Startup Events London - Networking, Investor Relations, Fireside Chat

🚀 Join Startup Networks at Crypt on the Green for an unforgettable evening of bold ideas, real conversations, and unmatched networking.

Welcome to the Startup Networks: Founder's Journey & Genius Circle event! Join us at Crypt on the Green on September 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM for an insightful evening filled with hard-earned lessons from successful founders.

Whether you're a founder navigating the early stages, an investor searching for the next big opportunity, or an ecosystem builder eager to connect with emerging talent—this event is for you. We’re bringing together London’s most exciting startups and sharpest minds for a high-energy night that’s all about community, insight, and momentum.

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.

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:

Dean Williams · Senior Business Consultant, Goldsmiths, University of London

Dean Williams, the seasoned Senior Business Consultant at Goldsmiths, University of London, will be at the helm of this thought-provoking conversation. With a passion for advancing individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, Dean's extensive experience in business advisory and consultancy provides a unique lens through which he navigates the intricacies of the startup landscape. His probing questions will unravel the untold stories of entrepreneurship, creating an environment where authenticity meets expertise., helping leaders and teams navigate change and thrive through experiential coaching. 🔗LinkedIn

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Speakers :

Amale Ghalbouni · Founder, The Brick Coach | Transformation & Leadership Strategist

Amale is a senior transformation leader with two decades of experience spanning digital innovation, CX design, and human-centered strategy. She’s worked across global consultancies like Monstarlab and Digitas, and today runs The Brick Coach, helping leaders and teams navigate change and thrive through experiential coaching. An accredited executive coach and a masterful facilitator, Amale brings depth, honesty, and clarity to the founder journey — especially when it comes to reinvention and resilience. 🔗 LinkedIn

Fiaz Sadiq · Visionary Coach & Senior Growth Specialist - Innovate UK

With over 20 years of experience launching, scaling, and exiting tech-driven ventures, Fiaz has coached 1,000+ SMEs and advised companies like Microsoft, Intel, and LG. He scaled his own edtech startup to 75 employees before exiting to Alan Sugar’s Viglen. Today, he mentors AI founders, drives innovation strategies, and serves as a Non-Exec Director for purpose-led startups. Expect deep reflections on navigating change, setbacks, and staying mission-aligned. 🔗 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

Daniel Hembling · Founder, VIVIDx Education | EdTech Sales & Strategy Leader Daniel is a two-time founder with a track record in learning & development, partnerships, and edtech growth. From building bespoke communication programs for ministries in Bulgaria to leading sales for Bloomberg Exam Prep and mentoring 40+ small businesses, Daniel’s journey weaves entrepreneurship with impact. He brings thoughtful perspective on failure, rebuilding, and staying human while scaling. 🔗 LinkedIn

Location📍 Crypt on the Green, Farringdon | 🕡 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM | 🍷 Drinks & nibbles provided

The Crypt at St John on Bethnal Green – A Unique Historic Venue in East London

Tucked beneath the beautiful Grade I listed church of St John on Bethnal Green, The Crypt is a striking and atmospheric venue ideal for a wide range of events. Featuring vaulted ceilings, elegant parquet flooring, and exposed brickwork, this historic space blends period charm with contemporary flexibility.

Bathed in natural light from eight large windows, The Crypt offers a surprisingly bright and spacious environment, perfect for conferences, exhibitions, product launches, meetings, private parties, wedding receptions, wine tastings, and even film or photo shoots.

Hire of The Crypt includes exclusive access to The Well—an adjoining space that can be used as a breakout area, reception, or additional room to suit your event's needs.

Located just minutes from Bethnal Green station, The Crypt is a hidden gem in the heart of London’s vibrant East End—where history meets creativity in a truly memorable setting.

🤝 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".