Lunch and Learn - From Hyde Park to the Boardroom

From Hyde Park to the Boardroom: Early-Stage Financing with Jay Wright What does it take to raise capital for an early-stage startup? Join us at the UChicago Science Incubator for a lunch and learn with Jay Wright, a University of Chicago graduate and leader at Worldwide NFT, for a practical conversation about the fundamentals of early-stage startup financing. Speaking to UChicago Science Incubator members and UChicago students, Jay will share insights on raising capital from both angel investors and institutional venture capital firms, including what investors look for, how they conduct due diligence, and how founders can prepare for the fundraising process. The discussion will cover: What investors look for in an early-stage company What due diligence investors typically conduct What to expect in a typical term sheet How cap tables change before and after a financing How founders should work with investors after closing Common traps to avoid when raising early-stage capital The presentation will be followed by a Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions directly and learn from Jay's experience. Whether you're an aspiring founder, current entrepreneur, researcher considering a startup, or UChicago alum building a company, this is an opportunity to learn from a fellow UChicago graduate and bring practical fundraising questions to the table.