Most startup ideas never leave the conversation stage. You discuss them with ChatGPT, read another article, share them with a few friends, and move on. The idea stays in your head — or never receives the feedback that could have made it stronger. This event is designed to change that. Join founders, investors, operators, builders, and startup professionals in San Francisco for an evening focused on meaningful conversations, honest feedback, and valuable connections. How the Evening Works Stage 1 — Themed Networking Participants vote on the topics that matter most: fundraising, hiring, go-to-market, product, pricing, growth, and scaling. Attendees are grouped by background and interests, creating focused discussions instead of random networking. Each group shares its key insights with the room, allowing ideas and experiences to spread across the community. Stage 2 — Startup Pitches Five selected startups present their ideas to founders, operators, and investors. Each presentation is followed by feedback, discussion, and opportunities for investor introductions. Selected founders may also become part of the Ascent Valley founder network. Stage 3 — Open Networking After the structured sessions, the evening continues with informal conversations, new introductions, and relationship building. Many attendees say this is where the most valuable connections happen. Who You'll Meet • Startup founders from pre-seed to Series A• Angel investors and venture professionals• Accelerator representatives and startup scouts• Product managers, operators, and GTM leaders• Engineers and startup builders• Hiring managers from growing companies• Entrepreneurs from San Francisco and international startup hubs including New York, London, Berlin, Lisbon, and Tel Aviv Why Attend • Receive meaningful feedback on your ideas• Meet investors and experienced founders• Expand your professional network• Discover collaboration opportunities• Learn from people building real companies About Ascent Valley Ascent Valley is a global ecosystem connecting founders, investors, and operators through community, deal flow, and events. Our mission is to create environments where ambitious people can share ideas, challenge assumptions, and build meaningful relationships that lead to growth. IDEA → PROCESS → RESULT