- London's Startup Pulse
- Posts
- London's Largest Demo Day is BACK!
London's Largest Demo Day is BACK!
+ weekly list of handpicked startup events for founders and investors in London
Vasily Alekseenko
January 08, 2025
London’s Largest Demo Day is BACK!
Back in November, I attended Web Summit in Portugal for the first time.
40K attendees—it’s massive! While I respect the organizers for pulling off something of that scale, it made me realize what I don’t want Rare Founders to become. For those who haven’t been, imagine Piccadilly Street on Boxing Day…times five. Why people spend money going every year? One word: FOMO.
Those who’ve been to my events know we aim for something different—fun but valuable, inclusive yet provocative, supportive while keeping it real. After years in corporate, I’m allergic to anything that feels like a stale office environment. Since becoming a founder, I’ve developed a taste for risk, and honestly, it’s worked so far. So why stop now?
We’ve just announced the next London’s Largest Demo Day on April 14th, and let me tell you—the risk I’ve taken this time is off the charts. It’ll either be the best startup event London has ever seen…or it’ll take me and Rare Founders down with it. Stay tuned for the drama.
Here’s what we’re shaking up this time:
1️⃣ Public Ratings for Founder Applications
Investor ratings can be biased (yeah, I said it). This year, founder applications will be rated by both investors and the public. The wider startup community often has deeper, niche expertise that can lead to better assessments. I believe this will improve the quality of pitching founders and result in more of them being funded.
2️⃣ No Paid Tickets!
Okay, technically we need sponsorships to make this happen (any takers?). But here’s why: I want to vet attendees to ensure the event is high-quality—not just startups and content, but also the people in the room. Paid tickets make it harder to filter out bad actors, so we’re scrapping the cost. The catch? Tickets are limited and will only go to those active in the startup community. One way to prove that? Rate the applicants when the time comes.
3️⃣ A Theme: “The Light and Dark Sides of the Money”
This year’s theme will explore the highs and lows of funding. One stage, the anti-investment stage, will operate under Chatham House Rules—no recordings, no phones, just raw, unfiltered discussions. Expect hot takes and bold debates.
And that’s just the start. There’s a lot more coming, but I’ll save the rest for later.
How to get involved:
🚀 Founders: Want to pitch? Apply here.
🎟️ Attendees: Join the waitlist here.
💼 Investors: Interested in partnering? Details here.
📰 Media Partners: Check this out here.
🤝 Sponsors: Fill in this form.
Once signed up, you’ll be added to our WhatsApp groups, where we’ll share all the juicy details. Let’s make this Demo Day unforgettable!
RARE FOUNDERS EVENTS🔥
 | Rare FoundersStartup RunBi-weekly 5k running events for anyone in the startup ecosystem, followed by networking drinks in the nearby pub. Same time same, place. In-person event Green Park, London, W1J 9DZ, UK Thu 9 Jan, 18:00 - 22:00 GMT |
 | Rare FoundersLondon’s Largest Demo Day100 pre-selected founders will get on stage to pitch to the audience of hundreds of investors. Join 30+ founders who secured funding at the last demo day in Oct. Express your interest to pitch before Feb 2nd. Tickets to attend are FREE. Join the wait list now. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, Westminster, London, W1G 0AE, UK Mon 14 Apr, 9:00 - 17:00 GMT |
 | Rare FoundersFirst Money-In DinnerCarefully controlled psychology during a high-intensity pitch dinner based on MIT researched principles. 8 founders who have not raised any investments yet will pitch to 16 hand-picked active investors. Express your interest to pitch before Feb 2nd. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, Westminster, London, W1G 0AE, UK Mon 14 Apr, 18:00 - 22:00 GMT |
SafeSpace Plus™ is revolutionizing how organizations cultivate secure and inclusive environments. Through their comprehensive programs and expert guidance, they empower workplaces and events to become spaces where everyone feels valued and protected.
🔗 Contact them at [email protected] or schedule a complimentary assessment HERE.
OTHER LONDON EVENTS🌟
 | Martin TobiasHow to Pick your first Angel or Pre-Seed investorsMartin Tobias is a a legendary US investor, partner at Incisive Ventures. He will be sharing is unfiltered tips on how to pick the right investor. The call is super late for the UK but I can guarantee that its worth joining it. Online event Thu 9 Jan, 1:00 - 2:00 GMT |
 | South East AngelsBecoming an Angel InvestorDiscover the world of angel investing in this webinar. Learn the essentials—from finding investment opportunities to understanding the process—while gaining expert insights and having the chance to ask questions and join the discussion. Online event Fri 10 Jan, 10:00 - 11:30 GMT |
 | GaingelsHow To Cultivate A Thriving BoardroomUnlock the secrets to building a high-value board of directors in this insightful workshop. Learn how to recruit top talent, foster a productive board culture, and run meetings that deliver real strategic value—all from experts who’ve sat in countless boardrooms. Online event Wed 15 Jan, 17:00 - 18:00 GMT |
 | Eurasian Startup Hub101 of Building a Startup w/ Industry ExpertsDreaming of building the next big startup but don’t know where to start? Join this dynamic session, “101 of Building a Startup,” where industry experts share practical insights, hard-earned lessons, and actionable advice to help you navigate your entrepreneurial journey. In-person event London Bridge area, London, UK Wed 15 Jan, 18:00 - 21:00 GMT |
 | Martin TobiasBest Pre-Seed Distribution Wedges from MartinMartin Tobias is a a legendary US investor, partner at Incisive Ventures, who invests in Pre-Seed. A key to success early is having a "thin edge of the wedge" distribution trick to get you first 100 customers. On this webinar Martin will share some of the best wedges he has seen in the over 300 companies he have funded. Online event Thu 16 Jan, 01:00 - 02:00 GMT |
 | PluggedInvestor Sprint DayIf you're tired of hearing “no” from investors and wondering how other founders seem to crack the code...Eva Dobrzanska of Fundraising Playbooks is hosting an event like no other in partnership with PLUGGED, with 2 objectives only: Objective #1: Get as many investor replies as you can. On the day. Objective #2: Get as many investor introductions as you can. On the day. Use the code RAREFOUNDERS for 30% discount. In-person event Hoxton area, London, UK Thu 30 Jan, 9:00 - 19:30 GMT |
Vasily Alekseenko
Founder
@ Rare Founders
Rare Founders - building the bridge between founders and investors via regular in-person and online events, meetups, conferences.
Reply