer School 2025 | Fundraising 101

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What will we cover during this session? 

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Raising money can seem like the most challenging part of launching a startup, but it doesn't have to be! Join us to learn how to fund your business, including venture capital, bootstrapping, bank loans, crowdfunding, venture debt, and grants from someone with years of experience in both investment banking and venture capital.

This session will cover the various forms of outside capital, pros/cons and considerations, to evaluate what is the right type of funding for your business. We'll wrap up with some tips and tricks on how to approach those conversations with investors.

About the host: 

Scott Lopano is a Partner at Tech Square Ventures where he is responsible for the investment team and activity, along with how the Firm supports our portfolio companies.

Since joining TSV as the first member of the investment team in 2017, Scott has led or supported our 125+ investments focused on early-stage enterprise (B2B) and marketplace technology companies.

Scott is involved in supporting the Atlanta ecosystem, proudly serving on the board of Venture Atlanta, and as an Advisor at Atlanta Tech Village for many years.

Previously, Scott worked at UBS Investment Bank in New York where he advised clients on capital structure and funding strategy across debt and preferred stock.

Scott holds a B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, where he also led the Penn Quaker Football Team to 3 Ivy League Championship seasons. He currently holds the record for most punts and most punt yardage in the school’s history. Scott competed at Rookie Mini Camp with the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before starting his career in finance.

He and his wife Sarah are blessed with 3 kids and are happy to call Atlanta home.

About the series: 

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Have an idea? Do you crave to build something? . Even if you have an established startup, gain refreshers to the basics and small group time with the best of ATL's ecosystem! Join us this summer for a semester of Startup Summer School.

Learn from the best in the industry about what it looks like to start your own company and how to do it well.

13 workshops taught by experts in the field:

Tuesday, June 10, 9:00 AM-10:30AM

• How to Build a Billion Dollar Business, Kathryn O'Day, Atlanta Ventures

Tuesday, June 10, 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM

• Building Your MVP: Focus to Validate, Scale to Win Rich Bailey, Amazon

Tuesday, June 17, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Entrepreneurship at the Dawn of AI, Nick Hasty, GIPHY

Tuesday, June 24, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Build your MVP in days (using vibe coding) , Karthik Puvvada "KP", Paddle

Tuesday, July 1, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Sales 101: Everything You Need To Start Selling As A Founder, Margaret Weniger, Rising Tide

Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Accounting Toolkit for Startups, Jeff Johnson

Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Startup Legal Essentials, David Pierce, Founders Legal

Tuesday, July 22, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• AI Strategy as Culture Strategy, Alex de Aranzeta, Accessity

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• The Customer Discovery Playbook, Kyle Painting, EZ Innovation

Tuesday, August 5, 2025 1:30 PM - 3:000 PM

• Pitching the best YOU, Jacey Cadet, Atlanta Ventures

Tuesday, August 12, 2025 10:00 AM -11:30AM

• Fundraising 101, Scott Lopano, TechSquare Ventures

Tuesday, August 19, 2025 10:00 AM -11:30AM

Growth Marketing 101, Landon Howell, Startup Advisor: Techstars, ATV

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 10:00 AM- 11:30AM

• The Failure Flip, Ted Tagalakis, SparkyAI

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