The Human Edge:
Rediscovering the Science of Togetherness
October 29-31, 2025 - Ojai Valley, CA
Pilea VC Retreat 2025
Invest in What Truly Scales
Harnessing the Science of Teamwork for Sustainable Growth
Venture capital isn’t just about the ideas you back—it’s about the teams that bring them to life.
The best VCs know that supporting a founder is more than just funding; it’s about helping them build the right environment for their ideas to thrive.
But how do you know when and how to step in?
At our 2025 VC Retreat, we’ll immerse you in the very method that can unlock a company’s potential. You’ll experience firsthand how we work with founders to shape leadership, build culture, and scale teams with clarity and purpose at every stage.
Through hands-on exploration, you’ll gain:
A deeper understanding of the hidden dynamics that make or break a company’s ability to scale
Insight into our proprietary method of embedded coaching, and how it supports founders at every stage of their journey
A stronger ability to identify and nurture high-performing teams that are adaptable, resilient, and prepared to grow
Join us for a transformative experience that will make you a better investor and a more better partner to your founders.
Who’s Coming?
A select group of VCs and platform leaders ready to do the deep work—connecting, aligning with their values, and reimagining how to build successful, resilient companies for the future.
Facilitated by
Heartwood Collective (formerly Pilea) is a collective of coaches working with startups to create high-performing leaders and cultures that support their people’s holistic growth and success.
Hosted by
Pure Ventures
Pure Ventures is a California-based, early-stage venture capital firm run by seasoned GPs and experienced operators, and is a client and founding partner of Pilea. The fund invests 60% in consumer sectors and 40% sector agnostic in deeper tech realms such as Defense Tech, AI, and Aerospace.
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OUR SPONSORS
The Catalyst Group
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Emery.com
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Alpha Bridge Ventures?
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Inception Talent Consulting
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Victoria Garcia Besne
General Partner, Iluminar Ventures
2023 Attendee
“As I gained experience in the investment industry, I started observing an ecosystem that thrives on pushing individuals to their limits, often overlooking their emotional well-being and overall health. This left me with a sense of doubt, questioning whether I could truly make a difference.
The trip to Napa (VC Retreat 2023) was an awakening for me. It made me realize my value as an investor and the impact I could bring to my founders.”
Featured Sessions
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Building a Golden Culture
A golden culture is the result of a business built on the authentic superpowers of its members.
This workshop experience will touch on the phenomenon we call autobiographical company building and make a case for a responsive and authentic culture built on the radical self-awareness of the company's leaders.
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Play-Through Group
Play-through groups will allow you to share your inner world with your peers, experiment in a safe container, and come up against your challenges. Think group therapy plus a playful bent that brings you radically into the imaginative and here-and-now.
Play-though groups leverage the shared experiences and brilliance in the group to generate breakthrough moments where you more deeply understand yourself and how you relate to others.
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1:1 Coaching Sessions (30 min each)
Individual coaching with a Pilea coach on any topic that is present for you.
These sessions will take place in private nooks outside around the property. You may request an indoor session if space is available in the council house.
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Coregulation + Creativity Through Spontaneous Movement
This session will ask you to get into your body, a critical practice for regulation and resilience. We will explore a co-creative and connecting practice of spontaneous movement with our full group.
We will be indoors, standing, and moving around for this session.
Jenna Borowski
Former Head of Platform, American Family Insurance
2024 Attendee
“This retreat was great not only because it allowed me to connect with other like-minded people in the venture community who care about the holistic well-being of founders, but also because it provided the opportunity to more deeply understand the services Pilea provides to our portfolio.
Experiencing the services first-hand made me believe more strongly in the power of coaching and gave me a better understanding of the work we’re asking our portfolio founders to engage in.
Retreat Venue:
Topa Institute-
Ojai Valley, CA
The Topa Institute is a retreat center & land sanctuary set atop a tranquil, awe-inspiring ridge in the Upper Ojai Valley. The Institute joins together three deeply interconnected areas of programming: Arts & Culture, Nature Connection, and Holistic Education.
Each unit advances its collective mission, engaging timeless practices of community building and deep listening.
Our days' activities will span the retreat center, featuring lovingly designed spaces that honor global traditions of perennial wisdom that create peace, healing, art, and learning.
Chaz Flexman
Founder, Starday Foods
2023 Speaker & Pilea Client
“As someone who struggled with both physical and mental issues associated with burnout in the last company I helped to found, I knew that I needed to take a different path to avoid that. Pilea has been more than I could have hoped for. My biggest regret is that I didn’t invest in myself through a program like Pilea earlier in my career.
Sponsors
Please meet this year's incredible sponsors who make this event possible.
Superstar
Partners
Inception Talent Consulting
Inception Talent Consulting partners with committed business leaders who seek to accelerate the impact of their people by implementing intelligently designed systems & processes as well as finding and enabling top talent.
Emery
Emery is more than a brand consultancy; we’re your partners in awakening. We help brands wake up to their deeper purpose, capitalize on inflection points, and experience life-changing growth, both professionally and personally.
Friends
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