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UID:10005276-1786462200-1786474800@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:Mercury Fund Day at the Ion: AI Product Design and Distribution: Lessons from Building at Scale
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to “Mercury Fund Day at the Ion” – a program series hosted by the Ion and Mercury\, where software founders can connect with mentorship at Houston’s HQ for innovation.  \nWhat is it: Mercury Fund Day\, previously known as Software Day\, is a monthly series driving the support\, inspiration\, and connections needed to help startups on their path to rapid\, sustainable growth. Each month\, Mercury Fund Day will include office hours (by application)\, a keynote session\, and networking. \nEach month will include a new speaker and topic covering the latest trends and breakthroughs in software technology and practical advice for founders. From AI to blockchain and guidance on fundraising\, explore topics that are relevant for your company’s journey.\n \nAfterward\, join us for a networking happy hour at Second Draught\, brought to you by Gunderson Dettmer\, where you can connect with fellow entrepreneurs\, investors\, and industry professionals\, forging connections that could shape the future of your venture. \nThis month’s topic: \nEvery enterprise software company says it’s going AI-first. Few have actually rebuilt the product\, the pricing model\, and the team around it. \nJoin us at Mercury Day at Ion Houston on August 11th for a working conversation with three people doing that rebuild from different seats: Mustafa Ali (Growth\, Twilio)\, Zafir Khan (Product\, Meta)\, and Salim Gheewalla (Founder\, Utilitise\, which replaced the IT help desk with AI that fixes problems before anyone notices). \nPanelists will get into what separates a great AI product experience from a clunky one\, when AI should run invisibly in the background versus prompt the user directly\, what consumption-based pricing does to a SaaS business model\, and how hiring changes when a team is building AI-native from day one. \nHosted by Heath Butler of Mercury Fund\, panelists include: \n\nMustafa Ali – Growth @ Twilio\nZafir Khan – Product @ Meta (former Mercury Intern)\nSalim Gheewalla – Founder @ Utilitise\n\nPrior to the fireside chat\, a select group of early-stage software startups will participate in office hours. Over the course of 2-hours\, first-time entrepreneurs looking for guidance or seasoned founders needing help tackling tough challenges will have access to a group of curated mentors from the Mercury network and gain insights and guidance tailored to their needs. Startups are invited to apply to participate here by Tuesday\, August 4.\n\n“Mercury Fund Day at the Ion” isn’t just an event – it’s a catalyst for growth and collaboration. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of Houston’s thriving tech ecosystem. Join us as we bring together leading mentors\, promising startups\, and like-minded Houstonians focused on transformative software innovations. \n 
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/mercury-fund-day-at-the-ion-how-legacy-software-giants-are-going-ai-first/
LOCATION:Ion – Forum Stairs\, 4201 Main St.\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
CATEGORIES:Founders & Startups,Investors & Capital,Keynote,Mentorship,Networking
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260811T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260811T193000
DTSTAMP:20260728T224449Z
CREATED:20260728T224449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T224449Z
UID:10005277-1786471200-1786476600@iondistrict.com
SUMMARY:FirstCheck: Investor Foundations (Online)
DESCRIPTION:Register here: https://luma.com/v74i7n5l \n​Before you invest in anything\, you need to understand how smart angel investing actually works. Not the mythology\, the mechanics. This course gives you that foundation. ​Participants gain clarity on: \n​How early-stage investing functions ​\nThe role investors play in innovation and wealth creation\n​Whether this asset class aligns with their long-term goals\n​The simple methodology that creates a more intentional entry point into investing ​ \nYou’ll leave this class with a clear picture of how capital flows\, how returns are generated\, and whether this asset class belongs in your long-term strategy.
URL:https://iondistrict.com/event/firstcheck-investor-foundations-online/
LOCATION:Ion\, 4201 Main Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77002\, United States
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