Ready for Anything: IPOs, SPACs and Capital Market Shifts - #SFTechWeek

Name: Ready for Anything: IPOs, SPACs and Capital Market Shifts - #SFTechWeek
Start: 2026-10-07T00:30:00.000Z
End: 2026-10-07T03:00:00.000Z
Location: Foley & Lardner LLP

Tuesday, Oct 6

5:30pm – 8:00pm

Hosted by

❛ᴗ❛

°ᴗ°

ʘ‿ʘ

ᵔ▿ᵔ

•ᴥ•

The path to liquidity has rarely been harder to predict. IPO windows can open and close within weeks. The SPAC market continues to evolve. Private equity timelines shift unexpectedly. At the same time, growth companies are under increasing pressure to be prepared for multiple strategic outcomes. To explore these challenges, we are bringing together a select group of CFOs, founders, investors, and advisors for a candid, off-the-record conversation about what it means to be truly ready for today's capital markets environment. The evening is intentionally intimate, with no slides, no presentations, and no vendor pitches. Instead, the discussion will feature experienced operators and advisors sharing practical lessons learned from IPOs, SPAC transactions, public-company transitions, and strategic exits. Topics will include: - When, and whether, to pursue an IPO in today's environment - The SPAC reset and how SPACs compare with traditional listings - Private market pressures and investor expectations Dual-track and multi-track exit strategies - What boards, legal teams, bankers, and investors expect from management teams today Who Should Attend - CFOs and senior finance leaders at growth stage and pre-IPO companies - CEOs and founders weighing a raise, a listing, or an exit - Venture capital investors - Investment bankers - Corporate development and M&A leads Who'll Be There Panelists - Raymond Yue, SVP of Finance, Avalara. Previously led Sumo Logic through its IPO and served as CFO at Talkdesk. - Rohit Kulkarni, Partner & Chief AI Officer, Burnham Park Capital Markets - Louis Lehot, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP - Jeff Meyer, Managing Director, Protiviti Moderator - Ellie Yashiro, Managing Director, Silicon Valley Bank Hosts & Sponsors - Open Future Forum - Silicon Valley Bank - Foley & Lardner LLP - Robert Half | Protiviti This event is a part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.