Upcoming Events, Courses, and Talks

Raising a pre-seed round is a critical milestone for early-stage startups. At this stage, founders are often fundraising with limited traction and must clearly communicate vision, preparedness, and potential. This workshop is designed to help founders understand what it takes to successfully raise a pre-seed round and how to navigate the process with confidence.

Participants will explore what investors typically look for at the pre-seed stage, how to position themselves as credible founders, and how to think strategically about readiness before entering fundraising conversations. 

Who Should Attend:

• First-time founders

• Early-stage startups planning a pre-seed raise

• Founders seeking clarity on investor expectations

• Entrepreneurs preparing for future funding rounds

About the Instructor

Alex Lambert is the Venture Capital Manager at mHUB, where he plays a key role in advancing and executing the firm’s investment strategy in hardtech startups. He supports investments, fundraising, portfolio management, and investor engagement for mHUB Ventures, which deploys capital into early-stage hardtech companies at the intersection of manufacturing, MedTech, and sustainability.

Working alongside the Managing Partners, Alex helps drive corporate and institutional investor participation, source high-potential founders, and guide early-stage companies toward commercialization. He is actively involved throughout the full investment lifecycle—from due diligence and deal structuring to portfolio support.

Before joining mHUB, Alex worked at Merrill Lynch Private Banking, where he collaborated with financial advisors to manage client assets and develop long-term investment strategies.

He holds a business degree in Management and Entrepreneurship from Miami University (Ohio). Passionate about venture capital and the startup ecosystem, Alex is dedicated to backing the next generation of iconic hardtech startups. Outside of investing, he is an avid runner and serves on the NextGen Board of Chicago Run.