Founders Meetup London - May 2026

Tactical fireside chats with experienced entrepreneurs and speed networking with other founders, potential cofounders, and investors!

Agenda

Our format is as follows:

17:30 - Arrival & Open Networking (Speed Networking Colour Badges)Red = Fundraising | Investors | Looking for FundingBlue = Team Building | Co-founders | Hiring Green = Community | Opportunities | 18:30-18:40 - Welcome & Intros18:40-19:00 - Community Shoutouts A safe space to share what you're working on, recent wins, and any challenges you're facing that you'd love help with19:00-19:45 - Tactical fireside chat An informal, hands-on fireside about the tactics and strategies involved in building, shaping and growing a startup. We discuss different topics monthly and invite diverse guests to share their stories!19:45-20:45 - Open Networking & Drinks20:45 onwards - Pub Drinks

Follow the Founders Meetup LinkedIn page for updates on our fireside chat guest 🔥

Why should you attend?

You're currently building a startupYou have an idea and are thinking of starting a businessYou're looking for a co-founder or potential team membersYou're an investor looking for new opportunitiesYou want to learn from experienced startup operators and successful founders

What is a startup?

There are many definitions for a startup, often contradictory. To keep things simple, a startup is a newly established business that aims to develop and sell a new product or service under conditions of extreme uncertainty. Startups are usually founded by entrepreneurs seeking to innovate and disrupt existing markets.

Some key differences between startups and small businesses:

Growth - Startups are focused on rapid growth and scaling their business model. Small businesses are usually more focused on stability and serving an existing market need.Funding - Startups typically raise, or consider raising, outside investor funding through venture capital to fuel their growth rather than through revenue or loans alone. This is a generalisation, and there are certainly startups that instead opt for the bootstrapped approach.Risk profile - Startups tend to be higher risk since they are often pioneering a new product or business model. Small businesses tend to have lower risk profiles.Culture - Startup cultures tend to emphasise speed, iteration, and disruption. Small business cultures can be more risk-averse.Impact - Successful startups aim to be high-impact and reach scale quickly. Small businesses have a smaller, more localised impact.Exit strategy - Many startups aim to eventually be acquired or go public. Small businesses focus on stability and generating profit.

Overall, the key difference is that startups are focused on innovation, high growth, and disruption, while small businesses provide existing services to a local market. Of course, there is often a lot of overlap, and startups can eventually evolve into small businesses over time.

If you’re looking to learn about any of the above or sharpen your startup tools, this is the Meetup for you! 😎

Special Thanks

Hosted by serial founders including Hamish Geddes of Mapify Logistics, Dec McLaughlin of Foras Ventures, Sofia Hamilton of Souk and Selby Cary of the Scottish Startup Hub.

Sponsored by Howard Kennedy Ignite - designed to support founders with more than just legal advice. Alongside discounted fees, the programme offers access to a trusted network of VCs, angels, and strategic partners, particularly useful when you're raising, hiring, or looking to grow.

Howard Kennedy makes warm introductions, helps founders bring the right people on board, and gives them a platform via our PR network, founder dinners and curated events. Whether you're pre-seed or post-Series A, Howard Kennedy Ignite is built to support you at every stage.

Data & Communications

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