Leland+ for Startup Founders
Popular on Leland+
How to Break Into YC: Advice from Alumnus
Getting into Y Combinator is a dream for many founders—but the application, pitch, and selection process can feel opaque and daunting. In this session, join Nick V., co-founder & former COO of Relay (a YC-backed startup) and top-rated Leland coach, as he pulls back the curtain on what makes a YC application stand out. Nick will walk you through what YC looks for, how to frame your idea and progress, and what mistakes most founders make (and how to avoid them). You’ll leave this session with sharper clarity and concrete steps to strengthen your candidacy.
Scaling Startups: Lessons from the Trenches
In this panel, Arjun S., Daniel M. and Liza M. will share hard-won insights from scaling startups through the messy, high-growth stages. From finding product–market fit and building the right team to raising capital and navigating growing pains, you’ll hear real stories about what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons learned along the way. Whether you’re an early-stage founder, part of a startup team, or simply curious about the realities of scaling, this session will give you practical takeaways, candid advice, and inspiration to tackle the challenges ahead.
No Ivy, No Problem: How My Startup Got into Y Combinator
Think you need an Ivy League degree to make it into Y Combinator? Think again. In this workshop, Chanhyung K.—a Georgia Tech graduate, McKinsey alum, and Y Combinator founder—shares how he built and pitched a successful startup without the traditional pedigree. Drawing from his experience landing offers at McKinsey, JPMorgan, and FAANG while coming from a non-target school, Chan will reveal how to craft your founder story, stand out in competitive application pools, and navigate the YC process with authenticity and confidence. Whether you’re an aspiring founder or already building your startup, this session will show you how to turn unconventional beginnings into startup success.
How I Founded, Scaled and Exited my Brand Last Year
Cashmere is the Founder and CEO of Beauty Bakerie, a cosmetics company she built into a globally distributed brand before being acquired by West Lane Capital Partners. Sold in nearly 2000 locations worldwide and backed by more than $15M in venture capital, Beauty Bakerie grew into San Diego’s fastest-growing private company from 2015 to 2017 and developed a strong, multi-platform social media presence with over 1M followers. The brand earned recognition from publications including Allure, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, Good Morning America, Teen Vogue, Essence, Elle, Oprah, and BuzzFeed. As a founder who led vision, branding, product development, and overall strategy, Cashmere has firsthand experience navigating fundraising, hyper-growth, market expansion, and the acquisition process. In this session, she will share key lessons from scaling a consumer brand, building a team, developing products, working with retailers, and preparing for exit. Attendees will gain insight into what drives brand value, how to manage rapid growth, and the strategic decisions that shaped Beauty Bakerie’s trajectory from inception to acquisition.
Early Stage Startup Fundraising Panel
Raising capital is one of the biggest challenges early-stage founders face—and one of the most misunderstood. In this panel, you'll hear about the experience of Louis S., Jimmy M., and Garrett W., all founders who have gained wisdom and insight through their own entrepreneurial endeavors. We’ll cover what makes a compelling pitch, how to build relationships with investors before you need funding, what terms to watch out for, and how to decide whether fundraising is the right path for your startup. Whether you're preparing for your first round or just curious about how the process works, this session will give you real-world insight and actionable advice to navigate the fundraising journey with more clarity and confidence.
From Idea to MVP: The Early Stage Startup Journey
Turning a great idea into a viable product is no small feat. In this panel, hear from Audrey C. (Moringa School, LendHer Capital) and Brice D. (Zaymo) - founders and startup veterans who’ve successfully navigated the early-stage journey—from validating an idea and building a first version to gathering feedback and iterating fast. Our speakers will share hard-earned lessons, common pitfalls to avoid, and practical advice for moving from concept to launch. Whether you’re a first-time founder or just curious about the process, you’ll walk away with a clearer roadmap for bringing your vision to life.
Ask Me Anything: Entrepreneurship and Startups
Join us for an open Q&A with Rohit A., an experienced founder, startup advisor, and investor. Rohit will share candid insights from his journey building and scaling ventures, navigating fundraising, and working with early-stage teams. Whether you’re just exploring entrepreneurship or already building your own company, this is your chance to get personalized advice on topics like ideation, product-market fit, fundraising, hiring, and more. Bring your questions — no topic is off-limits.
Startup Insights: Lessons From Successful Founders
Building a company from the ground up comes with both challenges and breakthroughs. In this panel, you’ll hear directly from successful founders who have navigated the early stages of entrepreneurship and scaled their startups into thriving businesses. Our panelists will share candid stories about their journeys, the biggest lessons they’ve learned, and what they wish they knew when starting out. From fundraising and product development to hiring and growth, you’ll gain actionable insights into what it really takes to build and lead a successful startup.
