Pitch an Investor and Network at Microsoft by FounderSquare
- Date
- 2024-12-12
- Location
- New York, NY, USA
- Host
- FounderSquare
About this event
If you want more than casual small talk and business cards that go nowhere, this event is built for you. Pitch an Investor and Network at Microsoft by FounderSquare brings founders, builders, and ambitious professionals into one room for focused conversations, real-time feedback, and the kind of networking that can actually move ideas forward. Set in person in New York on Thursday, December 12 at 6:00 PM EST, this meetup combines the energy of a startup gathering with the structure of a pitch-focused evening. It is a chance to practice how you talk about what you are building, hear how others frame their ideas, and meet people who understand the pace and pressure of building something from scratch. About the Event This is an in-person networking and pitch event hosted by FounderSquare at Microsoft in New York. At its core, the evening is designed to create space for founders and startup-minded attendees to connect around one of the most important skills in early-stage business: explaining your idea clearly, confidently, and in a way that earns attention. The format is especially useful if you are working on a company, testing a concept, or looking to become more fluent in investor conversations. Rather than relying on vague networking alone, the event centers the room around a practical activity: pitching and responding. That structure tends to lead to better conversations, faster context, and more meaningful introductions. You do not need to show up with a polished fundraising deck to get value from the evening. Events like this are often most helpful when attendees come ready to talk honestly about what they are building, what they are stuck on, and what kinds of people they hope to meet. What to Expect Expect a mix of networking, startup conversation, and live pitch energy. The evening will likely bring together founders, operators, aspiring entrepreneurs, and ecosystem participants who want to sharpen their message and meet others doing the same. A typical experience at an event like this may include: Time to meet other attendees before or after the main activity Opportunities to introduce yourself and your work in a concise way Founder conversations centered on ideas, traction, fundraising, and next steps A pitch-oriented component that gives the room a clear focus Informal follow-up discussions sparked by what people share Because the event is hosted in person, you can expect the kinds of interactions that are hardest to replicate online: quick readouts on chemistry, spontaneous side conversations, and direct feedback in the moment. If you are someone who learns by listening to how other people present, this setting can be especially useful. The networking side matters just as much as the pitching. Some attendees will come to present an idea, others to meet founders, and others to understand what is happening in the local startup community. That variety usually makes for a stronger room, because not every valuable connection has to be a formal investor-founder exchange. Why Attend If you are building something, one of the most valuable things you can do is improve how you talk about it. This event gives you a live environment to test your message: what lands, what gets questions, what feels too broad, and what immediately creates interest. Even listening to other people pitch can help clarify how to sharpen your own story. There is also a practical networking advantage to attending an event with a defined purpose. When everyone knows the room is centered on startup ideas, investment thinking, and founder connection, conversations become easier to start and more useful. You spend less time explaining why you are there and more time getting into specifics. You may walk away with: New founder connections in New York Useful feedback on how you describe your company or idea Better language for investor or partner conversations Insight into what other builders are working on right now Momentum from being in a room with people actively creating, testing, and connecting For early-stage founders especially, momentum often comes from small but important moments: a sharper one-line pitch, a new introduction, a useful piece of feedback, or a conversation that changes your next step. This event is well suited to that kind of progress. Practical Details This is an in-person event in New York, USA, taking place at Microsoft. The event starts at 6:00 PM EST on Thursday, December 12, making it a strong fit for attendees coming after the workday and looking for an evening that is social but still professionally useful. Because the gathering is in person, plan to arrive with enough time to check in, get oriented, and settle into the room before conversations begin. If you are attending to network, it helps to be ready with a short introduction about who you are, what you are building or exploring, and what kinds of people you would like to meet. A few practical ways to prepare: Practice a concise version of your pitch or self-introduction Be ready to explain your current stage, challenge, or goal Bring curiosity, not just an ask Leave space for follow-up conversations after the main activity Whether you are actively fundraising, refining an idea, or simply trying to meet serious people in the startup world, this event offers a focused reason to be in the room. If you value strong conversations, useful context, and a community of people who are building, this is a smart way to spend your Thursday evening.
Who should attend
This is for you if you want networking with more structure, more substance, and more startup relevance than a typical meetup. - **You are a founder or startup operator** who wants to meet people in New York who understand building, pitching, and early-stage momentum. - **You are preparing to talk to investors**, or simply want to get better at explaining your company, product, or idea in a clear and compelling way. - **You are an aspiring entrepreneur** looking to learn by listening to how others present their ideas, answer questions, and frame opportunities. - **You want high-signal networking**, not just social mingling. You value conversations that quickly get to what someone is building, where they are stuck, and how you might help each other. - **You are part of the startup ecosystem** and want to meet founders, collaborators, and ambitious peers in a focused in-person setting. - **You learn best in the room** by hearing live reactions, noticing what resonates, and having direct follow-up conversations right after the pitch energy kicks in. If you are curious, building, exploring, or looking for your next meaningful startup connection, you will likely feel at home here.