What we’re about
Welcome to Skill Up & Network Silicon Valley!
We are a group of professionals and entrepreneurs committed to personal and professional growth & networking with like minded individuals.
Whether you're looking to grow your network, strengthen your professional and personal skillset or to be a stronger, more confident you, this group is for you.
We'll share tips, strategies, and resources for building better connections, improving communication, confidence and more.
All our meetups are online right now. Mostly free. We will hold talks, training and networking opportunities to help you develop and strengthen the skills you need to thrive in whatever you choose to do.
We look forward to seeing you on one of our meetups!
Upcoming events
62
Founder Real Talk featuring Dr. Willy Das - Founder Mental Health
Plug and Play Sunnyvale, 440 N. Wolfe Rd., Sunnyvale, CA, USThis event is being promoted by many groups.
This event is organized by Sway.
Our meetup group is collaborating by promoting this event.
In order to attend, please register here:
Founder Real Talk feat. Dr. Willy Das - Founder Mental Health · Luma
Our meetup members get 20 PERCENT OFF!
Use promo code:
IPODISCOUNT
Hurry!
Slots are limited!
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## 📣 Why this event matters
Founders don’t get a manual for what it feels like to run a startup. Pressure, isolation, burnout, and constant decision-making aren’t just “part of the job” — they quietly erode judgment, creativity, and team health.
This special edition of Founder Real Talk centers the hard but essential conversation about mental health for founders: how to recognize burnout early, how to build personal and organizational resilience, what practical supports actually work, and how the broader ecosystem (co-founders, executives, investors, and boards) can responsibly show up.
This conversation is for anyone who leads, hires, advises, or funds founders and wants concrete, evidence-based strategies to protect wellbeing while scaling responsibly.
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## 🔎 What we’ll dig into
We’ll keep it practical and short on fluff — expect tangible takeaways:
- Real signals of founder burnout and decision fatigue (what to look for, and when to act)
- Practical coping strategies founders can use immediately (schedules, boundaries, and clinical resources)
- Building a culture that normalizes care — how to support founders and teams without stigma
- Systems-level practices (investor check-ins, board governance, and mental-health friendly KPIs)
- When and how to get clinical help — therapy, coaching, and peer networks that actually move the needle
- Tools and frameworks for measuring and improving founder wellbeing over time
This is a “no-BS” conversation with actionable next steps, peer stories, and practical frameworks — plus time to connect with others who care about this problem.
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## 👥 Format
- Short, moderated conversation featuring Dr. Willy Das followed by an intimate audience Q&A and networking.
- Expect 60–75 minutes of programming + dedicated time afterward for connection.
- The room will be intentionally small to keep the conversation candid and useful.
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## 🎤 Featured speaker
Dr. Willy Das, Ph.D. — Senior Research Scientist & Curriculum Innovation Manager, Lehigh@NasdaqCenter / Lehigh University. Dr. Das researches and mentors at the intersection of entrepreneurship, wellbeing, and leadership — translating academic insights into practical support for founders and innovation communities.
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## 💡 Who should attend
- Founders and co-founders navigating growth and personal wellbeing
- Early execs and people leaders responsible for culture & retention
- Investors, advisors, and board members who want to support sustainable leadership
- Founders curious about evidence-backed approaches to resilience, stress management, and long-term performance
1 attendeeVenture Capital Panel + Funded Female Founders~SPONSORED BY INSPERITY
5 Palo Alto Square, Palo Alto, CA, USThis event is organized in collaboration with many groups.
This is an in-person event.
There is a cover charge for this event.
A "YES" RSVP on our meetup site does not confirm your reservation.
In order to attend, please register and pay here:
Venture Capital Panel + Funded Female Founders Tickets, Thu, Oct 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite
Take advantage of early responder pricing!
Hurry! Slots are limited!
Venue:
Snell and Wilmer
5 Palo Alto Square
(Ground Floor Event Center)
3000 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306A panel of distinguished venture capitalists and female founders will discuss funding in the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem.
Please come with your questions and comments.
(This is not a pitch event. Startups will not be pitching to the panel.)
Dinner will be provided.Agenda
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm Check In, Food, Networking, Demo Tables
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Program
8:30 pm to 9:00 pm Networking
After PartyPanelists:
(More panelists TBA.)Lochan Alagh, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, VC Nest
Karen Sheffield, Founder & Managing Partner, Pachamama Ventures
Yvonne Lutsch, Investment Director, Lam Capital
Winnie Qiu, Co-Founder, Avinasi Labs
Aimee Gotway Bailey, Founder and CEO, Rock Rabbit
Matineh Eybpoosh, Co-Founder and CEO, PowerlineModerator:
Roger Rappoport, Partner, Snell and WilmerIf you would like a startup demo table or sponsor marketing table, send an email message to:
pitchanddemo@gmail.com
Put this in the subject header:
Th 10/30/25 Tabler
Organizational Sponsors:
Insperity
HR-SolutionsInsperity champions the power of startups as a driving force behind America’s economic vitality.
Launching and scaling a successful business demands courage, resilience, and a relentless focus on building an exceptional workplace culture.
But it also requires getting the fundamentals right, from payroll and HR policies to employee benefits and regulatory compliance. That’s where Insperity comes in.
As a leader in outsourced human capital management, we deliver innovative HR solutions that help startups accelerate growth, reduce risk, and stay focused on what matters most: achieving their long-term vision.
Contact:
Lisa Fields
Business Performance Advisor
insperity.com/lisa.fields
Schedule a call
Lisa.Fields@insperity.comChordify, Inc
Helping Startups Grow
Need software development help for your startup?
Chordify provides Idea to MVP and fractional CTO services to ensure timely launches.
To learn how Chordify helps start-ups grow through offshore development and staff augmentation services, contact Ken Morris at:
LinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/kenmorris
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Visit:
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