Founders500

Most founders think scaling is a hiring problem, but it's really a people problem. Join us for an interactive evening exploring the leadership and organisational challenges that catch founders off guard as their teams grow from around 10 to 50 people. Featuring executive coach Katherine Ray and fractional People leader Kuldish Sibia, this session shares real-world stories, practical frameworks...

In this session, Willem explores what truly drives entrepreneurial success,  not tactics, not theory, but the psychology behind how successful entrepreneurs think, decide, and act when certainty disappears. This is not about “teaching people to fish.” It’s about developing fishermen. Through real-world experience built in high-pressure, unpredictable environments, Willem will introduce a practical...

In today’s AI-driven world, launching software has never been easier — but building a startup that truly stands out has never been harder. This Founders500 X Signal session explores what actually makes startups fundable in the current AI landscape: solving meaningful problems, validating real value, and building with strong market understanding rather than chasing trends. Hosted as a live conversa...

Leading a team is one of the hardest and most meaningful challenges you can take on. Whether you’re building a company, scaling a function, or guiding people through change, leadership demands clarity, resilience, and the ability to perform under pressure. This evening is an honest, inspiring conversation for leaders at any stage who want real insight into what it actually takes to lead well, espe...

An honest startup showcase with three founders at different points in their journey. You will hear why they launched, the highs and lows so far, what they wish they had known on day one, how they see the future, and the practical tips and tricks that keep them moving. Founders will leave with sharper ways to validate ideas, common pitfalls to avoid, simple playbooks for early growth, and fresh con...

This isn’t your average fireside chat. It’s an unfiltered exploration of what it  really  takes to build bold ideas from scratch, the late nights, the turning points, and the moments of clarity that define an entrepreneurial journey. Featuring an intimate  Heart-to-Heart  with  Marc Albert , an extraordinary founder reshaping how operational and market decisions are made in bulk shipping. Marc Alb...

This panel brings together top venture capitalists and angel investors to provide clear, practical advice for early-stage founders looking to build fundable businesses. Aimed at those in the pre-seed to seed phase, it explores what investors truly value beyond the pitch deck—covering topics such as founder-market fit, storytelling, and personal vision; what materials investors actually review; how...

Ready to make headlines for all the right reasons? This 1.5-hour online workshop will give you the inside track on how to launch into the UK market and get your story in front of the right audiences through British and international media, journalists, and influencers. This workshop is designed to help you successfully launch into the UK market by reaching the right audiences through British and i...

Entrepreneurship can be exhilarating, but it’s often emotionally demanding, isolating and mentally exhausting. This session pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build and scale a business without losing yourself along the way. Through open, honest conversation with founders and coaches, we’ll explore the mindset shifts, leadership habits and personal resilience needed for sustainable...

Meet  Jaron Soh , Co-founder and CEO of Voda The award-winning mental health app designed by leading LGBTQIA+ psychologists. Voda offers blends clinical expertise with lived experience insights, offering discreet, evidence-based support for LGBTQIA+ challenges such as coming out, gender dysphoria, hate speech and stigma. Since its launch, Voda has supported over 36,000 users globally, was named “A...

Meet  Ed Leon Klinger  the CEO at Flock. Flock was born from a bold vision: to rewrite the rulebook on insurance. Co-founded in 2016 by Ed Leon Klinger and Antton Peña, the idea sprang from academic research at Cambridge and Imperial College. They recognised the rise of connected systems—drones, autonomous vehicles, commercial fleets—and saw a traditional insurance industry that wasn’t keeping pac...

Mae Yip, Co-Founder @ ERIC Championing Creative Careers. Mae will share her journey of building ERIC from the ground up, discuss her investment journey, specifically why she chose Angel investment over VC and provide actionable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. This session is a must-attend for founders and future founders eager to kickstart their businesses with purpose and impact. Mae Yip is...

Lakechia Jeanne, Founder @ Girls In Science Lakechia is a trailblazing founder, public speaker, and leader in the science communication space, dedicated to empowering the next generation of women in STEM. Through Girls In Science, she’s built a thriving international community that focuses on female educational empowerment, industry networking, and career development in science and technology. GIS...

Ashley Staines, Co-Founder @ Volunteero Ashley is at the forefront of transforming the volunteer management landscape. Volunteero is a cutting-edge CRM designed specifically for charities, streamlining the entire volunteer process from onboarding and scheduling to communication and tracking. Since its launch, the platform has facilitated the equivalent of around ten years’ worth of volunteering ho...