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Startup Conversations: Helping Startups Become Investment-Ready with Gagandeep Bakshi
Startup Conversations: Helping Startups Become Investment-Ready
Getting a startup ready for investment goes beyond having a good pitch. It involves helping founders understand when they are ready to seek capital, what investors look for, how to communicate their business potential, and how to navigate the investment process.
But what does this mean for the organizations supporting them?
Join us for Startup Conversations, an interactive discussion and meet-and-greet with Gagandeep Bakshi, designed for incubators, accelerators, and innovation hubs working closely with startups.
This is an opportunity to meet Gagan, hear from his experience, exchange insights, and engage in an open conversation on how startup support organizations can better prepare and guide founders through their investment journey.
Gagandeep Bakshi is Senior Director, Impact Investing at the William Davidson Institute (WDI) at the University of Michigan, where he leads the institute’s high-impact financing strategy and initiatives supporting enterprises and entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging markets.
Gagan brings over 20 years of experience in capital raising, capital structuring, mergers and acquisitions advisory, blended finance, and corporate finance across India, Africa, and South Asia. He has dedicated more than a decade to mobilizing capital for enterprises driving inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Previously, as Partner and Director at Intellecap, Gagan led the PE and M&A advisory practice, closing 40+ transactions valued at more than $700 million across healthcare, climate and renewable energy, and financial inclusion.
He also actively mentors entrepreneurs through masterclasses on capital raising, pitch development, and term-sheet negotiations, bringing a practical perspective on what it takes for startups to navigate the investment process.
What we’ll talk about:
What makes a startup investment-ready
How incubators, accelerators, and innovation hubs can prepare founders for investors
Common gaps startups face when seeking investment
What investors look for beyond the pitch
How startup support organizations can strengthen pathways to capital
Practical insights on capital raising and engaging with investors
More than a talk, Startup Conversations is a chance to meet Gagan, ask questions, share experiences, and connect with fellow ecosystem builders working to create better pathways for startups to access investment.
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM GMT+8- Tags
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African Biochar Alliance Summit
Restoring Africa’s soils, ecosystems and livelihoods through biochar. A focused summit where investors, producers, researchers, project developers and policy leaders explore commercialisation and scalable climate-smart solutions.
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22nd Annual Global Microfinance & Financial Inclusion Forum
Summary
The 22nd Annual Global Microfinance & Financial Inclusion Forum is a leading international microfinance conference bringing together senior executives from microfinance institutions (MFIs), development finance institutions (DFIs), banks, impact investors, regulators, NGOs, fintech companies, and multilateral organizations. Taking place in Barcelona, Spain, on 23–24 March 2027, the forum explores the future of financial inclusion, responsible finance, digital transformation, and sustainable development. Through expert keynotes, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, attendees will gain practical insights into AI in microfinance, impact investing, open banking, financial health, climate finance, cybersecurity, gender inclusion, and strategies for expanding financial access to underserved communities.DAY 1
Rebalancing Client Protection with Market Growth
Capital Flows into Microfinance: Where Will Growth Capital Come From in 2027?
Building Trust in Microfinance through Risk-Based Supervision
AI ROI in Microfinance
Scaling Entrepreneurship and Affordable Housing Through Partnerships, Capacity Building & Tailored Finance
The Changing Face of Funding: Surviving and Thriving as Development Aid Shifts
Upgrading Core Operations: Practical Approaches to Systems Transformation
Navigating MFI and Open Banking Integration
Modernizing Cross-Border Payments for Small Businesses
Financial Inclusion Beyond Credit: Savings, Payments & Long-Term Resilience
The “Human + Tech” Strategy: Reaching the Last-Mile Consumer SafelyDAY 2
Moving Beyond Repayment to Financial Health
Building Rural Resilience: De-Risking Smallholder Agriculture Finance
Climate-Smart Protection: Making Microinsurance Work at Scale
Liquid Assets: Structuring Sustainable Funding for Water and Sanitation
Market Survival and Financial Access in Conflict Zones
Safeguarding Financial Autonomy: Operational Design to Prevent Economic Coercion
Poverty Elimination: From Financial Inclusion to Poverty Elimination
Digital Trust: Fraud Prevention and Cybersecurity in Inclusive Finance
Closing the Gender Gap: Designing Products for Active Female Participation- Tags
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Global Wind and Solar Energy Expo
About the Conference
The Global Wind and Solar Energy Expo is an international conference and exhibition on May 24-26, 2027 in Amsterdam, Netherlands dedicated to accelerating innovation, collaboration, and investment in the global renewable energy sector. The event will bring together leading researchers, industry professionals, technology providers, policymakers, investors, and energy experts to explore the latest advancements shaping the future of wind and solar power.
As the world continues its transition toward clean and sustainable energy systems, wind and solar technologies are playing a vital role in transforming the global energy landscape. WINDSUN2027 will serve as a platform to showcase emerging technologies, share research breakthroughs, and discuss practical solutions for increasing renewable energy adoption.
The conference will highlight advancements in solar photovoltaic systems, offshore and onshore wind technologies, energy storage, smart grids, digital energy management, hybrid renewable systems, and innovative approaches supporting a reliable and resilient clean energy future.
Through keynote presentations, technical sessions, industry discussions, and networking opportunities, WINDSUN2027 aims to connect global stakeholders and foster collaborations that drive the next generation of renewable energy solutions.
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