Reverse Pitch
Monday, Oct 5, 2026 | 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm PT | San Francisco, CA
Innovation Norway and Women in Cleantech & Sustainability are teaming up to host a Reverse Pitch Night.
For one evening, we’re flipping the script. Instead of startups pitching investors, investors from the Nordics and the Bay Area will take the stage to pitch themselves, sharing what they invest in, the trends they’re watching, and what they’re looking for next.
The twist? Startups will be sitting on the judging panel. Expect insights, opportunities, a few nervous investors, and a rare chance to put the people with the checkbooks in the hot seat. Power shift activated.
This event is a part of SF Tech Week—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.
Program Lead
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Nagashree Manwatkar Entrepreneurship Committee Co-ChairNagashree Manwatkar is a seasoned leader in cleantech with a career dedicated to decarbonization and scaling sustainable solutions. As a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Women in Cleantech and Sustainability Entrepreneurship Committee, she fosters innovation and supports startups in the green economy. With extensive experience in operations, strategy, and business development—spanning Tesla Energy, large-scale infrastructure projects, and climate-focused nonprofits—Nagashree is passionate about empowering women entrepreneurs and accelerating the transition to a clean energy future. She also founded Gaia-Force, an upskilling initiative for climate professionals, demonstrating her commitment to workforce development in cleantech.
Featuring
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Ellen Damaso Venture & Capital PartnerEllen Damaso is a San Francisco Bay Area–based venture capital professional, entrepreneur, and community builder with a background in technology, innovation, marketing, and strategic business development. As a venture partner with Plus Ultra Capital Partners and founder of Engineered to Live, she focuses on connecting entrepreneurs with investors, supporting startup growth, and building collaborative ecosystems that foster innovation and economic opportunity. Her work spans venture capital, sustainability, emerging technologies, and founder education, including initiatives that help entrepreneurs prepare for funding and expand their professional networks. A passionate advocate for inclusive entrepreneurship, Ellen is also active in strengthening connections among founders, investors, and the Filipino-American business community.
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Jill Fuss Managing Director, Activate Berkeley
Jill Fuss, Ph.D., is the Managing Director of Activate Berkeley, where she supports scientists and engineers in transforming breakthrough research into commercially viable companies. A scientist-turned-entrepreneur, Jill previously co-founded CinderBio, an industrial biotechnology company, and spent more than a decade conducting research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. A former Activate Fellow herself, she brings firsthand experience in technology commercialization, startup development, and building entrepreneurial communities. She is passionate about connecting innovators with the mentorship, resources, and networks they need to bring transformative technologies to market.
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Makenna Broadbent Senior Associate at Starshot Capital
Makenna is a Senior Associate at Starshot Capital. She completed her PhD in Chemistry at Stanford University in 2026, where she specialized in materials chemistry, polymer science, nanoscience, and catalysis. Throughout her studies, Makenna developed novel plastic recycling technologies while leading interdisciplinary teams spanning machine learning and synthetic biology. Makenna has also worked closely with the Stanford Climate Ventures program to critically evaluate emerging sustainable technologies. She is a National Science Foundation fellow and an inaugural Stanford Sustainability Accelerator grantee.