Startup Events London - Networking, Investor Relations, Fireside Chat

🚀 Join Startup Networks and ESCP Business School’s Blue Factory for a special edition of our Startup Networks event, taking place at Impact Hub, 1 Triton Square, London NW1 3DX, on 19th November.

This event is part of ESCP’s Entrepreneur Festival, celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. Together, we’re bringing some of London’s most inspiring founders, investors, and startup leaders to share the hard lessons, bold ideas, and real stories that shape success in today’s startup ecosystem.

The evening will comprise a fireside chat followed by our signature Genius Circle — an entrepreneur therapy session designed to give startups the opportunity to share a real challenge they’re facing and receive live feedback and support from the audience.

Whether you’re a founder, an investor, or an ecosystem builder, this evening is your chance to connect, learn, and grow alongside a vibrant community driving change. Expect powerful talks, honest insights, and unmatched networking opportunities in a high-energy atmosphere built for collaboration.

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:

• The real challenges of raising funding
• What investors are actually looking for
• 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.

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 :

Andreas Cser · Partner, Lead Co-Investments at Fraser

Investor, entrepreneur, and startup executive — a former banker now working for the “light side” — Andreas Cser brings a wealth of experience in innovation strategy, venture growth, and ecosystem development. With a background in building and scaling startups, he offers practical insights into navigating uncertainty, achieving product-market fit, and leading through growth.

Marla Shapiro · Managing Partner-HERmesa

Marla Shapiro is a Managing Partner at HERmesa, a women-led angel investment syndicate of over 270 operators-turned-investors backing women (co)-founded tech and deep science ventures across the UK and Europe. A serial entrepreneur and mentor, Marla brings extensive experience in building and scaling innovative ventures, with a strong focus on empowering underrepresented founders. At HERmesa, she champions the belief that investing in diverse teams not only delivers outsized financial returns but also drives a more inclusive, gender-balanced future.

Akil Benjamin · Managing Director DOES

Akil Benjamin is the Managing Director of DOES, an organization dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs—particularly those from underrepresented communities—through business support, coaching, mentorship, and access to resources. A Design Council Expert, visiting lecturer, and leader of the Somerset House Accelerator Programme, Akil combines design thinking with practical entrepreneurship to drive real impact. Under his leadership, DOES has partnered with M&C Saatchi Group, Morgan Stanley, Somerset House, Pinterest, and Stride, supporting over 6,500 businesses in the past four years.

Gian Maria Gramondi - Co Founder Shopcircle

Gianmaria Gramondi is an operator turned entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Shop Circle, the AI-driven software group powering the next generation of business applications and developer tools. At Shop Circle, Gianmaria and his team are building the leading technology group for AI-driven B2B software, backed by world-class investors including NfX, QED, Nextalia, 645 Ventures, 3VC, and firstminute capital. Their software suite unites mission-critical tools that help organizations engage customers, drive growth, and streamline operations.

Location📍 Impact Hub| 1 Triton Square, London NW1 3DX |🕡 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM | 🍷 Drinks & nibbles provided

Welcome to Impact Hub London Euston — where innovation meets community.

Nestled in the heart of Regent’s Place, Impact Hub London Euston (1 Triton Square, London NW1 3DX) is more than just a venue — it’s a space designed to inspire collaboration, creativity, and meaningful connections.

Our light-filled, contemporary event hall can host up to 120 guests, with flexible layouts, stage facilities, and top-tier AV and hybrid capabilities — perfect for panel discussions, workshops, conferences, and networking events.

You’ll also find private offices, dedicated desks, breakout zones, and co-working areas, making it easy for teams to work, connect, and create before or after the main event.

Just minutes from Euston, Warren Street, and Great Portland Street stations, we’re ideally located for easy access across London. And when you host your event here, you’re not just booking a space — you’re joining a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers who call Impact Hub home.

🤝 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".