Register Today
Wednesday, February 19 — Friday, February 21, 2025
VC Comms Con is an invite-only gathering of marketing and comms professionals in the venture capital industry. We limit capacity to maximize the experience for each attendee. Don't wait! Snag your ticket today.
VC Comms Con is invite only. Don't have a code? See the FAQs below.
Session One Breakouts
Cliff Worley, Head of Portfolio Marketing at Kapor Capital
Cliff Notes: All things AI to make your fund fly
In today’s fast-paced venture landscape, AI is not just a buzzword—it’s a game-changer for venture capital firms looking to scale smarter, faster, and more efficiently. In this breakout session, Cliff will speak to his preferred AI technology and strategies for VCs. Whether you're new to AI or looking to enhance your current practices, this session will provide actionable insights to help you maximize efficiency with the latest AI tools.
Caroline Caswell, Marketing Partner at Operator Collective
Nailing Your Narrative: How to Run a Messaging Exercise that Sticks
What we do in VC is pretty much the same, so it's no surprise that the way we talk about ourselves follows a basic formula. In this session, Caroline will outline how to find your ~real~ value propositions and show up in a way that is distinct and compelling. She'll cover where to start, how to design a process that makes GPs pay attention and gets key stakeholders aligned, and what questions to ask to elicit actual points of view.
Dan Landau, Senior Marketing Manager at AI Fund
A Kick-Ass Founders Summit with a <$20k Budget
Want to host a powerful founders summit but only have a shoestring budget? In 2024 we pulled off the CEO & Co-founder Summit for under $20k, including travel expenses! With creativity, a scrappy startup mindset, and a network of killer sponsors, we were able to create a high-impact two-day summit packed with insightful sessions and fun networking. Learn how to thoughtfully integrate sponsors without making your attendees feel "sold to," leverage your network for big-name (and not-so-big-name) speakers, and design a summit that resonates with your community.
In this session, we will equip you with tips and tricks to host your own high-value, low-budget summit that your portfolio will rave about!
Jenny Bourne, Account Director, Climate Tech Pratice at BAM & Briana Trulear, Account Director, Healthtech Practice at BAM
-3.png?width=215&height=215&name=Untitled%20design%20(4)-3.png)
2025 Hot Takes: What didn't work in 2024 and how to optimize your media strategy in 2025
As the media landscape continues to evolve, understanding how to strategically manage your firm's public image is crucial. Led by Jenny Bourne and Briana Trulear, Account Directors of PR at BAM, this session will dive into the current state of media relations with a focus on venture capital firms, and what it takes to unlock a successful media strategy in today's dynamic landscape.
Session Two Breakouts
Melissa Sobel, Communications Partner at CapitalG & Susan Hager, Operating partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Andreesen Horowitz
A candid convo about managing multiple stakeholders and making each party feel special
The role of the internal comms/marketing leader at a VC fund comes with an unspoken skill: the finesse to work with an array of internal and external stakeholders, usually all at once. In this "table talk," veteran comms pros Melissa Sobel from CapitalG and Sue Hager from a16z offer tips and insights in how to support all stakeholders' interests without losing your focus and priorities.
Danielle Belopotosky, VP, Editorial at Anzu Partners & Pia Brandt, Marketing and Communications at Anzu Partners
Myth Busting the Effectiveness of Newsjacking
We've all been there, the dreaded email with "Did you see this story?" followed by "Can you reach out to the reporter?" or, worse, "What a missed opportunity for the {Company.}" Newsjacking can be a tactical response, but is it effective? In this session, we'll discuss lessons learned, debunk some myths, and share strategies that leverage resources and information that (most likely) are already in your toolbox. We all have a list of hits and misses, but there's value in this approach - with measurable outcomes.
Rachel Hodes, Director of Platform at NextView Ventures
How to Build a Founder Retreat That Knocks Their Socks Off
Whether you're building a founder retreat or CEO summit, planning a large-scale, multi-day event comes with its fair share of unique challenges. During this session, Rachel Hodes, NextView's Director of Platform, will go deep on how she was able to produce the firm's first-ever founder retreat (with a net promoter score of 9.32, no less). From budget to venue, from programming to comms, from yield metrics to working with third-party vendors, we'll jam out on what it takes to build an effective and meaningful offsite for the founders in your portfolio.
