- London's Startup Pulse
- Posts
- Should founders turn to the US?
Should founders turn to the US?
+ weekly list of handpicked startup events for founders and investors in London
Vasily Alekseenko
May 29, 2024
Is the Grass Greener for Founders Raising Money in the US?
Recently, I've been hearing a lot about how it's supposedly easier to raise money from US-based investors compared to those in the UK. Many founders say that UK investors are very risk-averse, and the average investment cheque in the UK is quite low. On the flip side, offering a $10K investment as an angel in the US is almost like an insult. Clearly, there's a difference in culture and investment appetite. But is this just a case of "the grass being greener on the other side," or is there some truth to it?
Should founders pack their bags and head to the USA to secure investment, or will they get lost among the countless local startups? We're on a mission to figure this out over the next few months.
This month, we have a US-based VC running a masterclass on how to fundraise in the US. In July, we're bringing in a guest (a UK-based VC) who just came back from meeting with 40+ US VCs. He's ready to share his findings. Stay tuned for the July event details, which will be announced shortly.
RARE FOUNDERS EVENTS🔥
 | 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 |
 | Rare FoundersFundraising in the US masterclassTogether with the US based VC, Yellow Rocks VC, we will be running a masterclass on how to fundraise in the US market and how LinkedIn can play a crucial part in it. In-person event Runway East Bloomsbury, 24-28 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2SN, UK Fri 14 June, 14:00 - 17:00 BST |
 | Rare FoundersOpen mic pitching and networkingAfter a long break, our legendary open mic pitching events are back. This time in a very awesome and very different location. Have you ever networked in a former horse stable? Neither have we! Join us! It’s going to be fun and it’s going to be different (in a good way). Investors and founders, everyone is welcome! In-person event The Vanguard, Camden Town, London, NW1 8AH, UK Wed 19 June, 18:00 - 23:00 BST |
 |  |
OTHER EVENTS❤️
 | Martin Tobias (Incisive Ventures)How I lost $500M and still won, lessons from a CEO and a VCMartin is US VC legend when it comes to pre-seed investments. The timing of this webinar is super early for Europe but I can personally guarantee it’s worth it staying up late for this. Online event Thu 23 May, 01:00 - 02:00 BST |
 | CF_DIV_SWEEPSCapital & CodeJoin this exclusive networking event for financiers across M&A, VC, PE, & IB as well as founders and operators that make it all happen. In-person event The Mezzanine, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 20 International Way, London, E20 1FD, UK Thu 30 May, 18:30 - 22:00 BST |
 | Tech1MEthical challenges and opportunities in AI for foundersJoin this enlightening panel discussion at the intersection of technology and ethics, specifically tailored for startup and scaleup founders navigating the dynamic landscape of artificial intelligence. In-person event HSBC Innovation Banking, Alphabeta, London, EC2A 1BR, UK Thu 30 May, 17:30 - 19:30 BST |
 | Pre-seed to SucceedPitch&DrinkJoin this exclusive event where pre-selected founders will be doing speed dating/ pitching to the US investors. There are still a few slots available for founders to pitch. Investors are also welcome to join for networking. In-person event London, UK Mon 3 June, 18:00-22:00 BST |
 | MarllmScale Customised Sales Funnels workshopJoin this webinar to learn how to boost your brand and sales from Marllm’s 15+ years of global record-breaking marketing, ads, SEO & AI expertise. Online event Tue 4 June, 16:00 - 17:00 BST |
 | FlowwInvestor ShowcaseIn-person investor showcase with presentations from two inspiring founders from some of the most innovative scaling companies in the UK. In-person event 4 Matthew Parker St, London, SW1H 9NP, UK Tue 4 June, 18:30 - 21:30 BST |
 | EquitasPeople Tech BreakfastThis event is mainly for founders in the people tech space (HR, TA, Recruitment or DEI tech). Come, network, meet interesting people and share war stories, opportunities and challenges. In-person event WeWork - Waterloo, 10 York Rd, London, SE1 7ND, UK Wed 5 June, 8:30 - 10:30 BST |
 | ZINCCatalyst Showcase: Research Innovation For Later LifeJoin ZINC to hear their cohort pitch live in front of an investor panel, and hear expert insights on research commercialisation. In-person event Euston House, 24 Eversholt Street, London, NW1 1AD, UK Wed 5 June, 10:00 - 16:00 BST |
 | FutureLondon.org🚀 Startup Co-Founder Matching ✨Don't miss this unique opportunity to meet your ideal co-founder and accelerate your startup journey! In-person event Future House, Unit 4 Prout Rd, London, E5 9NP, UK Wed 5 June, 18:00 - 22:00 BST |
Vasily Alekseenko Rare Founders
Rare Founders - building the bridge between founders and investors via regular in-person and online events, meetups, conferences.
Reply