The idea
An accelerator turndown does not define a company. Building Forward brought early-stage founders together to explore what comes next, with space to speak openly about the uncertainty that comes with building. Held on October 7, 2026, at The Bungalow in San Francisco during TECH WEEK by a16z, the gathering was built around a grounded conversation, quite literally, with guest speakers sitting on the floor alongside founders.
One shared conversation
Julianna Vitolo of OMERS Ventures, Luca Stirbat of ReaktorX, and Paul Borowick of Underdog Labs sat with founders as the gathering became one shared conversation. People explained their situations, asked the questions they needed help with, and received feedback specific to what they were going through. The discussion covered raising capital and understanding where you stand, navigating accelerator decisions, and the pressure to keep building at the pace expected of startups.
The value of the setting
The setting made space for conversations that can be difficult to have elsewhere. Founders could believe in what they were building and still admit they did not know what to do next. Being able to say that out loud, and talk it through with people who took them seriously, was central to the experience. One attendee later said it was his favorite event of Tech Week, a reminder of the value a candid, personal conversation can offer.