The Inside Track to Fundraising: Lessons from 200+ Pitches & Company Evaluations
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 12:00 PM PST – 1:00 PM PST
Virtual event
Hosted by Aquillius
Join us as we sit down with seasoned investor and healthcare leader Jeff Berman for a candid, data-driven look at how investors really evaluate founders — and what separates the startups that get funded from those that don’t. After reviewing 200+ company pitches & evaluations, Jeff has seen every version of the “next big thing.” Now he’s sharing what works, what fails, and how founders can build their fundraising advantage in one of the toughest capital markets in years. Moderated by Leah Villegas, Co-Founder of Aquillius, this live discussion will uncover the investor mindset, highlight key founder blind spots, and preview how Big Tree’s new Start Up Academy helps founders close those critical gaps. Reserve Your Seat Now — space is limited for this high-energy, insider conversation. Don’t miss your chance to hear how top investors think — and learn how to create your founder advantage heading into 2026. This webinar will be recorded About Jeff Berman With a 35-year career spanning healthcare, life sciences, and digital innovation, Jeff Berman brings rare depth as both investor and operator with track record of $1.5B in returns for top tier health systems, Fortune 100 Life Science companies and innovators. · Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Big Tree Innovation Fund — investing in, mentoring, Healthcare & Life Science start-ups across the U.S. · Former Managing Partner, Grant Thornton National Healthcare & Life Sciences Business · Former VP & Partner at IBM and PwC, building & managing large-scale businesses and leading global transformation programs for Fortune 100 Healthcare & Life Science clients. · Entrepreneur & Exit Leader — founded and scaled a SaaS cloud platform acquired through M&A. When it comes to evaluating founders and building fundable companies, Jeff has seen what truly moves investors — and what doesn’t.