As COVID-19 ripples through our communities, its effects are being felt in the world of startups and VC fundraising as much as anywhere. VCs and founders alike are rapidly reassessing the new environment and reacting with a variety of strategies. For startups, this includes implementing measures to preserve cash on hand, as well as recalibrating their fundraising plans.

Please join us for an online panel discussion and Q&A on prospects, strategies and advice for startups in this challenging and quickly-changing economic landscape.

Panel Leader:

• Paul Ellis, Managing Partner, Paul Ellis Law Group LLC

Panelists:

• John Elton, Partner, Greycroft Partners
• Beth Ferreira, Partner, FirstMark Capital
• Rebecca Kaden, Managing Partner, Union Square Ventures

About Our Panel:

Paul Ellis, Managing Partner, Paul Ellis Law Group LLC

As Managing Partner of the 8-lawyer firm, Paul Ellis Law Group, Paul counsels on issues including formation, early-stage and venture financing, joint venture and strategic partnering relationships, employment, equity plans, mergers and acquisitions, and, together with his colleagues, protection and licensing of intellectual property. Beyond the internet/mobile/IT industries, he has practiced in industries including telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, banking, real estate, consumer products and entertainment. He has represented companies ranging from startups to multinationals, as well as funds and individual and institutional investors. Paul is a board member of NY Tech Alliance and organizes its events on legal issues for startup through midsize tech companies. He holds a BA from Harvard and a JD from Georgetown.

John Elton, Partner, Greycroft Partners

John is a Partner at Greycroft Partners and is based in the firm’s NYC office. Prior to Greycroft, John was a Partner at iNovia Capital for six years. While there, he worked with Greycroft on eight co-investments including: Babble (acquired by Disney), Collective, OggiFinogi (acquired by Collective), Vizu (acquired by Nielsen) and WorkFusion. John also led the firm’s investments in TripleLift, Chango, BeyondtheRack, and Lenddo. John was part of the early NYC startup community starting at 24/7 Media where he worked in Strategic Planning and later ran marketing for two of its products. Afterwards, at Turnstone Capital, John advised dMarc Broadcasting on its first round of institutional financing as well as an acquisition prior to its sale to Google. John started his career at Veronis Suhler Stevenson an investment firm focused on the media and communications industries. John holds a MBA from New York University with a dual specialization in Finance and Marketing and a BA Degree in Economics from Lehigh University. John is married with three kids and lives in the wilds of Westchester.

Beth Ferreira, Partner, FirstMark Capital

Beth Ferreira is a Managing Director at FirstMark Capital.  Prior she founded and was the Managing Partner at WME Ventures, the venture capital arm of WME IMG. An accomplished operations leader, company advisor and venture investor, Beth focuses on next generation commerce, consumer tech and enterprise companies.

Prior to this role, Beth was Chief Operating Officer at Fab where she led the strategic development and expansion of the company’s global operations and customer service infrastructure. As an early senior executive at Etsy, Beth served as Vice President, Finance & Operations and played a pivotal role in transforming the company into a lifestyle brand and profitable global e-commerce platform, seeing revenue growth skyrocket during her tenure. Before joining Etsy, Beth has also held positions at Flatiron Partners, The Boston Consulting Group and Union Bank of Switzerland.

Beth holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business.

Rebecca Kaden, Managing Partner, Union Square Ventures

Rebecca Kaden is a managing partner at Union Square Ventures. She began her career as a journalist and prior to USV was a General Partner at Maveron, a consumer-focused early stage fund. Rebecca was born in New York City. She studied English and American Literature at Harvard and received her MBA from Stanford.