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May 18, 2022 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am PDT
FreeHow Strategic Networking Catalyzed a $110M Exit with Shahar Erez
In November 2021, freelance marketplace Fiverr announced it had acquired freelance management platform Stoke Talent. The acquisition meant a $110 million exit for Stoke Founder Shahar Erez who had begun working on the startup just 24 months earlier.
While the timetable might seem short, Erez says the startup exit was the product of a well-laid foundation backed by strategic networking.
“We focused a lot on building our network, nurturing our network, and keeping our potential competitors close as collaborators,” Erez says. “Fiverr was one of our potential competitors and now we’re becoming its B2B arm.”
At the Founders Network global keynote on May 18, 2022, Erez will share his founders journey and detail how his past experience and advanced planning set his startup up for success. He’ll also detail how strategic networking helped him access key opportunities along the way.
He’ll also discuss:
- How to raise funds on slides
- The importance of connecting your mission to your past
- Go after the puck
- The importance of working your network relentlessly
Opening Remarks & Chapter Launch @ 9:30am PT
Join us for opening remarks with Kevin Holmes, Founder & CEO @ Founders Network, to get the latest updates from the Network and opportunities for getting involved.
Keynote Speaker @ 9:40am PT
Erez is the co-founder & CEO of Stoke, an on-demand talent platform empowering companies to adopt a hybrid workforce model that scales as quickly and efficiently as needed. A tech-scene veteran in Israel and Silicon Valley, Erez has 20 years of executive experience in engineering, product and marketing under his belt at companies like Mercury, HP, VMware and Kenshoo. He has built a reputation as a strategic thinker who leads organizational change and drives growth by developing talent and promoting a learning culture. Outside work, Shahar is a proud father of 3, an amateur cyclist and an avid reader.
Stage-Based Roundtables @ 10:30 am PT
Community Partners
Dec’13 Cohort Blake Caldwell is the CEO & Founder of FoundersBoost. He has 350 alumni, 100 new startups a year, 8k newsletter readers. He’s driven by his passions to create and build community. He’s also the founder of 2332 Collective (music production & festivals with the goal of bringing music to West LA) & The MoGuard (consumer product cup attachment protecting glorious mustaches).
FoundersBoost is a free pre-seed & seed stage mentorship driven pre-accelerator helping promising tech-startups with accelerators, investment, and revenue.
Attendees will get a deadline extension if they (1) simply start an application by 11:59pm PST tonight tonight, and (2) email Aldo@FoundersBoost.com requesting the extension.
Max Shapiro founded PeopleConnect in 2000 to help early-stage high-tech companies find the talent they need to succeed. PeopleConnect’s clients are in technology, biotech, cleantech, apps, services, medical devices, and consumer products.
Their team of outstanding recruiters finds C-level executives, talented managers and experienced leaders who will bring their client companies to the next level. They provide traditional contingency searches as well as their one-of-a-kind ‘Employees Without Paychecks’ program, which he created after the dotcom bust to help promising companies find top-level talent willing to work for equity only until the company gets their funding.
As you can tell by the name of his company, Max likes to connect people and would love to know if there is any way that he and his team can help you add some fantastic, startup experienced people to your team, like PeopleConnect has been doing for 20 years.
Complimentary Ticket:
Are you a full-time tech founder? Be our guest! During COVID, we’re making our events available to tech founders everywhere. Enjoy a complimentary ticket to come learn from fellow tech founders, partners and investors. Already used your complimentary guest pass? Request an invite to see if you qualify for membership.
About Founders Network:
Founded in 2011, Founders Network offers lifelong peer mentorship to over 600 tech startup founders globally. Our platform, programs and high-touch service facilitate authentic experience sharing, warm introductions and long-term professional relationships. Additional benefits include over $500k in startup discounts and promotion to 2,000 newsletter readers. Members are located in San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto, London and other tech hubs. Each month our Membership Committee admits a new cohort of full-time tech founders who are nominated by an existing member. Learn more about us here
Confidentiality Policy
All information shared within Founders Network is strictly confidential. We are built on a foundation of trust, and the community takes confidentiality seriously. Investors, members, and staff all share experiences and opinions off the record. In this roundtable forum, we continue to model our fnValues of Reciprocity, Humility, Authenticity and Inclusivity. Read more about our Privacy Policy here.
Testimonials
"If you don't have a cohort group in something like Founders Network that you can develop long-term relationships with and discuss the same topics that come up with people that you already know, you're probably missing out on something very important."David Plonsky
"The number one advantage is the law of compound interest. The longer you stay in a very high-quality network the strong and more authentic relationships you build."Chaitanya Vaidya
"We know each other's business and we know each other's struggles. Having a personal relationship with other founders that is completely confidential and completely authentic gives you a lot of great advice."Doug Lessing
"FN manages my network for me by connecting me with other founders in my specific industry sector. I've been able to explore business development opportunities, partnerships, etc."Becky Splitt
"We just saw the first Mexican unicorn come to life this same week which is a fantastic idea. Being part of the Founders Network makes a lot of sense. We see that the Mexico City chapter is growing substantially."Max Linares
"There's a lot of great stuff going on even now in San Francisco. I've found Founders Network has been a great resource for me and for all of the founders I know during these tough times."Jarie Bolander
"It allowed me to meet people who had done this before that had the experience. I was able to explain an issue very briefly and they were able to give me a very detailed response on how they addressed it."Terence Finn
"I've used the platform to discover advice, connections, resources, discounts, on important services, connections to investors, and practice on how to pitch. The kind of conversations you can't get anywhere else on youtube or google searches."Alexandra Greenhill
"I see Founders Network as one of those necessary resources in the Chicagoland area."Jason Jacobsohn
"The Black Founders initiative allows me to shape this program where we can inspire, engage, and support Black Founders."Khiry Kemp
