Over the weekend, the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the Quest for Cash Bootcamp, an intensive, full-day workshop designed to demystify the fundraising process for high-potential startup teams. Through expert-led sessions, interactive workshops, and investor insights, founders from the NYU Entrepreneurs Challenge and beyond gained actionable strategies to secure funding and scale their ventures!
The day kicked off with David Rose, Founder & Executive Chairman of Gust, providing an in-depth look at the startup funding landscape. He broke down the different types of funding, when venture capital is the right fit, and how founders can position themselves for success. Rose also introduced the Pitch Story Arc, a proven framework for crafting an investor-ready pitch that builds momentum and drives interest.
A compelling pitch deck is essential for capturing investor interest. David Dabscheck, Co-CEO of GIANT Innovation, continued the day by leading a hands-on workshop on pitch storytelling, structure, and investor appeal. Founders explored best practices, analyzed examples of strong decks, and participated in a live pitch deck audit to refine their investor presentations.
During lunch, a powerhouse panel of founders who have successfully raised venture and non-dilutive funding, including Joe Landolina (Cresilon, Inc.), Nyamitse-Calvin Mahinda (Vital Audio Inc.), Tiffany Kelly (Curastory), and Joanna Patsalis (Direct Kinetic Solutions), shared firsthand insights on the realities of fundraising. Moderated by Mo Zhou, Co-founder of Alfred and Partner at Innovation Global Capital, the conversation covered best practices for building investor relationships, navigating due diligence, and structuring deals. The panelists emphasized the importance of setting the right cadence for investor communication, preparing a strong data room, and understanding the nuances of different funding sources, from venture capital to grants like NSF and NIH.
Fundraising success depends not just on pitching but also on understanding the legal and financial structures behind investment deals. Steph Mui, Founder & CEO of PIN, led a session focused on understanding terminology, running the deal process, and best practices for first time founders. Mui also explored alternative funding paths, including bootstrapping, angel investment, and crowdfunding, providing founders with a broader perspective on sustaining cash flow beyond traditional venture capital.
The afternoon featured a high-energy speed pitching session, where founders delivered 3-minute pitches to a panel of investors and received rapid, targeted feedback on storytelling, clarity, and investor appeal. Investors Jesse Bloom (SaaS Ventures), Karen Wang (Deutsche Bank Venture Capital), Leo Lu (Struck Capital), Michael Bank (Founders Committee Ventures), and Claudia Chen (Forepont Capital Partners) provided direct critiques, helping teams refine their presentations and improve their fundraising strategies.
After a day filled with expert insights and investor interactions, the bootcamp wrapped up with a final reflection session, where founders distilled key takeaways and shared their next steps. The Quest for Cash Bootcamp provided startup teams with invaluable guidance on navigating the complex world of fundraising, preparing them to take the next big leap in their entrepreneurial journeys.
