Matt Cameron’s Post

Founders Live Edinburgh is BACK! 🚀 🔥 ✨ ⭐️ 🖐️ January 16th, 2025 - Mark your calendars. I'll be announcing our amazing Sponsors later this week! There’s nothing quite like Founders Live. It’s not just about pitching (although the 99-second pitches and 4-minute Q&A format is pure adrenaline). It’s about big ideas, bold leaps, and the connections that push you forward. At October’s event, the energy was unmatched. A packed room of founders, investors, vendors, and fans created an atmosphere you could feel - a community truly coming together. People weren’t just listening; they were engaged, inspired, and ready to act. And guess what? We’re on track to pack the room out again. The January event will be even bigger, even better, and even more unmissable. ✨ Why come to Founders Live? • Get inspired by the ambitious pitches and bold ideas on stage. • Make meaningful connections with Scotland’s brightest founders, investors, and supporters. • Leave with a notebook full of ideas and a fire in your belly to drive your own goals forward. • It's not just a great pitching event, it's just a great event. The first event set the bar high, and January is where we take things to the next level. Tickets are live, and this event WILL sell out. 🚀 Don’t miss out - join us on January 16th. Let’s make 2025 the year of big ideas and bold moves. Founders Live is where it starts. #FoundersLive #StartupScotland #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Networking

On September 30th, I attended the Networking and Open Mic Pitch Event at Ahoy! Berlin organized by NEEW Ventures and the Founder Institute Berlin / Germany. We seized the opportunity to present Sparkules in an elevator pitch format in front of 150 people. These pitch moments are a challenge we actively seek out to prepare ourselves for potential investor conversations. 🎯 It’s always a great way to start conversations, hear new questions, and gain fresh perspectives. We do this intentionally to continuously improve our pitch and then test it at the next events. In the following panel discussion, moderated by Marlen Heske and featuring Dr. Andreas M. Rickert, Joerg Geier, Rikke Klitskov, Florian Fehr and Daniel Rintelmann a lot was said about the German startup ecosystem. One question remains open for me: Why is there no shortage of funds for early-stage investments, yet a lack of capital for later, larger funding rounds? If you're interested in new approaches in the food-tech space or just looking to connect – let's connect! 🤝

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been busy hosting events that brought hundreds of founders and investors together across multiple cities. This morning, an investor asked me, “It seems like a ton of work. Why do you do it?” The answer lies in our core belief: founders are the unfair advantage to future founders. In the early stages, founders often pitch to investors with limited traction and metrics. Our events, like “Ditch the Deck” in Boston, strip away the formalities of traditional pitching, focusing instead on real product demos. We believe in lowering the barriers, making it easier for founders to showcase their work and connect with investors in a more meaningful way. In Connecticut, my partner Jessica Lynch saw a gap in the startup ecosystem. This led to the creation of Edge Club and our recent “Funders and Founders,” event, a space for genuine networking and sharing experiences. Here, we saw the magic of connection, with over 100 attendees, including investors, seasoned founders, and aspiring entrepreneurs, coming together to learn and grow. The impact of these events isn’t just about immediate deals or funding rounds—it’s about the relationships and trust built along the way. Founders need more than just capital; they need a community that believes in them, supports them, and helps them navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. And for investors, it’s a chance to see the raw passion and vision of founders without the distraction of slides and scripted pitches. These connections, nurtured over time, can lead to partnerships that last far beyond a single investment. That’s why we put in the work. It’s about creating an ecosystem where founders and investors are not just talking business but building real, authentic relationships that can shape the future. If you’re a founder or investor looking to break through the noise, keep an eye out for our next event. There’s nothing quite like being in a room full of people who share the same drive to innovate, grow, and push boundaries.

F*ck it, Ghent Slush'D was awesome "I don't really feel like going" Was my first thought, thinking back to all those events that feel like a maze of corporate booths and overwhelming chaos. Ghent Slush'd was something different, so props to them. Here's what other events can learn from them: 1. The atmosphere was fun, airy, and friendly - not your typical corporate vibe. 2. Well-designed spaces included resting areas and fun activities, making networking feel natural. 3. A unique reverse pitching session where VCs pitched to startups - now that's a twist! 4. An efficient app for matching and meeting people - no more awkward small talk. 5. The event space was divided into different areas, creating a cozy feeling. 6. Startup pitching competition (featuring Noémie Bultot, who did a damn great job at presenting Jay) The real magic? Their laser focus on their niche. Instead of trying to cover everything from AI to HR, they niched down on startups and investors. And it worked brilliantly. The result? An event where you actually feel like you're there for a reason, not just another face in the crowd. Big thumbs up to their awesome team 👏

