James Walker
Principal | Draper Associates
James is a Principal on the investment team at Draper Associates, splitting his time between new investments and portfolio company support. A generalist investor, his particular areas of interest include consumer tech, legal AI, health and wellness, and sports. Prior to DA, James was a corporate attorney with Latham & Watkins in Silicon Valley, where he specialized in emerging company matters and venture financing transactions.
James has a bachelor’s degree in business-economics and psychology from the University of California Santa Barbara, a J.D. from Duke University School of Law and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
30 MINS
Trading Floor
Before the Pitch: Raising Your Seed Round (+ Q&A)
Fundraising success is often determined long before the first pitch meeting. This session offers an in-depth look at what defines an effective fundraising process – from the steps founders should take months ahead of investor discussions to successfully closing a deal. Key topics include demonstrating founder-market fit, preparing for early diligence, understanding how different funds assess opportunities, and navigating their varying timelines. You’ll gain valuable insights into what investors focus on beneath the surface and an honest perspective on running a successful process in today’s competitive landscape.
This session will feature a short audience Q&A.
