What to expect

A live, interactive online conversation between McKeever "Mac" Conwell II, founder and managing partner of RareBreed Ventures, and Adeo Ressi, listed as CEO of Decile Group / VC Lab. It is part of Venture Trailblazers, a series connecting investors, founders and ecosystem leaders from the Founder Institute, VC Lab and FI Venture Network communities. The subject is pre-seed investing outside major tech hubs. Because it is online, treat it as a chance to hear how one pre-seed investor thinks, not as a way to meet people in the DMV.

Who should attend

The page names four audiences:

  • Emerging fund managers raising a first or second fund
  • Pre-seed founders outside major tech hubs or in underserved industries
  • Angel and accredited investors interested in emerging funds
  • Economic development leaders working on regional access to capital

Agenda and speakers

No timed agenda is published. Listed topics are:

  • Conwell's path from software engineer and two-time founder to running a community-driven fund
  • Raising a $10M first fund with 194 limited partners and low minimums
  • Identifying founders in overlooked markets and legacy industries
  • What he looks for at pre-seed, including customer acquisition
  • Building a fund for underrepresented founders and testifying before Congress on access to capital
  • Raising a second fund in a difficult market

Much of this list concerns fund building, so founders should expect only part of the session to address what they need for a raise.

How to join online

Meetup lists Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM with no time zone. The Founder Institute RSVP page showed 8:00 to 9:00 am with Los Angeles time selected, which would equal 11:00 AM to noon Eastern. Confirm the time on your registration. The video platform is not named, and the join link goes to attendees only.

How to register

RSVP through the Founder Institute registration page, linked from the Meetup event page. The form asks for your name, email, role and how you heard about the Founder Institute. Neither page states a price. The series is described as exclusive, but no eligibility rules are published.