UGLY TALK: WHY INCLUSIVE INVESTING IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS

Despite years of attention on diversity in venture capital, funding outcomes have shifted more slowly than many expected. The question is no longer just whether the gap exists. It’s why it persists.

Is the challenge rooted in limited access to networks, investor pattern matching, sourcing practices, fund economics, unconscious bias, or something more complex?

This Ugly Talk brings together investors with different perspectives to unpack the realities behind today’s funding gap and explore what it would take to build a stronger, more inclusive venture ecosystem.

🎯 Why You Should Attend

• Understand the structural factors that influence funding decisions beyond the startup itself.

• Learn how investor sourcing, networks, and pattern matching shape deal flow.

• Gain insight into how investors evaluate opportunities and think about inclusive investing.

• Discover practical strategies for building relationships and expanding fundraising opportunities.

• Leave with actionable ideas for navigating today’s venture ecosystem and contributing to meaningful change.

🙋 Who's Getting In This Room

• Early-stage founders raising pre-seed through Series A

• Emerging fund managers

• Angel investors

• Accelerator leaders

• Ecosystem builders

• Anyone interested in improving access to venture capital

🎤 Who’s Taking the Stage

A panel of three investors with different perspectives on venture capital, inclusive investing, and the realities of funding exceptional founders.

Moderator:

Victoria Yampolsky - President at The Startup Station

Victoria Yampolsky is the Founder and President of The Startup Station, a strategic CFO advisory firm and financial education platform for startups. She partners with founders on financial strategy, modeling, and fundraising, having supported over 150 companies across 15 industries in raising more than $50M in venture capital. Victoria is also an advocate for female founders and access to capital, and has taught finance to more than 20,000 entrepreneurs through programs including the Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell. Victoria also runs premiere Speed Pitch events connecting founders and investors in 1:1 meetings. She began her career at Deutsche Bank and Capgemini, and holds a BS in Computer Science from Cornell University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

💬 What We Do Not Sugarcoat

• What funding trends reveal and what they miss

• Why gaps in access to capital continue to persist

• How networks, warm introductions, and sourcing shape opportunity

• The role of pattern matching, bias, and investor decision-making

• What signals investors look for when evaluating companies

• How fund economics and LP expectations influence who gets backed

• What the ecosystem can do differently to broaden access and identify overlooked opportunities

🎁 Additional Perks

As part of our commitment to supporting founders, The Startup Station is offering all attendees four bonuses valued at $150.

• Essential Fundraising Pack ($50 value)

  • 50 Most Frequently Asked Investor Questions (including financial questions)

  • Sample intro letter template for investor outreach

  • Business Model Analysis Roadmap - A Guide to Creating Credible Financial Model Assumptions

• *“Nail Your Financial Pitch” $100 value) - Recording of the 60-Min Master Class and Presentation

🤝 Who's Hosting It

The Startup Station is a CFO advisory and financial education platform for early-stage startups. We help founders build investor-ready financials and tell their funding story with confidence. Over the past decade, we’ve supported 150+ founders in raising over $50M and educated 20,000+ entrepreneurs worldwide. The Startup Station also runs Speed Pitch, an investor-founder matchmaking series where startups are matched with investors based on sector, stage, and check size.

🤝Who's Backing This

GREY Journal – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).

​⭐ About Ugly Talk:

Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.

With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.

Official Website: UglyTalk.com

📢 ​Important Notice for Ugly Talk Attendees

Admission & Confirmation
Attendance is by approval only. Approved guests will receive a confirmation email along with a calendar invite. Invitations are non-transferable. Additional event details will be shared as the event approaches.

Code of Conduct
By attending, you agree to:

• Maintain respect and professionalism, adhering to all venue rules, policies, and applicable laws.

• Refrain from harassment, discrimination, unwelcome sexual advances (verbal or physical), intimidation, or inappropriate photography/recording.

• Report any violations to the event hosts immediately.

Violations may result in immediate removal from the event and exclusion from future invitations.

Liability & Risk
Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. The event organizers, hosts, sponsors, and venue are not liable for personal injury, lost or stolen belongings, or any other damages incurred during the event.

Media Consent
By attending, you grant the event organizers and affiliated entities the right to capture, use, and distribute photos, videos, and audio recordings of you for promotional, marketing, and other lawful purposes, including digital and print media, advertising, and social media. You waive any right to inspect or approve the final materials and release all claims related to their use.

Communications
By registering, you agree to receive marketing and promotional communications from Ugly Talk and its co-hosts, partners, and sponsors. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Agreement
If you do not agree to this Code of Conduct, please refrain from attending the event.

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Official Event Page: [Link]