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NO to fundraising scam!
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Vasily Alekseenko
May 23, 2024
Help us to prevent fundraising scam!
The same day my post on Fundraising Scams went live, I received messages from sixš± founders who went through the same experience. The scenario was exactly like mine, but the names and locations were different. One of the founders even got to the meeting with the scammers and was shown a suitcase full of cashš°. To continue the conversation, the scammers wanted to see the money in his crypto wallet, which he did not have, so they ditched him right at the restaurant.
From what I've heard, this is the crĆØme de la crĆØme of scam scenarios, potentially leading founders to lose thousands or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.
But there's also another level of scam. Itās light, but itās still a scam. Itās when someone pretends to be an investor (these days, LinkedIn would allow me to call myself a presidentš without any verification) to win the trust of founders, only to start offering introduction services with a paid monthly retainer. And they take it furtherāthey convince founders that their deck, model, or business plan needs a bit of work (āthey wouldnāt risk their reputation to present investors with some average deckā), for which founders would obviously have to pay. Eventually, no decent help, most likely no introductions, but lost money and shattered confidencešæ.
Just to be clear, Iām not against any of these services. In fact, I know some amazing people who do an amazing job. But the difference between them and scammers is that they are upfront about what they do. No games, no playing on foundersā desperation.
I do not think these scams can be stopped, but I think founders can be armed to deal with them.
I decided to start collecting and storing the details of these scammers so it would be available for other founders when they come across someone dodgy. Once we have enough details to display, this data will be available on our website, and we will be constantly updating it.
If you were a victim of a fundraising scam, please fill in this form. Together, we can make the startup journey a bit safer for each founder.
RARE FOUNDERS EVENTSš„
 | Rare FoundersTech RoastGhita El Haitmy (founder of TechBible) who will be hosting a tech roast - where 10 pre-selected SaaS businesses will be demoing their services in real time to the live audience. In-person event Runway East Bloomsbury, 24-28 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2SN, UK Wed 29 May, 18:00 - 22:30 BST |
 | 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, England, W1J 9DZ, UK Thu 30 May, 18:00 - 22:00 BST |
OTHER EVENTSā¤ļø
 | HSBCLive Insights: Funding the FutureJoin this live discussion on HSBCās latest proprietary survey, Funding the Future ā a unique window into investor views on venture capital, private equity, and high-growth sectors such as tech and healthcare. Online event Thu 23 May, 11:00 - 11:30 BST |
 | Forward PursuitMaking your first sale: GTM strategies to drive growthLooking to make your first sale, build a GTM strategy or drive revenue growth in your startup? This event is for you šš¼ āš” Hear from a panel of speakers that have scaled revenue and growth for some of the world's most innovative startups and products. In-person event Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH, UK Thu 23 May, 18:00 - 21:00 BST |
 | Round & OdinFounder Dinner w/ Michelin Star private chef8 entrepreneurs at a similar stage will connect over a truly unique dining experience. No strict agenda, just a group of exceptional entrepreneurs who share similar values. āIn-person event London Thu 23 May, 19:00 - 21:00 BST |
 | Cambridge CleantechPitching/Demo-Day of Spanish Cleantech SMEsCome and meet a cohort of 10 promising Spanish cleantech startups looking to connect with the UK climate-tech ecosystem. In-person event Sustainable Ventures, County Hall, Riverside Building, London, SE17PB, UK Thu 23 May, 16:30-20:00 BST |
 | Law SquaredAussies Abroad Networking DrinksAs part of their commitment to connect Aussies working in London, Law Squared & Standard Ledger invites you to join us for an evening of networking, drinks and nibbles as they bring together Aussis from different businesses, industries and sectors, all navigating their way through London's vibrant business scene. āIn-person event The Lighterman, 3 Granary Square, London, N1C 4BH, UK Thu 23 May, 17:30 - 20:00 BST |
 | EquitasThe Future of Hiring with Responsible AIJoin this webinar to explore the intersection of AI, recruitment, ethical practices and latest legislation that impact the way you hire in the future. Online event Wed 29 May, 11:00 - 11:30 BST |
 | fem techlab.Decoding The Future of WomenFemTech Lab repeats their futuristic, mind-bending Women's Health Tech Conference of the year: Decoding the Future of Women. This time even bigger: two days of inspiration, three amazing cutting edge streams, biohacking lounge and of course a lot of networking, futuristic art and a party. In-person event CodeNode, 10 South Place, London, EC2M 7EB, UK Mon-Tue, 10 -11 June Use "RAREFOUNDERS" promocode to get 20% |
PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES š
 | NoBa CapitalApplications for Future of Work Pitch DayTo be considered, your business should meet the following criteria: š UK-based businesses with a clear vision for global expansion. šÆ Pre-seed and seed stage - S/EIS qualifying š” Tech-enabled solutions with B2B SaaS, B2B2C, or marketplace business models. š° Early revenue of at least Ā£50-Ā£200k per annum. š¼ Funding round size up to Ā£1m. In-person event Wed 5 Jun Apply before 31st of May |
 | Blue LakeInternational Office HoursBlue Lake VC has launched their third International Office Hours program that will take place in July 2024 online and offline in Central London. IOH offers startups a unique opportunity for informal one-on-one sessions with some of the top VC players in the UK's investment community. Founders, apply here. For VCs, this is a fantastic way to meet yet-to-be-discovered, frequently overlooked, and often underrepresented founders. To join, please fill in the form about your investment criteria here and Blue Lake Team will match you with relevant founders. Also, join our online event to learn more about the programme. Online event Mon 3 Jun, 14:00 - 15:30 BST |
 | hotbedInvestor: Founder Speed DatingHotbed is hosting the event at Spacemade Barbican, and they are on the lookout for 10 founders to meet 10 angels and early-stage VCs for back-to-back 1:1 meetings. In-person event Tue 18 Jun, 14:00 - 16:00 BST Apply before 5th of June |
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Vasily Alekseenko Rare Founders
Rare Founders - building the bridge between founders and investors via regular in-person and online events, meetups, conferences.
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