De-Risking Startups Through Partnerships at Plug and Play Sunnyvale | November 17, 2026

The Professional Connector is proud to share De-Risking Startups Through Partnerships, an in-person event for founders and business leaders on Tuesday, November 17th, 2026, from 5 PM to 8 PM at the Innovation Room, Plug and Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale. Presented by AWS and Emumba, this event is for founders, business owners, executives and decision-makers who are building, growing or scaling a company in any industry.

De-risk your build with non-dilutive implementation funds enabled by AWS through Emumba, plus hands-on technical delivery that takes your ideas to production. Growing a business means making high-stakes decisions about capital, technology and expertise, usually with limited time and resources. The right partners can take much of that risk off your plate.

Join AWS and Emumba at Plug and Play for an evening focused on what growing businesses need:

Non-dilutive funding from AWS Partner. Learn about AWS programs, including credits and partner-funded proof-of-concept projects, that help eligible businesses build without giving up equity.

Engineering expertise from Emumba. Meet the AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner that helps companies take AI and cloud initiatives from idea to production.

You’ll also hear from investors, executives and founders who have grown through partnerships, and leave with new connections and a clearer picture of the support available to your business.

Note #1: If you are feeling unwell, please stay home and join us at a future event.
Note #2: Registration is subject to host approval. After you register, you’ll choose the breakout session you want to join.
Note #3: You don’t need to be a customer of AWS or Emumba to attend.

Space is limited, so request your spot early.
REQUEST TO JOIN

What to Expect

Panel: De-Risking Startups Through Partnerships
Three perspectives on building a business that partners and investors want to back:

• A senior technology executive on how aligning with large companies creates business value
• An investor on structuring your company to improve your funding prospects
• A serial entrepreneur on the dos and don’ts of building a startup

Startup Showcase
Three founders share how they navigated funding, technology and scaling: what worked, what didn’t, and which partnerships made the difference.

Interactive Breakout Sessions
Small-group discussions with AWS, Emumba and invited experts on the challenges that matter most to you. Final sessions will be shaped by what registrants say they need. Topics include:

• Funding & Business Support: AWS programs and funding readiness
• Raising Capital in the AI Era: what investors look for and how to position your business
• Scaling Through Partnerships: how strategic and channel partnerships can unlock new opportunities
• AI, Cloud & Engineering: technical challenges, product development, and pathways from concept to production

Networking and Refreshments
Connect with founders, investors, business leaders, and the AWS and Emumba teams over food and drinks.

Agenda

• 5:00 to 5:30 PM: Check-in and networking
• 5:30 to 5:35 PM: Welcome
• 5:35 to 5:50 PM: Partnership overview
• 5:50 to 6:30 PM: Panel: De-Risking Startups Through Partnerships
• 6:30 to 6:50 PM: Startup showcase
• 6:50 to 7:20 PM: Curated breakout sessions
• 7:20 to 8:00 PM: Networking and refreshments

Who Should Attend?
Founders, business owners, executives and decision-makers who are:

• Building (under $1M): validating an idea, launching a startup, or developing a first product
• Growing ($1M to $5M): acquiring customers, improving operations, and exploring funding opportunities
• Scaling ($5M+): expanding into new markets, adopting AI, modernizing technology, or accelerating growth

Whether you’re exploring funding, developing a new product or preparing to scale, this evening is a chance to meet the people and discover the resources that can help move your business forward.

REQUEST TO JOIN

Shared by The Professional Connector : This event is hosted by Emumba and its partners and shared with our community. Looking for our own mixers? See our upcoming events.

Join AWS and Emumba for an evening with founders, investors, executives and business leaders. Hear from a panel of industry voices and a startup showcase, join small-group breakout sessions, and connect with fellow business leaders over food and drinks.

Located in the Innovation Room at Plug and Play Tech Center, 440 N Wolfe Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, this evening is an opportunity to meet the people and discover the resources that can help move your business forward.

Hope to see you there!

Emumba: Emumba is a software and AI engineering partner for enterprises, startups and SMBs, building production-ready AI systems, agentic workflows and modern data platforms with a focus on scale, resilience and security. Its services span AI-accelerated product engineering, generative and agentic AI, data engineering, cloud and DevOps, and enterprise automation. An AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner, Emumba has offices in Silicon Valley, Dallas, the UAE and Pakistan.

AWS: Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers more than 240 cloud services across compute, storage, databases, analytics, AI and security, supporting organizations from startups to enterprises. With 20 years of experience powering innovation, AWS lets businesses pay only for what they use and offers free sign-up with credits for new users.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What will I take away from this event?
   Practical insights from investors, technology leaders and founders, a clearer picture of the resources available to your business, and connections that can help you take your next step.
2. Is this event relevant to a specific industry?
   No. It’s designed for startups and growing businesses across industries, and the discussions focus on common challenges: accessing capital, adopting technology, building partnerships and scaling operations.
3. Do I need to be an AWS or Emumba customer to attend?
   No. The event is open to all businesses.
4. How do I know if I qualify for AWS funding programs?
   Eligibility depends on each program’s requirements and your company’s stage and plans. Tell the hosts about your business when you register, and connect with the AWS and Emumba teams at the event to learn more.

REQUEST TO JOIN