Founder Friday: Building Ventures, Investing in Founders

About this event

Join us for Founder Friday with Evan Poncelet . Evan will share insights from his journey across software, entrepreneurship, and venture capital, offering students a look at navigating the startup ecosystem and supporting early-stage companies.

Students will gain insights into:

• Key considerations for building and growing a venture

• How venture capital can support early-stage companies

• The role of community and networks in the startup ecosystem

• How technical and business experience can shape a career in innovation

Whether you’re interested in startups, venture capital, or building a career in the innovation ecosystem, this Founder Friday is for you.

About Evan

Evan is the Founding Managing Partner of Dreamward Ventures and Executive Director of Venture Black, a nonprofit supporting Black and ally founders and investors across the Pacific Northwest. He brings over a decade of experience in the software industry, working as a developer and program manager in Seattle and Silicon Valley. Evan is a fellow of the VC Lab Venture Institute and BLCK VC Black Venture Institute. He holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Gonzaga University and an M.S. from Seattle University.

About Founder Friday

Founder Friday is a quarterly event hosted by Seattle University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) . Each session features an Seattle U alum founder who shares their entrepreneurial journey with students, alumni, faculty, and the community. Events are free, open to the public, and include light refreshments.