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Comms 201

3-session Virtual Workshop
March 2 or 3, 2021 (group split)
March 4, 2021
March 5, 2021

Venture Forward and Sparkpr partnered together to produce a virtual educational programs – Comms 201: Media Training for Emerging Voices in VC (Comms 201).

Comms 201 provided training to 10 underrepresented mid-career VCs, on media strategy and best practices for public speaking. As the program covered more advanced communications topics, it was intended to serve VCs who already have some degree of industry expertise. The program consisted of three 1-hour sessions, hosted virtually (see agenda below.)

Comms 201

This program has concluded. Sign-up for Venture Forward communications to stay up to date on future programming.

Impact

10
Participating mid-career VCs from underrepresented backgrounds
3
1-hour workshops, led by…
11
PR experts + industry leaders
100%
of participants would recommend the program to peer or colleague

Participants

The program was intended for VC investors who:

  • Are somewhat established in their careers and have developed a track record and expertise (e.g. 4+ years of investing experience; role as micro/seed VC fund manager, principal or partner at an established VC firm.)
  • Represent a demographic group that is historically underrepresented in venture capital (e.g. by gender, race/ethnicity, geography, etc.)
  • Want to sharpen their communications skills, uncover opportunities, and gain confidence to expand upon their brand via media speaking engagements.
  • Can commit to attending all 3 sessions: Session #1(A) or #1(B), Session #2, and Session #3.

Demographics

people of color

80%

80%
people of color
women or nonbinary

60%

60%
women or nonbinary

5

states represented

5
states represented

Agenda

Session 1
(September 29, 2023)
Media Training
Session 2
(March 4, 2023)
Investor Interview and Q&A
Session 3
(March 5, 2023)
Meet the Press

Session Leaders

Becky Buckman
VP of Marketing Communications, Battery Ventures
Becky Buckman
VP of Marketing Communications, Battery Ventures
Candy Cheng
Senior Correspondent, Business Insider
Candy Cheng
Senior Correspondent, Business Insider
Tomio Geron
Senior Reporter, Protocol
Tomio Geron
Senior Reporter, Protocol
Charles Hudson
Managing Director and Founder, Precursor Ventures
Charles Hudson
Managing Director and Founder, Precursor Ventures
Kia Kokalitcheva
Technology Reporter, Axios
Kia Kokalitcheva
Technology Reporter, Axios
Sue Kwon
Partner & Head of Marketing and Narrative, Felicis Ventures
Sue Kwon
Partner & Head of Marketing and Narrative, Felicis Ventures
Meredith Kendall Maines
Marketing Partner, Lightspeed
Meredith Kendall Maines
Marketing Partner, Lightspeed
Angela Pontarolo
VP of VC and Emerging Tech Practice, Sparkpr
Angela Pontarolo
VP of VC and Emerging Tech Practice, Sparkpr
Lucinda Shen
Writer, Fortune
Lucinda Shen
Writer, Fortune
Mark Suster
Managing Partner, Upfront
Mark Suster
Managing Partner, Upfront
Tim Turpin
EVP, Sparkpr
Tim Turpin
EVP, Sparkpr

Partner & Sponsor

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