Startup Events London - Networking, Investor Relations, Fireside Chat

Welcome to the Startup Networks: Founder's Journey & Genius Circle event! Join us at Office workspace on October 7th, 2025 at 6:30 PM for an insightful evening filled with hard-earned lessons from successful founders.

Did you know leadership is changing—fast?As we enter a digital-first era, both startups and corporates must adapt or risk being left behind. The rise of AI, remote work, and new market expectations are reshaping how leaders inspire teams, maintain culture, and deliver results.

Join us for an evening exploring Leadership & Digital Transformation—where innovation meets strategy. We’ve brought together a dynamic panel of corporate executives, educators, startup founders, and leadership coaches who are navigating this rapid change in real time. They’ll share the impacts, struggles, and successes of leading through transformation and the digital shift.

You’ll discover:

• How to scale your team while protecting your culture
• What makes a strong and adaptable leader in today’s climate
• How digital transformation can accelerate—or derail—your success

We’ll discuss:

• The latest trends in digital transformation
• Common challenges leaders face when driving change
• Practical advice for businesses preparing to transform
• Leadership strategies for both startups and corporates
• What leaders should anticipate in the years ahead

🔗 Reserve your spot and join the conversation that’s shaping the future of leadership.

What’s Happening:

✨ Genius Circle – Hear directly from emerging founders who are building game-changing ventures

🔥 Fireside Chat – A panel of top investors and startup pros diving into:

• How to avoid the most common founder mistakes
• 💬 Open Q&A – Ask your questions directly to potential funders

🤝 Network with 150+ Attendees:

• 60% Founders
• 15% Investors
• 25% Startup Operators, Advisors & Industry Leaders

💡 Why attend?Because no one builds a startup alone. This is your chance to connect with the people, ideas, and insights that can move your journey forward—whether you’re just starting or scaling fast.

🎟️ Spaces are limited – secure your spot now and be part of London’s most authentic startup meetup.

The Genius Circle – Your Live Startup Advisory Board

Welcome to Startup Networks’ spin on Entrepreneur Therapy – an interactive, no-fluff feedback experience where startup founders open up about real challenges and get live advice from a room full of experienced peers, investors, and mentors.

💡 What Is The Genius Circle?

Think of it as your live advisory board. Each session features:

• 3 brave founders
• 2-minute rapid-fire pitches
• 10-minute feedback roundtables

Startups share one big challenge—whether it’s landing first customers, validating the idea, pivoting to a new market, or raising investment—and the Genius Circle audience steps in to offer practical, experience-driven advice in real time.

This isn’t a pitch competition. It’s entrepreneur therapy for those ready to get raw, get real, and get better.

🚀 Why You Should Pitch:

• ✅ Get Immediate Insights from founders, investors, and operators who’ve been there.
• ✅ Perfect Your Story & Strategy in front of a high-value, supportive audience.
• ✅ Build Investor-Ready Thinking with feedback grounded in market reality.
• ✅ Discover Growth Hacks and unconventional strategies from the trenches.
• ✅ Make Powerful Connections with collaborators, mentors, and potential funders.

If you're a startup with an MVP or prototype and you're navigating early growth or funding—this is your moment.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTION:

When selecting a Startup ticket, you’ll be prompted to answer a few questions. Use this to tell us you want to pitch and share the challenge you're facing.

Moderator:

Alisa Sydow · Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, London Campus

Alisa is a renowned thought leader in entrepreneurship, with a strong focus on fostering innovation and supporting early-stage ventures. As the Co-Director of the Blue Factory London, she is committed to creating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, making her an invaluable voice on this panel.🔗 LinkedIn

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Speakers :

Conrad Ford · Chief Product & StrategyOffice Allica Bank

Conrad Ford is Chief Product & Strategy Officer at Allica Bank (www.allica.bank), named by The Sunday Times as the UK’s fastest-growing company, and by Deloitte as the UK’s fastest-growing financial technology (fintech) firm ever in its annual Fast 50 rankings. Allica is reimagining banking for established SMEs with the latest technology. Previously Conrad was sole founder of Funding Options, an exited fintech ranked by the FT as one of Europe’s fastest-growing firms 🔗 LinkedIn

Zafar Bhunnoo · Co-Founder, Balance Out Living | Founder, Limitless Real Estate

Zafar is a real estate visionary who's built and scaled companies that reimagine how we live. He co-founded Balance Out Living during the pandemic and secured £100M+ in investment from Oaktree Capital, pioneering co-living developments in London. With experience managing portfolios over £1.5 billion, Zafar’s journey is one of persistence, reinvention, and leading with purpose — from high-stakes deals to personal growth. 🔗 LinkedIn

Yogesh Gupta · Founder & CEO of Gaston Ai - a multi-award-winning health-tech startup

Yogesh is a Founder & CEO of Gaston Ai - a multi-award-winning health-tech startup transforming how nutrition and epigenetics intersect to enhance health and longevity. Beyond this, he has been deeply involved in AI driven healthcare innovation as Speaker and member of Select Committee at United Nations led AI for Developing Countries Forum, delivering TedX Talks, speaking at global conferences about longevity and how AI can be used for developing countries and underserved communities. 🔗 LinkedIn

