Startup Springboard

Program Objectives

• Collaborate with local leaders in the emerging company ecosystem to deliver relevant content based on collective experience.
• Invite founders of early-stage companies into the ecosystem so they can build a network of advisors.
• Organize cohorts to foster peer-level relationships with other founders (sessions in person and hybrid).
• Provided at no cost (and no equity) to qualifying companies.
• Build an ecosystem to open doors for entrepreneurs and investors.

Topic Areas

Tailored to high-energy startups from seed to later stage, our programming will cover a wide variety of topics such as:

• Co-founder selection and relationship structuring.
• Product development, product-market fit, and IP protection.
• Startup hiring, compensation, and benefits, including engaging a remote or international workforce.
• Equity compensation, tax pitfalls, and cap table management.
• Financial forecasting, building a pitch deck, and learning from “no.”
• Board dynamics and responsibilities.
• Growth through strategic partnerships and acquisitions.
• Bootstrapping and nondilutive debt financing.

Cohort Profile

We will select 10-15 high-energy companies in each geography (initially Austin and Dallas) to receive eight complimentary sessions developed by serial entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, and seasoned M&A advisors. We will then organize cohorts to foster peer-level relationships with other founders in their city. Compared to other accelerators and incubators that often provide similar content and access to advisor networks in exchange for equity, Startup Springboard is offered at no cost (and no equity) to qualifying companies.

Cohort Selection Criteria

• Eligible companies must have an established business plan, even if they are early in implementation.
• Seed-stage, post-seed, and later-stage companies will find programming most relevant.
• Industry agnostic, but ideally, companies will be in high-growth areas that require significant ($5M+) in external financing for expansion.
• A target of 10 companies per city, with cohorts initially launching in Austin and Dallas.

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Interested in partnering with us to help build a network of advisors?
Learn more about our sponsorship options here.

Our Team	Contact Us [email protected]
Jill Louis Corporate & Securities Partner and Dallas Office Managing Partner		Andy Smetana Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Partner and Austin Office Managing Partner		Troy Foster Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Partner and Firmwide Co-Chair based in Silicon Valley		Valeska Pederson Hintz Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Partner based in Austin and Silicon Valley
Dan Austin Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Partner based in Austin		Michael Glenn Intellectual Property Partner based in Austin and Silicon Valley		Wendy Moore Tax, Benefits & Compensation Partner based in Washington, D.C.		Ann Marie Painter Labor and Employment Partner and Firmwide Chair based in Dallas
Logan Payne Financial Services Corporate, Regulatory, Compliance & Transactions Counsel based in Austin		Paul Ford Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Associate based in San Francisco		Ebony Morris Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Associate based in Seattle		Kaina Pengilly Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Associate based in Palo Alto
Andy Shawber Senior Innovation Counsel

Speaker Spotlight
Daniel J. Alvarez JP Morgan		Natasha Arora Carta		Philip Butler Pharos Capital Group		Laurie Cercone CTAN
Matrice Ellis-Kirk Ellis Kirk Group		Eric Engineer S3 Ventures		Scott Hartig Real Work Labs		Kira Heizner Eisner Amper
Creighton Hicks LiveOakVenture Partners		Stephen Hoffman Deel		Adam Houghton Foreflight		Sid Jain VTSRise
Paul O’Brien MediaTech Ventures		Kerry Rupp True Wealth Ventures		Katie Russel Central Texas Angel Network		Jim Stone Cascadia Capital
Keenan Williams REZI Institutional Group