What we’re about
We are a community of Silicon Valley professionals involved in technology who support each other in upgrading our knowledge and skills as well as in developing great connections through our networking.
The following groups of people tend to attend our events:
- Investors, VCs, Seed & Angel Investors
- Entrepreneurs & Startup Founders
- Business & Tech Professionals
If you have an interest in the topic, please do not hesitate to join. Thank you.
We do our best to maintain a friendly but intentional environment in our events to foster good and meaningful connections for all who attend and participate.
We host the following types of events:
1. Educational events to upgrade skills and knowledge.
2. Educational events to expose new technologies and innovation.
3. Investor events to help you get introduced to investors.
4. Networking events to connect with others in the field and potential collaborators or mentors.
5. Social events to enjoy and connect in surprising and good ways.
6. And much more!
Please join our group asap.
Atul Padha, Niki Gastinel and Sunil Bhaskaran
Upcoming events (2)
See all- 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 - AI Panel + Executive Presence Workshop!Needs location
RSVP here Lead with Confidence
## AI Panel + Executive Presence Workshop!
🚀 AI in the Boardroom: The Next Frontier of Strategic Leadership!
Excited to host an engaging panel discussion on "How AI is Changing the Boardroom Conversation" — where we explore how artificial intelligence is not just reshaping operations but redefining how decisions are made at the highest levels of leadership.🧠 From predictive analytics to real-time decision intelligence, AI is transforming the very nature of boardroom discussions — and we're diving deep into how C-suites and boards are adapting to this new era.
🎤 Panel Speakers include Prathiba David Sullivan, Mehdi J. Maasoumy and Mohammed Sirjad with the moderator, insightful Vinitha Thiyagarajan Upaassana, Ph.D., this conversation brings together perspectives at the intersection of technology, strategy, and governance.
🔍 Topics we’ll cover:
👉 How AI is influencing executive decision-making
👉 Ethical implications and responsible AI leadership
👉 Building AI literacy at the board level
👉 Real-world use cases driving strategic value
### Lead with Confidence: Executive Presence & Influence in the Age of AI
A dynamic 45-minute workshop designed to elevate your leadership, refine your communication skills, and help you command the room with confidence.
Join us for an engaging session filled with actionable insights, dynamic conversations, and complimentary pizza and drinks to fuel your creativity.
Join us as a Volunteer.Workshop Details
In today’s fast-paced business environment, the ability to project authority, inspire trust, and communicate with clarity is a game-changer. Whether you're pitching investors, leading a team, or stepping into the C-suite, your executive presence shapes how others perceive you and determines your ability to influence key decisions.
This interactive session will equip you with proven strategies to enhance your leadership presence, structure compelling messages, and project confidence in high-stakes conversations.
Bonus: Selected participants will have the opportunity to present and receive direct, personalized feedback to sharpen their skills in real time.#### Key Takeaways:
The Art of Executive Presence – Learn how to project confidence, credibility, and authenticity in any professional setting, from boardrooms to high-stakes negotiations.
Mastering Investor & Leadership Conversations – Discover how to communicate with clarity and precision, ensuring your message resonates with stakeholders, investors, and executive teams.
Building Connection & Influence – Effective leaders don’t just speak; they connect. Learn techniques to foster trust, engage your audience, and leave a lasting impact.
High-Stakes Communication Strategies – Navigate difficult conversations, answer tough questions with poise, and handle pressure like a seasoned executive.
Practical Post-Workshop Exercises – Continue honing your skills with targeted exercises designed to reinforce your learning and boost your leadership presence.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or team leader, this workshop will empower you with the skills to step up, own the room, and inspire action.
Secure your spot today!## Agenda:
- 6:00 - 6:30 PM – Welcome
- 6:45 - 7:25 PM - AI Panel
- 7:30 - 8:15 PM – Executive Presence Workshop
- 8:15 - 8:30 – Networking / Audience Feedback
##
## Hosts:
TEAMCAL AI: TEAMCAL AI is an AI-powered team scheduling platform, built to simplify coordination with third parties, across companies, teams across time zones, and applications—effortlessly. Learn about Digital Assistants.
Scheduling Challenges? Book a demo### About the Speaker
Gina Grahame is an award-winning speaker and executive communication coach.
Gina teaches Executive Presence & Influence to Google and is a communication coach and adjunct lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In her business, she has helped thousands of high-performing professionals of different titles, disciplines, genders, and cultural backgrounds to develop their own unique executive presence, voice, and leadership style – supercharging the potential of individuals, teams, and organizations.
Gina’s UVP as a communication coach is rooted in her unique history; in B2B sales, from auto manufacturing in the Midwest to industry leading organizations in Silicon Valley and New York. Gina also worked as an actor, model, spokesperson, and entrepreneur.
More about Gina
Gina’s extraordinary insight into the role of gender in communication is rooted in having been male for the first 29 years of her life, and then as her authentic female self for the 25+ years since. Along the way, Gina won national and international awards for persuasive speaking; first when she was male, and then again when female.
Her clients include The Google School of Leadership, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Kirkland & Ellis, Bank of America, Pacific Gas & Electric, and industry leading organizations across verticals. Gina is a member of the National Speakers Association, the National LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the GGBA - San Francisco’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and MENSA.
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Event Photographer - Iryna Novosyolova Learn more here capturedbyiryna
Join us as a Volunteer.
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