Armenak Mayalian · CTO & Co-founder of Reflexivity, building AI-powered tools

Armenak is the CTO & Co-founder of Reflexivity, building AI-powered tools for modern investing. A repeat entrepreneur with a background in fintech, AI, and data analytics, he has led teams in turning complex problems into simple, impactful products.. 🔗 LinkedIn

Naily Makangu - Director & Founder Athena Leaders & Founder Institute

Naily helps founders, operators, and product leaders turn chaos into clarity. With a rare blend of technical fluency, strategic insight, and delivery obsession, she bridges the gap between business and tech — whether you’re launching your first MVP or scaling a growing team. Fluent in business, tech, and three languages (French, English, Spanish), she’s as comfortable in the code as she is in the boardroom. . 🔗 LinkedIn

📍 Eventspace at Salisbury House, Moorgate | 🕡 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM | 🍷 Drinks & networking included

Eventspace at Salisbury House – A Stylish Venue in the Heart of the CitySet within the stunning Grade II listed Salisbury House, Eventspace offers a modern, fully equipped setting for professional events right in the centre of London. Just one minute from Moorgate station and a short walk from Liverpool Street and Bank, it’s an easy and accessible choice for guests travelling from across the city—or further afield via the Elizabeth Line.

The venue combines elegant period architecture with versatile, contemporary spaces. Its Marquise & Trillion Combined room can host up to 160 guests in a range of layouts, with built-in AV equipment, LCD screens, microphones, and high-speed Wi-Fi, making it perfect for panel discussions, conferences, and networking sessions.

Smaller breakout rooms like Clarity and Emerald provide bright, boardroom-style spaces ideal for workshops or focused group discussions, all equipped with video-conferencing facilities and refreshments.

With Workspace’s dedicated events team on hand and flexible evening hire options, Salisbury House offers everything you need for a seamless and memorable event in one of London’s most iconic business districts.

🤝 Our Sponsors

We’re proud to be supported by an incredible group of organisations that believe in the power of startups, innovation, and bold ideas:

🎓 ESCP Business SchoolA world-renowned institution shaping the next generation of business leaders. ESCP brings academic excellence and entrepreneurial thinking to the heart of the startup ecosystem.

🎓 Goldsmiths, University of LondonKnown for creativity and innovation, Goldsmiths, University of London supports founders who think differently. Their backing reflects a commitment to real-world impact and future-focused business.

📰 Startup MagazineThe go-to publication for startup news, founder journeys, and investment insights. Startup Magazine is where ideas get noticed, and innovation gets amplified.

📱 TikTokThe platform redefining content, creativity, and community. TikTok champions entrepreneurs and disruptors through powerful digital storytelling and visibility.

These sponsors aren’t just logos on a flyer — they’re active supporters of the startup journey, and we’re proud to have them backing this event.

🎁 Discounts & Offerings

Thanks to our partners and sponsors, attendees get access to exclusive perks through the Startup Networks Affiliate Hub:

💸 10% Off SEIS/EIS ServicesProvided by Founder Catalyst, one of the UK’s most trusted SEIS platforms. Save on your next raise and get investor-ready with expert support.

📋 Free Trial of Notion for StartupsOrganise your startup, streamline your operations, and collaborate better — for free. Notion’s all-in-one workspace is available with a special trial via Startup Networks.

All perks are available in the Affiliate Section on Startup Networks — log in and unlock the tools that take your startup further.

🌐 Join the Startup Community

Startup Networks is more than an event organiser — it’s a thriving online community where founders connect, share, and grow every day.

With1900 members on our platform, 6000+ on socials, 300 000 impressions monthly, 5000 in newsletters, our platform is buzzing with:✅ Real questions from real founders✅ Expert advice from experienced mentors✅ Funding opportunities, grant listings, and job boards✅ Powerful content, pitch decks, and community-led resources

Whether you're at idea stage or ready to scale, there's a space for you here.

All attendees of our events will automatically receive an account on Startup Networks as part of their ticket. Don’t worry — if you’d prefer not to be listed, we’re happy to delete your profile or remove anything you’re not comfortable with. But just a heads-up: these events are built for investors to discover startups — and if you're not on SN, good luck finding one.

Be part of something bigger.Join the forum today at Startup Networks and build your business with a community that’s behind you every step of the way.

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Want to sponsor us?

🤝🚀 Interested in sponsoring us? 🌟

We're thrilled to offer sponsorship opportunities for our dynamic event. By becoming a sponsor, you'll gain valuable exposure to a vibrant community of founders, investors, and industry enthusiasts. Your support will play a pivotal role in making this event an unforgettable success.

Get in touch today to discuss how we can showcase your brand and amplify your presence within the startup ecosystem. 📧🤝🚀

E -mail Address: Hello@thestartupnetworks.co.uk

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Important notice:

We take great pride in the high-quality connections that our events offer. We have a fair number of tickets available for the entire startup community, including founders, startup employees, investors, and others (students, accountants, lawyers, aspiring entrepreneurs, and other companies servicing startups).

Please only book tickets that are applicable to you. We will verify your details and upon the results might cancel your booking.

If Eventbrite runs out of tickets for your category, please join the waiting list or email hello@thestartupnetworks.co.uk, and we may be able to add you.

Just to clarify, when we say startups, we mean scalable businesses looking for investments now or planning to start soon. For example, if you are a self-employed marketing specialist, please register as "Other" rather than as a "Founder".