

Monique Moran
Founder & CEO | Growth Assembly
Monique Moran is a board-governance certified growth advisor, award-winning Fortune 100 executive, founder, speaker, and strategic facilitator. With 20+ years of experience driving high growth, she partners with private equity-backed and Series A+ companies to optimize go-to-market plans and unlock new opportunities across teams, channels, and partnerships.
Monique turns bold visions into action—the more visionary and complex, the better. She sees the big picture and brings the right people and conversations together to deliver high-impact collaborations. Her strategic vision, combined with a ‘get it done’ approach to go-to-market execution, she bridges high-level strategy with tangible results.
As a growth officer, she specializes in go-to-market optimization, identifying new revenue streams, forging strategic partnerships, and leveraging operational automation to drive profitable growth. Her strategy-to-team implementation approach transforms businesses into connected, high-performing growth teams.
Founder Roundtables
Roundtables are exclusive to Startup passholders. Spots are limited to 9 attendees per table, and pre-registration is required via the Meeting Exchange platform.
We’ll host a total of five roundtable conversations during this 40-minute block. (more sessions being added soon)
Roundtable 1: Funding Before VC: How Founders Use SPVs to Raise Early Stage Capital
Before venture capital steps in, founders are using Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to raise early funding, attract strategic investors, and maintain cap table control. This interactive roundtable will break down SPV mechanics, share real-world case studies, and explore the benefits and challenges of this approach.
Alexander Morsink – CEO, Equivesto
Tanika McLeod – Co-Founder, OneCliq.io
Roundtable 2: Breaking Into Silicon Valley: How Founders Raise Capital & Win Investors
Silicon Valley is the heart of startup funding, but securing capital takes more than a great idea. This roundtable will explore how to craft a winning pitch, build investor relationships, and navigate the latest funding trends. Join us for practical strategies to stand out, raise capital, and scale your startup successfully.
Said Mia – Founder & Managing Partner, Stormbreaker Ventures
Roundtable 3: Customer Success as Your Fundraising Superpower
Investors bet on traction, retention, and happy customers—not just great ideas. This roundtable will explore how a strong customer success strategy can boost fundraising success. Learn to leverage engagement, retention metrics, and testimonials to attract investors, increase valuation, and prove long-term viability.
John Gleeson – Founder & General Partner, Success Venture Partners
Roundtable 4: The High Cost of Growth: Winning Customers Without Breaking the Bank
Acquiring new customers is more expensive than ever, forcing founders to rethink their growth strategies. How do you strike the right balance between attracting new users and maximizing retention? In this roundtable, we’ll discuss shifting acquisition costs, the role of brand loyalty, and tactics to drive sustainable growth. Join us as we share challenges, strategies, and insights on building a business that thrives beyond the first sale.
Monique Moran – Founder & CEO, Growth Assembly
Roundtable 5: Seed Fundraising in 2024: How to Raise Faster and Smarter
Great companies don’t just raise capital—they do it faster, more efficiently, and on better terms. Join Claire Fauquier of Brightspark Ventures for a candid conversation on what it takes to secure a successful seed round in today’s market. Learn what investors are really looking for, how to stand out in a crowded field, and key strategies to navigate the challenges of early-stage fundraising.
Claire Fauquier – Venture Partner, Brightspark Ventures