Real Futures: Finance, Funding & Sustainability

These office hours are practical, founder‑led working sessions inspired by the Nordic startup ecosystem - known for building globally recognised unicorns through transparent, iterative, action‑driven experimentation.

This session is designed to help you move your venture forward through testing, learning, and clear next steps. Every discussion is tailored to your specific stage, challenge, and growth pathway.

We’ll dive into how to:

Build financial clarity through early‑stage financial planningStrengthen fundraising readiness and understand investor logicBalance growth with long‑term sustainability and resilienceNavigate financial decision‑making with limited dataBuild a business that is investable and sustainable

You’ll leave with: practical financial tools, a sharper understanding of investor expectations, and a framework for building a sustainable business from the start.

Session Lead: Abda Rothman

Abda Rothman is Head of Sustainability Risks at a leading Nordic bank, bringing 20 years of experience across financial services, regulatory transformation, and digital innovation.

She specialises in aligning regulatory requirements with strategic business goals - enabling organisations to stay compliant, competitive, and future‑ready. Her work bridges:

financial regulation and digital innovationsustainability risk and opportunitytechnology adoption in complex sectorsfounder‑focused, action‑oriented experimentation

Abda brings a distinctly Nordic mindset - transparent, iterative, practical, and designed to create momentum. Her approach helps founders make informed financial decisions, understand risk, and build sustainable foundations that support long‑term growth.

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 mentorship​Access to researchers, industry leaders, and investors​Pilot opportunities with PGIM​Support for innovation grant applications​Real‑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