Founder and Investor Roundtable Series: NYC
- Date
- 2026-04-16
- Location
- New York, NY, USA
- Host
- Plug In Ventures
About this event
If you build, back, or actively support startups, this roundtable is designed to put you in the room with people who can sharpen your thinking and expand your network. The Founder and Investor Roundtable Series: NYC brings together founders, investors, and operators for an in-person conversation that is focused, candid, and useful from the moment you arrive. About the Event This is a meetup built around real dialogue rather than passive listening. Instead of a one-way presentation, the roundtable format creates space for founders and investors to exchange perspectives, compare notes on what is changing in the market, and talk through the opportunities and challenges that matter right now. The New York setting makes this especially valuable. NYC is one of the most active startup ecosystems in the world, with early-stage founders, operators, and investors all moving quickly across sectors and stages. Bringing that mix into one room creates a practical environment for better conversations, stronger introductions, and more informed decision-making. Because this is positioned as part of a roundtable series, you can expect a gathering that values substance over scale. The emphasis is on quality interactions, thoughtful participation, and meeting people who are serious about building companies, supporting them, or investing in them. What to Expect The event is designed to feel structured enough to be productive, while still leaving room for natural conversation. You should expect a flow that helps people get oriented quickly and move into meaningful discussion without wasting time. Likely elements of the afternoon include: Welcome and informal arrival time to meet other attendees and get a sense of who is in the room Roundtable-style discussion focused on founder and investor perspectives Open networking where conversations can continue one-on-one or in small groups Community connection with people working across tech, startups, and adjacent roles The value of a format like this is that it gives everyone a chance to contribute. Founders can talk openly about fundraising, growth, hiring, product, or market timing. Investors can share what they are seeing across companies and sectors. Operators and community builders can add practical insight from inside startup teams and ecosystems. Expect discussions to be grounded in current realities rather than generic advice. In a room like this, the most useful exchanges often come from hearing how others are navigating similar decisions, where expectations are shifting, and what signals people are paying attention to in the market. Why Attend If you are a founder, events are only worth your time when they lead to better conversations than the ones you could have over email or on social platforms. This roundtable is built for that higher bar. It gives you the chance to meet investors and peers in a setting that supports real discussion, not rushed intros. If you are an investor, this is an efficient way to build relationships with founders and stay close to the energy of the startup community in New York. You get to hear directly from people in the middle of building, which often reveals more than a polished pitch ever can. More broadly, attending can help you: Expand your network intentionally with people relevant to your work Hear unfiltered perspectives from both sides of the founder-investor relationship Spot common challenges and patterns across fundraising, company building, and market conditions Build follow-up opportunities for future conversations, partnerships, or investments Stay connected to the NYC tech community in a format that feels more focused than a large mixer This event is especially useful if you want a room that balances relationship-building with substance. You should leave with stronger context, a few memorable conversations, and a clearer sense of who you want to continue talking to afterward. Practical Details The event will take place in person in New York, USA on Thursday, April 16 at 2:00 PM EDT. As an in-person gathering, it is a good fit for people who want the energy and efficiency of face-to-face conversation, especially when discussing startup and investment topics that benefit from nuance and trust. Because the event sits at the intersection of tech, community, networking, meetup, and social, you can expect a professional atmosphere that is still approachable. This is not just about exchanging business cards. It is about spending time with people who understand the startup landscape and are interested in thoughtful conversation. A few useful ways to prepare: Come ready to introduce yourself clearly in a few sentences Be specific about what you are building, investing in, or exploring Bring questions that can open strong discussions with founders or investors Leave room in your schedule after the event in case the best conversations continue If you want a smart way to spend an afternoon in NYC with people who are actively shaping and funding startups, this roundtable is a strong room to be in.
Who should attend
This is for people who want stronger startup conversations, not just more contacts. - You are a **founder** looking to meet investors, peers, and experienced operators in a setting that supports genuine discussion. - You are an **investor** who wants direct access to founders, current market perspectives, and a better read on what people are building in NYC. - You work in **tech or startups** and want to stay close to the founder-investor ecosystem, whether you are an operator, advisor, scout, or community builder. - You value **in-person networking** and prefer thoughtful, smaller-format conversations over crowded events where interactions stay surface-level. - You are exploring your next step in the startup world and want to learn by being in a room with people actively building, funding, and connecting companies. - You want to leave with **useful follow-ups**: people to reconnect with, ideas to pressure-test, and relationships that could turn into partnerships, hiring conversations, or future investment opportunities.