Inside the Investor Mind

What makes an investor take a closer look at one startup while passing on another?

Join Venturous Counsel for an informal, founder-focused conversation with three experienced investors:

Amanda Heyman, General Partner at Tundra Ventures

Julie Castro Abrams, General Partner at How Women Invest

Liz Hartley, Founder and Managing Partner at Good Reason

Saki Oshima, General Partner at NEXTBLUE

Together, Liz, Saki, and Amanda will give founders a candid look at how investors evaluate opportunities, assess founding teams, and make funding decisions.

The conversation will cover:

• What makes an opportunity worth a closer look
• How investors decide whether to invest
• Which founder qualities stand out
• What weakens an otherwise strong pitch
• What founders misunderstand about fundraising
• Which sectors, themes, and trends are attracting investor interest

The event will also feature pitches from a small group of selected startups. Presenting founders will receive direct feedback from the investor panel, while attendees will hear how investors respond to companies and pitches in real time.

Program

4:30 PM – Arrival and introductions
4:45 PM – Startup pitches and investor feedback
5:15 PM – Panel conversation and Q&A with Liz Hartley, Saki Oshima, and Amanda Heyman
6:00 PM – Dinner, drinks, and networking

About the Host

Venturous Counsel is a mission-driven law firm that serves as United States fractional general counsel to values-aligned and diverse-led startups and investors.

About the Guests

Amanda Heyman

Amanda Heyman is a General Partner at Tundra Ventures and an attorney with more than 13 years of experience advising early-stage startups. She has also co-founded and helped finance a startup through Series A, developed resources for accelerator companies, and worked across law, venture, and digital media.

Julie Castro Abrams

Julie Castro Abrams is the Founder and CEO of How Women Lead and Managing Partner of How Women Invest, a venture capital firm investing exclusively in women-led companies. She has spent much of her career expanding economic access for women, supporting entrepreneurs, and advancing women into leadership, board, and investment roles.

Liz Hartley

Liz Hartley is the Founder and Managing Partner of Good Reason, an early-stage venture firm investing across work, health, wealth, and resilience. Previously, she held operating roles at Beats, Apple, WeWork, and Ginkgo Bioworks, bringing an operator’s perspective to her work with founders.

Saki Oshima

Saki Oshima is a General Partner at NEXTBLUE, where she focuses on women’s health, women’s wellbeing, and female-founded companies. She previously worked on global startup investments and corporate partnerships at Scrum Ventures and has supported venture communities and founders across the United States, Japan, and Europe.

Gratitude

A special thank you to Korea Venture Investment Corp. (KVIC) for sharing its facilities for this event.

Registration

By registering for this event, you agree that Venturous Counsel may email you about this event, future events, strategic insights, and relevant updates.