Louisa Mesnard, CMO & Head of Sustainability at Elaia
Communicating Strategic Partnerships: The Elaia & Lazard Partnership
In April 2024, Lazard, a global leader in active asset management, and Elaia Partners, an established European venture capital firm, signed a strategic partnership agreement to create a leading European player focused on investment in technology companies.
Louisa Mesnard, CMO of Elaia, will unpack the strategic communication playbook behind the Elaia & Lazard partnership. In this session, you'll learn how to align stakeholders, manage expectations, and craft messaging that builds long-term value — all while keeping it an internal secret. Whether you're negotiating high-stakes deals or refining your partnership strategy, you will go home with tools to elevate your firm’s communication game and maximize impact. For CMOs looking to drive growth through powerful partnerships, this session is a must.
Session Three Breakouts
Lorraine Sanders, Head of Content at Alpaca VC
Visibility Unblocks: Maybe it’s not Imposter Syndrome after all
For the last few years, Imposter Syndrome has gotten all the hype. While, yes, it is a real thing, it’s NOT the reason so many high-performing people want to get visible – yet fail to do so effectively. Here’s what’s standing in the way for so many people: Visibility Blocks. Visibility Blocks are a product of our reptile brains, which struggle to keep us safe by sending alarm signals anytime we try to stand out from the crowd. The result? Unwarranted fears of public speaking, LinkedIn posting paralysis, two hours of prep to post a 30-second video…the list goes on.
In this session, I’ll dive more into what Visibility Unblocks are, and my simple strategies to remove self-objections to visibility, bolster your visibility mindset and make putting yourself out there easier, more effective – and enjoyable.
Ana Yoerg, VP Marketing at At One Ventures
Get Out of the GP Thought Leadership Rut
Who is tired of bylines, briefings and branded content? While "VC comms" might be what you were hired to do, it could be time for a change – while still meeting the same objectives and satisfying all stakeholders (Partners, LPs and Founders). Learn how to justify shifting your role from firm comms/PR to portfolio support, and then get the step-by-step plan to set yourself up for success in that new job you just gave yourself.
Katie Andresen, Head of Platform at Better Ventures
Empowering Founders: Encouraging mental health conversations and support in VC
In the high-stakes world of startups, founder burnout and mental health challenges are increasingly prevalent, yet, often overlooked. This session offers a practical playbook for VCs to proactively support founders' mental well-being. Join us to learn how you can make a meaningful difference in your founders' lives while potentially improving your fund's performance.
In the session, we'll cover:
• Strategies for building comprehensive mental health resources and programs tailored to founders' unique needs
• Techniques for creating a supportive ecosystem that encourages founders to prioritize their mental health
• Methods to develop strong, trust-based relationships with founders, allowing for early intervention and support
• Effective approaches to secure buy-in from General Partners, aligning mental health initiatives with fund objectives
Session Four Breakouts
Ju-Djuin (JD) Csontos, Head of Marketing & Community at Fika Ventures
Supercharging Your Marketing KPIs with a Compelling 'Why'
In this session, you will learn how to enhance your marketing KPIs by establishing a clear purpose. Defining your "why" is essential for improving your strategies in content creation, brand management, events, and portfolio support. Get practical insights on how to develop a marketing playbook that delivers measurable results while simplifying the KPI-setting process to ensure they are relevant and attainable. By concentrating on high-impact strategies, you can maximize your marketing efforts and differentiate your firm in the competitive VC landscape.
This session will equip you with actionable tips, whether you're new to VC or looking to refine your marketing approach.
Scott Brown, Partner and Head of Platform at Cervin Ventures
Crisis comms: What happens when it’s your GP that “exits”?
In an environment where partners tend to focus more on “the next deal” than on business operations and the longevity of the firm, how do you prepare for the sudden departure of one your GPs? How do you balance business continuity with the personal news?
In this session, Scott Brown will share the lessons learned from the unexpected passing of his firm’s co-founder and management company owner.
Leandra Elberger, Head of Platform at Atento Capital & Vondell Burns, Director of Marketing and Communications at Atento Capital
The Power of Platform: Elevating relationships through integrated communications
Who is tired of bylines, briefings and branded content? While "VC comms" might be what you were hired to do, it could be time for a change – while still meeting the same objectives and satisfying all stakeholders (Partners, LPs and Founders). Learn how to justify shifting your role from firm comms/PR to portfolio support, and then get the step-by-step plan to set yourself up for success in that new job you just gave yourself.
Meet the Media