I had a great time participating in Symbol's Conference- #Buildcon. I had the chance to meet new founders, early employees, and executives with wonderful lectures. The conference gave me many tools and insights about the zero-to-one stage that founders and employees are getting into when building startups. As a person who joined the VC industry, I looked at each lecture with two pairs of eyes - the founders and the investors. I'm happy to share some of the things I learned. - Bold ideas are good but risky (too risky 😉). Sometimes, we are afraid of them, but if we go deeper into the consequences, we can find that it won't be that bad and worth the opportunity. Risks will fail, but you need to keep going. Once you succeed, people will probably remember more of your successes than failures. - Both first employees and partnerships are difficult to handle. There are different ways to build them over a timespan for both sides to understand each other orientation and goals. It will cause a more organic and healthier further collaboration. It can relate also to customers. Especially today when things are changing fast, as long as you are involved with them more, you will get their pain and know what you should provide and I'll quote: "You are limited to the questions you ask yourself". It will also save you money. It's always early to put your money on PMF and you should have the complete picture before attacking your audience. - Be honest, it's always better. When you hide something, it will only burden you. Even with shame from lack of achievement, the people who work with you, whether it's investors, colleagues, etc, want to help you overcome the challenges, meanwhile, the trust between you is only getting stronger. In addition, try to surround yourself with the first contact consults. Try to find the persons who are 3-5 years ahead in your life goals from your current stage. Tziporela's participation at the event was pure creativity. Totally worth the mention. A big thank you to Racheli Kogan, Lia Levin, and the rest of the organizers! The atmosphere was amazing! The effort was definitely seen!

𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗖***𝗡𝗧𝗦, 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗙***𝗞𝗘𝗗😪 On the 14th of October, after London’s Largest Demo Day, instead of a boring drinks reception, we’ll be hosting a new “Shark Tank” style event where 20 active angel investors will be investing real money into 10 startups that haven’t raised any money yet. All the credit for this idea goes to the legendary Chris Howard, who has raised hundreds of millions for his startups and invested in over 25 early-stage companies. Chris is passionate about supporting founders, which is why we teamed up to run this event. Chris will bring along up to 20 well-networked active investors who will come with the intention of writing cheques right there on the spot. From the founders who applied to pitch at our Demo Day but haven’t raised anything yet, he will pick 10 startups, conduct due diligence on them before the event to ensure they are ready to accept investments if they spark the interest of the audience. Investors will invest a minimum of £1,000 per company. This isn’t about the money; it’s about getting amazing investors on the cap table. It’s going to be fun. The event will be mixed with networking, drinks, and a DJ. Make sure to book your tickets now. A huge thank you to our partners for making it happen: OVHcloud, Grantify UK, 1 Wimpole Street, UNLTD. | B Corp™, Edmunds Cocktails , and Djaayz by Cathy GUETTA. See the link in the comments for more details.

We at 888vc recently hosted a #FundersandFoundersMixer, and the energy was palpable. From spirited discussions to insightful exchanges, the atmosphere was charged with the spirit of collaboration and possibility. Our mixer was more than just networking - it was about forging meaningful connections that have the potential to shape the future of entrepreneurship. We understand the transformative power of bringing together diverse perspectives. The event saw the participation of industry leaders like Sunil Kamath, MOHIT KUMAR, Ashish Sarawagi, Madanmohan Rao, Gaurav Gupta, Sunil Nair - visionary founders with bold ideas and seasoned investors with a keen eye for innovation. As we reflect on the success of the Founders and Funders Mixer, we are reminded of the boundless potential that lies within our community. Together, we have the power to drive change, create impact, and redefine the boundaries of what's possible. Let's harness the momentum of this incredible gathering and channel it into action. Let's continue to push the boundaries of innovation, challenge the status quo, and build a future that is bold, inclusive, and brimming with possibility. #founders #funders #meetup #ecosystem Abhinav Mahipal Anish Roy Avijit Mishra MRICS Avneer Bhadauria Balram Nair Dr. Paulsharma Chakravarthy Chaitali Pandey Hamsavardhan PRESET Jitesh Agrawal, CFA, FRM, PMP Manoj Patel Mansi Baheti Paras Gupta ↗️Sharad Bansal Priyanka Bohra Srividya Venugopal Rohan Bajaj Shruti Saraf Shilpi Kulshrestha Siddharth Yedgaonkar Tanay Agrawal Sridhar S Ayush Kedia Pramod Agrawal Swadeep Pillarisetti Anil Neglur Beginest CoWorking Spaces Samson Mathew Vaishvi Bansal Khushi Bhartiya Tulika Jain Rishikesh Trivedi CA Harshita Kushwah

