- London's Startup Pulse
- Posts
- Navigating FOMO in Fundraising: How Founders Can Use It to Their Advantage
Navigating FOMO in Fundraising: How Founders Can Use It to Their Advantage
+ weekly list of handpicked startup events for founders and investors in London
Vasily Alekseenko
October 21, 2024
When it comes to fundraising, the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is a powerful tool that founders can leverage. Investors are always looking for the next big thing, that unicorn startup that could yield massive returns. But with so many startups vying for attention, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. That’s where FOMO comes in—when investors see momentum, whether it's through securing a lead investor or creating a buzz around your company, they often feel the pressure to jump in before they miss out.
At our recent London’s Largest Demo Day, we saw firsthand how FOMO can make a difference. One founder who moderated a panel at our event used his role to create visibility and credibility, leading to a £100,000 investment. Afterward, he told me that he was sure the deal closed because of the hype and buzz we created around him and the event. Another founder, known for her memorable branding (pink - wink wink), doubled her valuation after using the hype from our event to push her existing investor for a better deal. After her pitch last Monday 8 investors showed interest in her startup, which she skillfully used as leverage.
FOMO isn’t just about the hype; it’s about consistency. Founders should share their progress, whether through social media or targeted newsletters. You don’t have to spill all the details—sometimes, it’s enough to tell the story without revealing the plot twists. Consistent updates, even if ignored at first, build a narrative in investors’ minds, making it easier for them to act when the time is right. A little mystery can keep people intrigued while maintaining a sense of momentum.
But, creating FOMO isn’t without risks. It’s great when things are going well, but when progress stalls, it’s tough to disappear without raising eyebrows. Being open about setbacks can hurt in the short term but builds trust over time. There’s also the challenge of competition—being too transparent can give rivals a peek into your strategy. However, most great ideas are tough to steal without the right execution, so founders shouldn’t let this fear hold them back.
In the end, the key is to embrace the power of FOMO while being mindful of the balance between transparency and mystery. It’s a tricky dance, but if done right, it can be the difference between closing a deal and being left in the dust.
RARE FOUNDERS EVENTS❤️
 | Rare FoundersOpen Mic Pitching and NetworkingThe evening will be split into open mic pitching sessions and networking. Every 20-30 minutes we will pick randomly 5-6 founders who are fundraising and they will get on stage to pitch their business for 1 minute. In-person event Google Cloud Startup Hub, 4-5 Bonhill St, London, EC2A 4BX, UK Mon 28 Oct, 18:00 - 21:00 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, W1J 9DZ, UK Thu 31 Oct, 18:00 - 22:00 BST |
 | Rare Founders & HotbedFounders Pitch RelayEver wondered how others pitch your startup when you're not in the room? After the remarkable success and feedback from our first ever Pitch Relay collab, Rare Founders and Hotbed are joining forces for their second Pitch Relay event, a first-of-its-kind pitch challenge where you'll get to understand how your pitch evolves through different perspectives in a chain reaction of communication. In-person event Google Cloud Startup Hub, 4-5 Bonhill St, London, EC2A 4BX, UK Mon 11 Nov, 18:00 - 21:00 BST |
 |  |
OTHER LONDON EVENTS🌟
 | Plug In VenturesHow To Revamp Your Sales Messaging To Drive ConversionJoin this webinar with Kirin Kalia, an expert in helping founders refine their messaging and public-speaking skills to accelerate growth. A seasoned startup veteran and former journalist, Kirin has coached over 1,000 founders and worked with top companies like Visa, P&G Ventures, and Estee Lauder. Online event Mon 21 Oct, 21:00 - 22:00 BST |
 | The Entrepreneurs NetworkFemale Angel Investors RoundtableAt this roundtable, there will be discussions about regional challenges in angel investing, the pathways into angel investing, the types of support female angel investors need, what can be done to help entrepreneurs find them, and how angel syndicates can assist. In-person event 1 Churchill Pl, London, E14 5HU, UK Tue 22 Oct, 13:30 - 15:30 BST |
 | Hatch EnterpriseCustomising Your Pitch for Different AudiencesJoin us to learn how to tailor your pitches for various situations and audiences. What you will learn:
Online event Thu 24 Oct, 12:00 - 12:30 BST |
 | RunwayBack to School: London Climate DrinksA gathering of AI research and art, RNA is a space to showcase talks about frontier research in AI and art. Each RNA session features 4 researchers and artists. Each speaker presents for 20 minutes, followed by a 5-minute rapid-fire Q&A session. In-person event Shoreditch area, London, UK Thu 24 Oct, 17:45 - 20:00 BST |
 | AttioScaling sales and success from 0 → 1 – Perspectives from FoundersGoing from 0 → 1 is all about building strong foundations and scaling with intention. But what does it really take to launch and grow sales and success teams from scratch? In-person event 3-11 Pine St, London, EC1R 0JH, UK Thu 24 Oct, 18:30 - 21:00 BST |
 | Future AngelsFuture Angels MeetupEver been curious about becoming an angel investor? Whether it's something you want to do now, in a year, or in 20 years. You will find value in attending a Future Angels meetup. Online event Thu 24 Oct, 10:00 - 11:30 BST |
 | IfWeRaiseHow Early Stage Startups Can Build a Powerful Engine for GrowthThe webinar will explore the challenges most early stage founders face; from launching your product, finding your first customers and figuring out what to charge; in order to land your first million in revenue and beyond. Online event Mon 28 Oct, 12:00 - 13:00 BST |
 | LaunchLemonadeBeer & Build: Inaugural x LaunchLemonade HackathonInaugural , an AI venture builder, have teamed up with Cien at LaunchLemonade to host a super informal hackathon bringing together ambitious builders and hackers to explore new AI agents, solve real-world problems, and create products in a single evening. Oh yes, there´s beer (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) too 😍 In-person event Tue 29 Oct, 18:00 - 21:00 BST |
Vasily Alekseenko
Founder
@ Rare Founders
Rare Founders - building the bridge between founders and investors via regular in-person and online events, meetups, conferences.
Reply