VENTURE FUTURES
FORUMABOUT THE FORUM
Following the success of our inaugural Venture Forum in March, we're bringing the event back with a decidedly Oakland flavor for Tech Week.
At the Kissel Uptown, in the heart of downtown Oakland, we'll convene 75–100 Tech Week attendees for an afternoon discussion on the latest trends in startups and AI — as well as positions on the future of venture capital and economic mobility.
Immediately after the forum, we'll keep the conversations and good vibes going with a networking reception on the rooftop.
HOSTED BY
A $50M emerging seed fund investing in the top Black founders solving complex problems with software. Black Ops leads seed rounds and sets the operational and technical governance founders need to scale into Series A.
A nonprofit dedicated to helping underrepresented founders access the connections, funding, and visibility they need to build category-defining companies. Learn more →
A G E N D A
DRAFT · SUBJECT TO CHANGE
INNOVATOR'S FIRESIDE
An intimate conversation with a defining builder
We open the afternoon with a fireside featuring an Oakland-rooted innovator whose work has shaped how we build, invest, and scale. Speaker to be announced.
SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED
THE WEALTH NEXT DOOR
Tech money, transplants, and the local disconnect
Bay Area tech has created extraordinary wealth — yet that prosperity often skips the communities it lives next to. This panel examines the gap between newcomer capital and longtime Oakland residents, and what closing it would actually require.
SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED
WELL & GOOD
How philanthropy can drive outsized returns for Oakland
Catalytic capital, foundation investing, and community-aligned philanthropy can unlock outcomes traditional venture cannot. We'll explore models that are working — and how Oakland in particular can benefit.
SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED
A NEW ERA IN VC
How network and operational skill outperform capital
In a market where capital is increasingly commoditized, edge comes from network, operating experience, and on-the-ground know-how. We discuss what the next decade of venture leadership looks like.
SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED
THE VENUE
KISSEL UPTOWN
Downtown Oakland, California
Friday, October 2, 2026
1:00 PM – 6:00 PM · Rooftop reception to follow
A boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Oakland, with a rooftop made for the kind of conversations Tech Week is known for. We'll spend the afternoon together inside, then take it upstairs for drinks and connection at golden hour.
BOOK YOUR ROOM