🌞Summer is a great time for your startup to look into event calendars to expand your network! Check out our helpful list of must-attend events to help your startup succeed. 👉Plan your next startup events to learn from industry experts, and keep growing your network with our ‘Helpful Upcoming Startup Events’ list. ✅ 1. Propelify (June 27) Hoboken, NJ For startups and founders, from Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A, this event opens opportunities to network and learn about best practices in fundraising to grow your business. ✅ 2. Startup Boston Week (September 9-13) Boston, MA This complimentary week of events networks and educates founders and startups, mentors, and investors. Learn about different startup phases from building your MVP to raising your Series B. ✅ 3. Small Business Expo (Check out multiple SBE events running in different areas throughout the year!) Enjoy workshops, networking opportunities, and exhibitions focused on small business growth and development. ✅ 4. FinCon Expo (October 23-26) Atlanta, GA FinCon is ideal for startups focused on finance and media. Meet financial influencers, learn from industry experts, and explore topics including content creation, and monetization.    ✅ 5. TechCrunch Disrupt (October 28-30) San Francisco, CA This major tech conference invites startups to showcase their innovations, connect with investors, and learn from top tech industry professionals.  ✅ 6. CES (January 7-10 2025) Las Vegas, NV CES is called ‘the most powerful tech event in the world!’ Run by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), CES is the only trade show that showcases the entire tech landscape all-in-one event. You can also check out this helpful event calendar, made by Startup Boston, to find important dates in the New England startup world: https://lnkd.in/dCaeGGU 👉Once you’ve made your event calendar, then reach out to plan a meet-up with our Accountalent team, as we will be attending these events and would enjoy connecting with you. 😄Happy startup success event planning to you and your team! 💎Follow us at Accountalent to support your startup with best practices in bookkeeping, income tax compliance, tax credits, and all your other accounting needs. Reach out to our team when you’re ready for us to help! #StartupSuccess #BusinessEvents #BusinessDevelopment #Bookkeeping #Tax #Accountants #Accountalent

#888VC recently hosted a #FundersandFoundersMixer. The event was more than just a gathering—it was a convergence of dynamic minds, each one brimming with creativity, ambition, and a shared passion for driving change. Imagine a room alive with energy, buzzing with the excitement of founders, investors, and industry experts all coming together under one roof. From spirited discussions to insightful exchanges, the atmosphere was charged with the spirit of collaboration and possibility. At 888Vc, we understand the transformative power of bringing together diverse perspectives. That's why our mixer was not just about networking—it was about forging meaningful connections that have the potential to shape the future of entrepreneurship. The event saw the participation of some of the brightest minds ROHIT BAFNA Sunil Kamath MOHIT KUMAR Madanmohan Rao in the industry, from visionary founders with bold ideas to seasoned investors with a keen eye for innovation. Their presence added depth and richness to the conversations, sparking new insights and paving the way for exciting collaborations. But beyond the buzz of the event itself, the real magic lies in what comes next. As we reflect on the success of the Founders and Funders Mixer, we are reminded of the boundless potential that lies within our community.  Together, we have the power to drive change, create impact, and redefine the boundaries of what's possible. So let's harness the momentum of this incredible gathering and channel it into action. Let's continue to push the boundaries of innovation, to challenge the status quo, and to build a future that is bold, inclusive, and brimming with possibility. #founders #funders #meetup #ecosystem 

There are two things I love about attending tech events: the energy and the networking opportunities. But my journey to London Tech Week and the Scotch & Pitches event organised by Foras was anything but smooth. I was super excited to attend, but I almost got lost on my way to the venue. Therefore, I had to rely on my phone's Google Maps, which decided to act up at the worst possible time. When I finally arrived, I couldn't find my name on the registration list. But after a few tense moments, I realised I had registered under a different email. Therefore, I got in just in time for the pitches. The event was buzzing with energy and excitement, but what really stood out were the different pitching styles. Some startups were very technical, therefore focusing on data and metrics. But then, the founder of Generalist World, Milly Tamati took the stage and told an incredible story about her childhood. She shared how people always told her she couldn't be a generalist and be knowledgeable in different areas, therefore inspiring her to start her business. Her story resonated with me because I consider myself a generalist too. But it wasn't just her; many other founders like Janani Prabhakaran, Angela Prentner-Smith (FRSA), Eilidh Mutch used storytelling to connect with the investors, therefore making their pitches memorable. The Foras team Dec McLaughlin, Caro Melendez 🔜 Turing Fest / Slush, known for their work in supporting Scottish startups, outdid themselves with this event. But their dedication to fostering innovation was clear throughout. Therefore, it's no wonder they attracted such a diverse and talented group of founders and investors. Despite the initial hiccups, attending Scotch & Pitches was an inspiring experience. The energy, the innovative ideas, and the powerful stories made it all worthwhile. But wait a minute, I didn’t see Lawal O. and the Econome team at the event. I wonder why? It was great catching up with Calum Purdie and Beena Sharma at the event. Tag someone who was at the event. One last thing: which UK startup has been the most impressive for you? Please share in the comments. Edward Hogg, Onyinye Igbokwe (PMP)®, Pete Preston, SolvedBy.Ai, Neve Learning, ThermaFY Group, #tech #startup #eventmanagement #projectmanagement #programmemanagement #techecosystem #londontechweek