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Speak at Founders Network

Come tell us how you did it

For over 15 years, founders who've built something have come back to Founders Network to tell the story to the next generation.

Tech founders in the community
600+
Are serial entrepreneurs
50%
Raised by members
$5B+
Followers across our channels
35,000+
Volunteer to speak
A Founders Network tradition

A conversation about how you built it

Our sessions are conversations, not keynotes. A moderator asks about the calls you made and how they played out, and the room asks the rest. Since 2011, founders who've built something have sat down with our members to tell the story behind it.

Founders who've spoken

Operators who took companies public or sold them, sharing how they did it.

Investors who've spoken

VCs and angels telling founders what they look for, before the founders are in the pitch.

Formats

Pick what fits your calendar

Chapter roundtable

An evening with founders in your city. A small room, off the record, and the questions they can't ask anywhere else.

Virtual roundtable or AMA

An hour on Zoom from wherever you are. We host and moderate.

fnSummit

Our annual summit. A keynote, panel or fireside chat with founders who travel to be there.

Go-to-Market Lab

Work through a member's go-to-market problem live with a small group.

The FN podcast

A recorded conversation about how you built what you built, published to our channels.

Pitch feedback

For investors: hear member pitches and tell founders what you'd need to see.

How it works

Your time goes into the session, not the planning

  1. 1

    Tell us what you'd speak about

    The form below asks where you'd like to speak and what you know best.

  2. 2

    We find the right session

    We match your topics to what members are asking about and to chapters near you, then come back with dates.

  3. 3

    We handle the logistics

    Invitations, the room or the Zoom link, a moderator and a short prep call.

  4. 4

    You speak

    Your name, bio and company go on the event page and in every member invitation.

Questions speakers and their teams ask

Is this a paid speaking engagement?
No. Founders Network is a labor of love, and sometimes just labor, so speaking is a give-back. We cover all event production costs and feature you to our members. It's a platform to reach and influence a large, engaged group of peer founders. There's also a thank-you for every speaker, which we save for the prep call.
Is there a cost to speak?
No. There's no cost to speak, and you don't need to be a member. Many of our speakers aren't.
What's the reach?
Our members are 600+ tech founders, each vetted before joining. Half have founded more than one company, and together they've raised over $5B. Chapter roundtables are a small room; virtual sessions and fnSummit are larger. Your bio and links go on the event page and in the invitations, and podcast episodes publish to our channels (35,000+ followers).
Who is it for?
Founders who've built, scaled or sold a company, and investors who back early-stage startups. The audience is founders and CEOs of tech startups.
What should I talk about?
Your story. Founders usually walk through a few of the big calls they made, like a raise, a key hire, pricing, a pivot or an exit, and how they played out. Investors usually cover what they look for and why deals come together or fall through. We send the questions members are asking and settle the format on a prep call.
How much time does it take?
About an hour for most sessions, plus a short prep call beforehand. In-person events run a little longer.
What do you need from me?
A short bio, a headshot and two or three dates that work. We handle the rest.
Is it recorded?
Only if you agree to it. Chapter roundtables stay off the record.
Can I mention my company or fund?
Yes. Your bio and links go on the event page and in the invitations. The session itself is for teaching, not pitching.

What you get

  • A room that wants to hear it

    Vetted founders who chose to attend your session.

  • Your name in front of the community

    On the event page, in member invitations and on our channels.

  • No admin

    We schedule, host and moderate.

Volunteer to speak

Tell us a little about you and where you'd like to speak. We'll reply within a few days with a session that fits.

Founders Helping Founders®

Founders Network is a supportive community of 600+ experienced tech founders.

  • Get startup questions answered fast