Real Futures: Raising Capital - Navigating the Fundraising Journey

Raising your first round of funding is one of the biggest early decisions you’ll make as a founder. Pre‑seed investors move fast, expect clarity, and look for early signals that your solution solves a real problem. This session gives you the fundamentals you need to build traction, communicate momentum, and structure your first raise with confidence. We’ll break down what matters at this stage, how to target the right investors, and how to choose between instruments like SAFE notes and early equity. You’ll also have space to ask questions about your own fundraising strategy, milestones, and traction story. Why this matters now Pre‑seed funding has shifted. Investors expect sharper positioning, evidence of demand, and clear progress toward a measurable pilot. Understanding how to frame early traction (no matter how small) helps you stand out and accelerates your path to capital, partnerships, and market entry. What we’ll cover How to generate and communicate early tractionWhat pre‑seed investors look for in real‑tech, proptech, and sustainability venturesHow to identify and target early‑stage investors aligned with your marketSAFE notes vs. equity: what founders need to knowMilestones and metrics that matter at pre‑seedHow to build a clear, compelling early‑stage pitch You’ll leave with: clarity on fundraising fundamentals, personalised insights to strengthen your traction narrative, and practical tools to structure your first raise. Guest Speaker: Alex Pavel Alex Pavel is Managing Director for APAC & Middle East at Sovos, leading strategic market expansion and M&A across FinTech and RegTech. With over 20 years in SaaS, ERP systems, compliance technology, and AI‑driven innovation, he brings deep operator‑level experience to early-stage founders. He previously scaled Pagero’s regional operations, contributing to its $800M exit to Thomson Reuters, and has held senior roles at Avalara, IHS Markit, and Thomson Reuters. Alex holds an MBA from Sorbonne Business School, chairs the Middle East Chapter of the Global Exchange Network Association, and advises AI-powered startups. Based in Dubai, he works across global markets and speaks English, French, and Romanian. Who this session is for Founders building early-stage solutions in: sustainable real estatedata, AI, and automationcompliance and riskproptech and infrastructureclimate and resource efficiency Whether you’re preparing your first raise or shaping your traction story, this session gives you the tools to move faster and with more confidence. Real Futures: Catalyst Converge Accelerator Real Futures: Catalyst Converge is CSRI’s accelerator for ventures building sustainable real estate and built‑environment solutions. The programme accelerates bold, scalable innovation by connecting founders with researchers, industry partners, and real‑world pilot opportunities. Ventures receive guided diagnostics, expert mentorship, access to PGIM and UCL resources, and a collaborative ecosystem focused on real‑asset transformation. What the accelerator offers: Tailored workshops and matched mentorshipAccess to researchers, industry leaders, and investorsPilot opportunities with PGIMSupport for innovation grant applicationsReal‑world validation and market‑readiness The accelerator integrates with the wider CSRI ecosystem - from Bartlett Invents to executive education, hackathons, and thought leadership - creating a clear path from idea to pilot to scale. 👉 Register your interest in Real Futures: Catalyst Converge Accelerator