GrowthCraft for Startups

SBIR was in a frozen state for months. That is coming to an end. What is expected for those who have applied and what can you do to apply.
​Neal will give us an update on all and be open to questions.

​Neal Kalechofsky - Co-Founder AwardIT NDF Consulting, Non-Delutive Funding Advisor at GrowthCraft

What actually happens on the other side of the table when you pitch a venture capitalist?

​Join Wynton Bastian, investor at Alumni Ventures, for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation on how venture capital really works. This isn’t a lecture, it’s an open, practical discussion designed to help founders better understand the funding landscape and navigate it with confidence.

​We’ll break down:

• ​How the venture capital ecosystem is structured
• ​The different types of VC firms and funds you’ll encounter
• ​What investors are actually looking for when evaluating opportunities
• ​How decisions are made -> from first meeting to final investment

​Then we’ll shift gears into application, helping you shape a compelling, investor-ready story around your pitch so you walk away with something tangible you can use immediately.
​With experience reviewing hundreds of companies each year and working alongside top-tier co-investors, Wynton brings a clear, honest perspective on what drives investment decisions and how you can use that insight to your advantage.
​If you’re raising capital (or planning to), this session will replace guesswork with clarity—and maybe even give you a strategic edge when it matters most.

The Execution Edge

Most startup events focus on the pitch. The Execution Edge focuses on what comes after.

Hosted by GrowthCraft in partnership with Hyperplane and sponsored by Leader Bank, this gathering brings together founders, investors, and startup leaders for an evening centered on one thing: real execution.

Instead of traditional pitch decks and fundraising narratives, the event highlights founders who are actively navigating the toughest stage of startup growth often called the “valley of death.”

Five selected companies will share the real problems they solved, the strategies that worked, and the measurable progress they achieved along the way.
Each founder presentation focuses on a simple but powerful framework: Before and After.
What challenge threatened progress? What decisions changed the trajectory? What results followed?
Attendees will gain insight into practical growth milestones such as scaling technical infrastructure, pivoting marketing strategy, or achieving early revenue traction. The goal is not polished storytelling but proof of progress.

The evening is designed to foster meaningful connections across the startup ecosystem, bringing together GrowthCraft founders, Hyperplane investors, venture-backed companies, and startup-focused banking leaders. Through curated networking and founder “trading cards” that highlight each presenter’s biggest growth win and current scaling challenge, conversations move quickly from introductions to collaboration.

The Execution Edge is not only about raising capital it is also about sharing the hard-earned lessons that help companies grow from promising ideas into durable businesses.
In a startup world full of pitches, this event celebrates the founders who are actually building. 🚀

Event Details
· 📅 Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
· 🕔 Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
· 📍 Location: Hyperplane 137 Newbury St 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02116
· 🍽️ Food: Pizza and Drinks