
What we’re about
Here's the one explicit reason why it pays to join Influence Others:
You Gain by Understanding Your Brain
And this is a great time to jump aboard because:
More has been discovered about the human brain in the last ten years than in ALL of human history.
But those advances also present founding teams with an unavoidable stark choice:
[Learn, Adapt, Profit] OR [Fall Fatally Behind]
SUMMARY
It turns out many neuroscience findings are not only fascinating, but readily applicable to the two distinct skill sets crucial for every startup team’s success in the commercial marketplace:
· Mechanics of communicating with confidence, conviction and credibility
· Traction – the triumvirate of attracting, acquiring and retaining customers
The Influence Others meetup filters those recent discoveries, presenting the ones pertinent to the sales and marketing challenges startups typically face.
By attending you'll gain from better understanding how the brain’s decision making actually machinery works.
Specifically, you’ll learn to take advantage of what science teaches is the optimal approach to communicating persuasively and you'll pick up several immediately useful science-based tips on earning market traction.
DETAILS
Imagine if you could offer your product to customers or to pitch your company to investors so they, on their own accord and before you spoke your first word, were influenced to buy into your vision because of techniques you used; and equally important, because of those you avoided.
That astounding claim is true because the anatomically modern human brain is hard-wired by millions of years of evolution to scan for certain signals it much prefers over others. Such built-in biases are among the recent discoveries about how we influence each other.
Indeed, with multiple disciplines focusing simultaneously on the human brain, more has been discovered about that singular organ in the last decade than in ALL previous history.
As a result, we’re in a propitious position of witnessing the birth of a radically counter-intuitive model of how neural processes motivate our behavior, both as individuals and in groups.
Taking insights from such well-regarded books as Thinking, Fast and Slow (Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman), Influence: Science and Practice (Robert B. Cialdini), and Start with Why (Simon Sinek), the sessions apply those findings to typical communication challenges entrepreneurs face such as:
· Explaining the startup’s business model so it interests investors and attracts team members
· Designing marketing material and a home page that encourages engagement
By joining Influence Others you’ll learn that influencing others is no longer the art it was for centuries, but instead persuasion is emerging as a science, making it a skill you can readily acquire.
Even more, the fastest way to come up to speed on is to volunteer in the meetup and help prepare the next session. If that's interesting to you, then contact Nathan Schor 305.632.1368 nathan@rcsm.io .
Instructor – After graduating Boston College (Summa Cum Laude in Philosophy and Psychology) Nathan Schor began his IT career as a database programmer. Preferring conversation over code, he evolved into sales, accumulating over three decades of experience, including deploying CRM applications in hundreds of businesses across a wide range of sizes and sectors.
About ten years ago he stated noticing more and more discoveries in neural science having a direct bearing on influencing people. Tracking those breakthroughs, he found several of them useful in improving his own technique. He created the Influence Others meetup to chronicle those findings and share his insights.
Encouraged by the positive reviews the sessions earned, Nathan founded the Resource Center for Scientific Marketing to expose a wider audience the discoveries coming out of neural science labs applicable to the sales and marketing challenges startup teams face.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Meet New People! Sunday Night Networking (In-Person)Panera Bread, Santa Clara, CA
Look for the MEETUP sign!
Come out and meet new people!
Network, socialize and connect!
This event is free to attend.
Please register here:
Meet New People! Sunday Night Networking / Games! Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
Attendees must purchase their own liquid refreshments and food.
There's no content or speaker at this event -- just business and social networking.
Build your business and social network - face to face! (in-person)
Come out and enjoy a great evening of good food, liquid refreshments, and connecting.
You may meet your next business collaborator, client, employer, employee, friend, or tennis partner!
Getting away from a screen for a few hours will do you some good!
: -)
Meet Silicon Valley movers and shakers - Internet entrepreneurs, developers, engineers, mobile app coders, attorneys, bloggers, academics, financiers, marketing professionals, community organizers and investors.
This event is organized in collaboration with other groups!
@ideatoipo
www.idea-to-ipo.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjYga11avYH_CUpC0BSyDng
(videos of online events)
Look for the MEETUP sign!
- Meet New People! Sunday Night Networking (In-Person)Panera Bread, Santa Clara, CA
Look for the MEETUP sign!
Come out and meet new people!
Network, socialize and connect!
This event is free to attend.
Please register here:
Meet New People! Sunday Night Networking / Games! Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
Attendees must purchase their own liquid refreshments and food.
There's no content or speaker at this event -- just business and social networking.
Build your business and social network - face to face! (in-person)
Come out and enjoy a great evening of good food, liquid refreshments, and connecting.
You may meet your next business collaborator, client, employer, employee, friend, or tennis partner!
Getting away from a screen for a few hours will do you some good!
: -)
Meet Silicon Valley movers and shakers - Internet entrepreneurs, developers, engineers, mobile app coders, attorneys, bloggers, academics, financiers, marketing professionals, community organizers and investors.
This event is organized in collaboration with other groups!
@ideatoipo
www.idea-to-ipo.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjYga11avYH_CUpC0BSyDng
(videos of online events)
Look for the MEETUP sign!
- Startup Fundamentals 1: Start Right, Avoid Common Mistakes & PitfallsSnell and Wilmer, Palo Alto, CA
This event is organized by Access Silicon Valley.
Our meetup group is collaborating by promoting this event.
