SVB-Synapse - Launch Educational Series - Miami

Join us for the first of three educational programs designed to provide early-stage founders with an overview of the skills needed to raise capital. Robbie Crabtree (bio below) will walk founders through the importance of storytelling when raising capital. Shortly after Mark Volchek of Las Olas Venture Capital (bio below) will walk everyone through some of the things not to do when raising capital.

Event Summary:

6:00pm - Robbie Crabtree Presents Storytelling

6:40pm - Mark Volchek Presents "Not to Do" in Capital Raising

7:10pm - Audience Q&A

7:30pm - The Bridge - Networking Hour

Robbie Crabtree (bio):

Robbie Crabtree spent the early part of his career as a trial lawyer in Dallas, TX where he tried 102 jury trials focused on robberies, murders, and child abuse. During that time, he also coached the national mock trial team at SMU Law School. After 7 years as a trial lawyer, he decided to take on a new challenge. He first founded an edtech startup that was acquired by On Deck at the end of 2020. He then became focused entirely on working with founders to transform them into world-class storytellers and fundraisers, launching Competitive Storytelling in 2021. Over the past 2 years, Robbie has worked with thousands of founders to help them become world-class storytellers and raise venture capital. Founders that he’s personally coached have raised over $330 million dollars and been backed by the biggest venture capital funds in the world. He's partnered with venture firms like Seven Seven Six and Mantis. He's also a venture partner at Antler where he runs the fund through rate program to help pre-seed founders go out and raise their seed rounds. The big question that drives him is how he can help founders with world changing ideas communicate those ideas to change the world.

Mark Volchek (bio):

Mark is a Founding Partner of Las Olas Venture Capital, which he started in in 2016. Prior to starting Las Olas VC, Mark spent about 15 years at Higher One, a company he co-founded in 2000 while a senior in college. In his roles as CFO, Chairman and then CEO, Mark has had a major hand in steering the company from its first round of seed funding and multiple rounds of venture funding all the way to its successful IPO in 2010, and beyond. He helped grow Higher One from just three founders to more than 1,000 employees and guide the company through multiple acquisitions exceeding $150mm in aggregate value. When Mark left in 2014, Higher One’s products and services supported more than 1,900 schools and approximately 13 million enrolled students.

Since 2008 Mark has been an active angel investor and has invested in over 30 companies. He was also a Director of the Founder Institute – South Florida, where he helps budding entrepreneurs get their companies started. Mark is the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010 New England Financial Services Award winner and was an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 National Award finalist. He has been a regional and national judge for the program from 2012-2018.

Mark holds a BA and MA in Economics from Yale University. He was a founding officer of the Yale Entrepreneurial Society and on its board from 2000 to 2010. This nonprofit organization promotes entrepreneurship among Yale students, faculty and alumni, and sponsors an annual business plan competition. Mark’s past civic roles include serving as Chairman of the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, and positions on the Florida Board of Take Stock in Children, the New Haven Economic Development Committee. He currently serves on the executive committee of Florida Venture Forum, as its Program Chair, and is also Vice Chair of the Fort Lauderdale Aviation Advisory Board.