Founder Stories, Unfiltered @ Focus Innovation Studio
Schedule
Fri Feb 20 2026 at 10:00 am to 01:00 pm
UTC-08:00Location
FOCUS Innovation Studio | San Francisco, CA
About this Event
What’s it really like to build a company?
Founder Stories, Unfiltered is an intimate, TED-style morning gathering where 3–5 founders take the mic for 5-minute, no-slides talks—just honest stories about the parts of the journey that don’t usually make it into pitch decks.
Expect real conversations about:
- What surprised them most along the way
- Challenges they didn’t see coming
- Lessons learned the hard way
- Mistakes, pivots, and moments of clarity
No polished presentations. No buzzwords. Just candid stories from people in the trenches.
The format is short, casual, and conversational—followed by time to connect with fellow founders, builders, operators, and investors over breakfast and coffee.
🗓 Agenda10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
☕ Curated Networking & Breakfast
Connect with founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders over a morning meal.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
🎤 Founder Stories, Unfiltered — TED-Style Talks
3–5 founders share 5-minute, no-slides talks about their journeys—covering unexpected challenges, lessons learned, pivots, and moments of clarity. Honest, candid, and real stories from people in the trenches.
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
🤝 Open Networking
Continue the conversation and build relationships with the community.
Whether you’re building, thinking about building, or just curious about the founder journey, this morning is a space to listen, learn, and relate.
☕ Casual vibes. Honest stories. Real connections.
Where is it happening?
FOCUS Innovation Studio, 181 2nd Street, San Francisco, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
