4th VC-Backed Board Academy
New York, NY, 10001-2157
Event summary
The VC-Backed Board Academy (VCBA) is a program for both new and seasoned directors of venture capital-backed companies, crafted to elevate leadership in the boardroom.
Presented by Cooley, the UC Center for Business Law San Francisco, Nasdaq and Woodruff Sawyer, the VCBA is a one-of-a-kind executive seminar designed for board members of venture-backed companies, addressing their unique challenges and opportunities.
Led by a diverse roster of speakers, the curated agenda addressed the critical business and legal developments impacting the VC ecosystem. Participants came away from the event with actionable insights, equipped with the tools necessary to effectively govern a venture-backed company in 2025 and beyond.
Confirmed speakers
- Peter Adams – Partner at Cooley
- Asmau Ahmed – Chief AI and data officer at Varo Bank
- Tamim Bazzi – Partner at Cooley
- Matt Blumberg – CEO at Markup AI; co-founder and chairman at Bolster
- Abe Cable – Professor of law and faculty director at the UC Center for Business Law SF
- Kaley Childs Karaffa – Head of board advisory, Americas, at Nasdaq
- Priya Cherian Huskins – Senior vice president, management liability, at Woodruff Sawyer
- Mike Egan – Partner at Cooley
- Evan Epstein – Executive director at the UC Center for Business Law SF and adjunct professor of law at UC Law SF
- Danielle Gershowitz – Partner at Cooley
- Joe Hurd – Corporate director and operating partner at SOSV
- Vice-Chancellor Travis J. Laster – Delaware Court of Chancery
- Alice Lee – Senior counsel at RTW Investments
- Cat Middleton – General partner at The Venture Collective (TVC)
- Ryan Montgomery – Partner at Cooley
- Spela Prijon – Co-founder at EquityPeople
- Michael Romano – Chief business officer at Lightspeed
- Dan Siciliano – CEO at Linqto
- Jeff Thomas – Executive vice president, chief revenue officer, and global head of listings, capital access platforms, at Nasdaq
- Bradley Tusk – Co-founder and managing partner at Tusk Venture Partners
For more information, please email Rachel Mazzaferro.
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