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SF Tech Week 2026

Ready for Anything: IPOs, SPACs and Capital Market Shifts

Hosted by Open Future Forum and Robert Half | Protiviti

When
5:30 – 8:00 PM
Where
SOMA
Format
Panel / Fireside Chat
Ready for Anything: IPOs, SPACs and Capital Market Shifts artwork

/ About this event

The path to liquidity has rarely been harder to predict. IPO windows can open and close within weeks. The SPAC market continues to evolve. Private equity timelines shift unexpectedly. At the same time, growth companies are under increasing pressure to be prepared for multiple strategic outcomes.

​To explore these challenges, we are bringing together a select group of CFOs, founders, investors, and advisors for a candid, off-the-record conversation about what it means to be truly ready for today's capital markets environment.

​The evening is intentionally intimate, with no slides, no presentations, and no vendor pitches. Instead, the discussion will feature experienced operators and advisors sharing practical lessons learned from IPOs, SPAC transactions, public-company transitions, and strategic exits.

​Topics will include: - When, and whether, to pursue an IPO in today's environment ​- The SPAC reset and how SPACs compare with traditional listings ​- Private market pressures and investor expectations ​Dual-track and multi-track exit strategies ​- What boards, legal teams, bankers, and investors expect from management teams today ​ Who Should Attend ​- CFOs and senior finance leaders at growth stage and pre-IPO companies - CEOs and founders weighing a raise, a listing, or an exit - Venture capital investors ​- Investment bankers - Corporate development and M&A leads

​Who'll Be There Panelists - ​Raymond Yue, SVP of Finance, Avalara. Previously led Sumo Logic through its IPO and served as CFO at Talkdesk. ​- Louis Lehot, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP ​- Jeff Meyer, Managing Director, Protiviti

​Moderator - Ellie Yashiro, Managing Director, Silicon Valley Bank

Hosts & Sponsors - Open Future Forum - Silicon Valley Bank - Foley & Lardner LLP - Robert Half | Protiviti

This event is a part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.

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