SV101 by ICON’s Post

That was quite a ride! Yesterday’s US VC Road Trip panel was an absolute #FullHouse with over 150 founders coming together to sharpen their fundraising strategies. Missed it? Here’s a quick recap of the key takeaways (and a refresher for those who didn’t): Barak Schoster Goihman compared selecting an investor to a “#Catholic marriage”—a lifelong commitment. His advice? Start building relationships with potential investors long before your funding round. They should feel like true partners. Amit Karp advised checking in quarterly to stay on their radar. We debated the value of smaller U.S. design #partners vs. larger Israeli ones. Amit Karp stressed the importance of securing U.S. customers as you approach advanced rounds. VCs want to see sophisticated clients who truly value your product rather than your university buddy. Shay M. urged founders to choose VCs focused on their sector. Cybersecurity? Fintech? Pick a specialist for tailored connections and insights. Since we #LOVE learning from others' mistakes, Ayala ( Aya ) Peterburg shared that she prefers founders to tell their story without relying on slides during the first meeting. A clear, engaging narrative helps create a stronger connection and keeps the focus on you. Aaron Rinberg also highlighted the importance of respecting competitors—claiming "we have no competition" is a #red flag. Did we mention our very own Noa Topaz moderated the panel brilliantly? A huge THANK YOU to our partners, Amazon Web Services (AWS) for the collaboration, our speakers, and all the founders who joined. P.S. Speakers are offering exclusive #1:1 office hours for attendees. Check your inbox for the application form! Yasmin Lukatz I Jessica Hare I Noa Topaz I Heli Pomerantz Gerber I Liat Miller I Yaniv Benji I Noa Eilon | Shani Yavin | Ravit Sasson | Lian Swirsky | Tav Spector-Levi | Becky Riji