Fundraising Breakfast: Diane Choi, Samsung Next
- Date
- 2025-06-17
- Location
- New York, NY, USA
- Host
- Personal
About this event
If you care about how early-stage companies get funded, grow relationships that matter, and learn from people who sit close to the decision-making, this breakfast is worth putting on your calendar. Fundraising Breakfast: Diane Choi, Samsung Next is built for real conversation in a room of people who are serious about startups, capital, and the networks that help both move. This is not a passive, sit-in-the-back kind of morning. It is an in-person gathering in New York designed to bring together founders, operators, and members of the startup community for a focused conversation around fundraising, followed by the kind of networking that is often most useful when it happens face to face. About the Event At its core, this event is a community-driven fundraising breakfast centered around Diane Choi of Samsung Next. The format is simple in the best way: start the day with thoughtful discussion, meet people who are actively building and backing companies, and leave with a clearer sense of how to approach fundraising conversations in today’s market. Because it takes place over breakfast, the tone is naturally more direct and conversational than a large evening panel or crowded conference session. That matters. Morning events tend to attract people who came to engage with intention, not just to make an appearance, which makes the room more useful for anyone looking to have substantive conversations. This gathering also sits at the intersection of several valuable communities: fundraising, networking, meetup, and social connection. That mix makes it especially relevant if you want both insight and access. You are not just showing up to hear ideas; you are showing up to meet other people who are actively thinking about company-building, investment, and what strong founder-supporter relationships look like. What to Expect You should expect a morning that combines discussion and connection in a format that respects people’s time. While the exact run of show may vary, the event is best approached as a breakfast gathering with room for both structured conversation and informal networking. Likely highlights include: A featured conversation connected to fundraising and the broader startup landscape In-person networking with other attendees in the New York startup and investing community A more intimate setting than a large conference, making it easier to introduce yourself and continue conversations A timely, practical tone suited to founders, operators, and community members who want substance rather than abstract theory The breakfast format also changes the energy of the room. People tend to arrive ready to talk about what they are building, what they are raising, what they are seeing in the market, and where they need help. That creates a good environment for making introductions, pressure-testing your story, and hearing how others are navigating similar challenges. If you are a founder, come prepared to speak clearly about your company and what you are looking for. If you are an operator, investor, or ecosystem connector, come ready to share perspective and meet people outside your immediate circle. The most valuable moments at events like this often happen between the formal segments: a question after a discussion, a quick introduction over coffee, or a follow-up conversation that starts because you happened to be in the room. Why Attend Fundraising is rarely just about the pitch deck. It is about timing, relationships, pattern recognition, and the ability to communicate what matters to the right people. Events like this help you sharpen all four by putting you in a setting where the conversation is closer to the real dynamics of the startup ecosystem. There is also a practical advantage to attending an event focused on fundraising in person: you get context that is hard to replicate online. You can hear how people frame problems, notice which questions come up repeatedly, and get a better sense of what resonates in live discussion. That kind of signal is useful whether you are actively raising now, preparing to raise later, or trying to support founders more effectively. You may leave with: A stronger understanding of fundraising conversations and how people in the ecosystem think about them New relationships with founders, operators, and community members in New York Better language for describing your company, role, or investment focus Useful follow-up opportunities, from coffee chats to future introductions Just as importantly, you will be in a room with people who have self-selected into a morning conversation about building and backing companies. That usually means a higher-quality network mix than broader social events, and a better chance that the people you meet will be relevant to your current work. Practical Details This is an in-person event in New York, USA on Tuesday, June 17 at 9:00 AM EDT. Because it takes place in the morning, plan to arrive a little early so you can settle in, grab breakfast, and make the most of the networking before the main conversation gets underway. An in-person setting is part of the value here. It creates more room for direct interaction, more natural follow-up conversations, and a stronger sense of who is in the community around you. If your goal is to build real relationships rather than just collect names, showing up in person makes a difference. A few ways to prepare: Bring a concise introduction to who you are and what you are working on Think about one or two smart questions you would want to ask in a fundraising-focused room Be ready to follow up with people you meet after the event Dress in a way that feels polished and comfortable for a professional breakfast gathering If you value smart rooms, honest startup conversation, and the chance to make useful connections before the workday fully begins, this breakfast is a strong use of your morning.
Who should attend
This is for people who want startup conversations to be more useful, more direct, and more connected to real fundraising dynamics. - **You are a founder** who is raising now, expects to raise soon, or wants a sharper understanding of how to navigate investor conversations before you are officially in market. - **You work in venture, platform, or startup support** and want to meet founders and ecosystem peers in a setting that makes real conversation easier than a large conference or crowded happy hour. - **You are an operator at an early-stage or growth company** and want to better understand how fundraising shapes company-building, hiring, strategy, and momentum. - **You are active in the New York startup community** and want to expand your network with people who are thoughtful, engaged, and likely to be relevant to your work. - **You value intimate, in-person events** where you can actually introduce yourself, ask a good question, and leave with a few meaningful follow-ups instead of a stack of shallow contacts. - **You are curious about the fundraising landscape** and want insight from a room where capital, community, and company-building naturally overlap.