The masterclass on 28 May at SBIC Noordwijk will be led by negotiation expert Tamas Egei. Are you an early-stage tech startup looking to get help navigating high-stakes negotiations? Then, this 90-minute masterclass is for you. It is specifically tailored towards founders who seek practical frameworks and real-world insights of complex commercial negotiations. Bring your current challenges to unpack during the session. The event starts at 11:00 followed by lunch. Register now
Are you an SBIC community member? Get link from Slack to reserve your place!
Tools for founders facing high-stakes conversations
Negotiation sits at the core of every startup journey, from closing your first customers to navigating investor conversations and defining key partnerships. Yet most founders approach these moments without a clear structure, often reacting under pressure instead of leading the process. This masterclass is designed to change that.
In this 1.5-hour session, participants will be introduced to a set of practical negotiation frameworks that help founders prepare, structure and execute high-stakes conversations more effectively. The approach is based on Harvard-developed negotiation methodologies combined with over a decade of hands-on experience in international business development and dealmaking.
What to expect
The session is intentionally designed to be highly interactive and grounded in reality. After a focused 30-minute introduction to key principles and frameworks, the majority of the session is dedicated to working through real participant cases.
Founders are encouraged to bring current challenges which we will unpack together.
Rather than theoretical advice, the focus is on practical application. Participants will learn how to move beyond surface-level positions, understand underlying interests, create better outcomes and handle pressure more effectively.
What you will learn
Gain insights and discover new tools that will be particularly relevant for founders who:
- Are negotiating with larger, more experienced counterparts
- Are entering investor discussions or term sheet negotiations
- Want to improve their confidence and structure in high-stakes conversations
This masterclass offers essential insights and brings calm clarity to complex negotiations and conflicts. You’ll walk away with practical techniques to stay clear-minded when the stakes are high, keeping perspective intact.
Conversations can continue over lunch, starting directly after the masterclass. Reserve your place when you register for the event.
SPEAKER PROFILE
Tamas Egei is the founder of 18 Camels, a practice focused on negotiation and conflict resolution. He previously led global expansion at TicketSwap, launching and scaling markets across Europe, LATAM, and Australia. He is trained at Harvard Law School in negotiation and conflict resolution, and combines research-based frameworks with over a decade of hands-on experience in complex commercial negotiations.
GOOD TO KNOW:
The event is open to all. It is free for ESA BIC Noordwijk startups and SBIC community members (check the Slack channel for your link). If you are not in our community yet, sign up for membership here! Students can get 50% discount when registering for this event. Get in touch using your institution’s email address.