Startup Fundamentals 1: Start Right, Avoid Common Mistakes & Pitfalls
Thursday, May 21st | 5:00 – 9:00pm5 Palo Alto Square
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Ground floor event spaceSEATING IS EXTREMELY LIMITED, SO RESERVE YOUR SEAT ON EVENTBRITE
Unlock Your Startup’s Potential: Join Our Essential Workshop!
Are you an entrepreneur ready to transform your vision into a successful, fundable startup?
Access Silicon Valley invites you to join us for an invaluable 3-hour workshop designed to equip you with the legal and business tools and insights necessary to build a fundable and scalable startup and thrive in the startup ecosystem!
This is the first of three workshops in the Access Silicon Valley Startup Fundamental Series for startup founders, startup executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and developers. While advantageous to attend all 3 workshops, this is stand-alone content.
Why You Can't Miss This Workshop:
- This first session in our Startup Fundamentals series will guide you through critical aspects of launching a startup, helping you avoid common pitfalls that can hinder your success.
- Learn from Roger Rappoport, a former entrepreneur, founder of Access Silicon Valley, a partner at Snell & Wilmer and co-leader of its Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice group. With his extensive experience, Roger will share actionable strategies tailored for aspiring entrepreneurs.
What You’ll Learn:
Navigating the startup landscape can be overwhelming, but this workshop will break down complex topics into manageable steps. Here’s some of what we’ll cover:- Company Formation: Choosing the right entity type for your startup.
- Building Your Team: Strategies for hiring and compensating the right people.
- Equity Splits: Fairly distributing equity among co-founders and early employees.
- Fundamental Concepts Relating To: Vesting, repurchase rights and rights of first refusal, determining if and when it is appropriate to obtain proxies from co-founders/early employees.
- Fundraising Fundamentals: Understanding how much equity to offer investors and determining your startup’s valuation.
- Cap Table Strategies: Creating and maintaining an appropriate capitalization table.
- Intellectual Property: Ensuring all IP belongs to your company and developing a robust IP strategy.
Why Avoiding Pitfalls Matters:
Navigating these challenges successfully can mean the difference between a thriving startup and an uphill battle. Learn how to:- Make your startup attractive to investors.
- Choose the right sources and types of capital.
- Maintain control of your company.
- Maximize your upside on exit.
Don’t let common pitfalls derail your startup journey. Join us to gain the insights you need for success! Transform your startup vision into reality—start right and avoid the pitfalls!
Materials:
A comprehensive 50+-page digital workbook with an actionable step-by-step guide will be distributed to all registered event attendees on the day of the event.Agenda:
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Dinner and networking
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Startup workshopSeating is extremely limited, so reserve your seat now.
About the Speaker:
Snell & Wilmer Partner Roger Rappoport, Co-Leader of the Emerging Growth and Venture Capital Practice Group, is a former entrepreneur of 10 years and a seasoned advisor to startups and emerging growth companies and the investors who finance them, guiding clients from inception through exit. With over two decades of experience in the startup ecosystem, Roger focuses on venture capital and angel investor financings, including convertible notes, SAFEs, and other debt financings. His knowledge extends to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, distribution, development, manufacturing, and licensing transactions, as well as executive compensation and the establishment of equity incentive plans.
He has extensive experience in advising startup and well-established emerging growth companies, primarily in the AI, software, information technology, Internet, fixed and mobile communications technology, cleantech and life sciences sectors. Roger is the co-author of “Investor Agreements in a Financing Transaction” a chapter in Financing California Businesses,” California Continuing Education of the Bar.”
Roger is a frequent speaker and panelist on topics and issues related to the development and implementation of a company's formation and funding strategy.
Roger is very connected with investors in Silicon Valley and beyond and is an active angel investor. As an attorney, he has been involved in hundreds of transactions such as merger and acquisition transactions, private equity and venture capital financing transactions, and complex restructuring transactions.
Roger is also the founder of Access Silicon Valley, a platform for entrepreneurs, on a global basis, to gain access to Silicon Valley's best and brightest Venture Capitalists, "been there done that" entrepreneurs, and experts. Take a closer look at the Access Silicon Valley Video Fireside Chat Series hosted by Roger, with representatives of some of the Valley's most high profile VCs, such as Andreessen Horowitz, Foundation Capital, Floodgate, Venrock, Canaan Partners and more.
If you are a CEO of an AI first or AI driven company, click here to apply to join the AI Leadership Collective. Find more information here: https://www.ai-leadershipcollective.com/#program
Up Next
Part 2: Developing a Funding Strategy | June 12, 2025
Part 3: Understanding the "Terms" In Term Sheets | July 17, 2025 - Meet New People! Sunday Night Networking (In-Person)Panera Bread, Santa Clara, CA
Look for the MEETUP sign!
Come out and meet new people!
Network, socialize and connect!
This event is free to attend.
Please register here:
Meet New People! Sunday Night Networking / Games! Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
Attendees must purchase their own liquid refreshments and food.
There's no content or speaker at this event -- just business and social networking.
Build your business and social network - face to face! (in-person)
Come out and enjoy a great evening of good food, liquid refreshments, and connecting.
You may meet your next business collaborator, client, employer, employee, friend, or tennis partner!
Getting away from a screen for a few hours will do you some good!
: -)
Meet Silicon Valley movers and shakers - Internet entrepreneurs, developers, engineers, mobile app coders, attorneys, bloggers, academics, financiers, marketing professionals, community organizers and investors.
This event is organized in collaboration with other groups!
@ideatoipo
www.idea-to-ipo.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjYga11avYH_CUpC0BSyDng
(videos of online events)
Look for the MEETUP sign!