- London's Startup Pulse
- Posts
- Raising Without Regret: The Light Side of the Money
Raising Without Regret: The Light Side of the Money
Because when used right — capital can change everything.
Vasily Alekseenko
April 19, 2025
Raising Without Regret: The Light Side of the Money
There’s a reason founders chase funding — because when it’s done right, it works.
On April 25, at London’s Largest Demo Day, we’re bringing you the other side of the story — the one where raising money isn’t a trap, but a launchpad.
The Light Side of the Money stage is where we explore the best-case scenarios — where capital becomes a tool for growth, where founders stay in control, and where the right investor can unlock a path you never thought possible.
We’ve gathered the voices of those who’ve raised smart, scaled fast, and built powerful relationships with the people backing them. From first-time founders to exited operators, from CFOs to Tier 1 VCs — this is a conversation about raising with strategy, self-awareness, and strength.
But don’t expect the usual rehearsed playbook.
This is not about glorifying fundraising.
It’s about helping you make sharp, confident decisions when the money shows up.
Because equity can build empires — or bury them.
If you’re fundraising now, planning your first round, or just trying to understand how the game really works — this is your moment to step inside.
We’re cutting through the noise. And we’re giving you the full picture.
What to expect at London’s Largest Demo Day:
2,000+ attendees
450+ investors (VCs, angels, family offices, CVCs)
100 top-rated startups pitching
2 content stages packed with raw and unfiltered discussions
Non-stop networking across every level of the startup ecosystem
🚨 Free tickets are almost gone.
Starting next week, the only way in will be paid access.
If you want to join the movement — and hear what’s never said out loud —
🎟️ Join the waitlist now for free entry before we close it.
👉 Join the waitlist here.
Want to skip the waitlist and get a guarantee FREE ticket? Upgrade to one of our annual membership tiers. See the details here.
PANELS OF THE DAY❤️
 | The Light Side of the Money StageWhy Trading Your Equity For Money Might Be the Smartest Decision You Ever MakeThis session explores why sacrificing some ownership is often necessary for scaling fast and accessing resources only investors can provide, debunking the fear of giving up equity. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 10:00 - 10:40 BST |
 | The Light Side of the Money StageHow To Spend £100K To Make Yourself 1,000x Faster Than Your CompetitorsA bold discussion on how strategic use of investment capital can accelerate growth, dominate markets, and leave competitors in the dust. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 11:00 - 11:40 BST |
 | The Light Side of the Money StageVCs Work For You, Not The other Way Around: How To Have A Healthy Relationship With Your Most Capitalized BackersPractical advice for maintaining control and building a mutually beneficial partnership with investors, ensuring your goals align without compromising your vision. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 12:00 - 12:40 BST |
 | The Light Side of the Money StageThe Billion-Dollar Comedy: How Psychology And Biases Work In Your Favor When VCs Set Your ValuationA fascinating dive into the behavioral psychology of venture capital, exploring how founders can leverage cognitive biases, herd mentality, and narrative-building to secure higher valuations and investor confidence. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 13:00 - 13:40 BST |
 | The Light Side of the Money StageFundraising Is A Popularity Contest: Why Your Personality Will Make Or Break Your StartupAn honest discussion on the role of personal branding, charisma, and storytelling in convincing investors to fund your startup, often more critical than the product itself. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 14:00 - 14:40 BST |
 | The Light Side of the Money StageVC Is The Startup Mafia: If You’re Not With Them, You’re Against ThemA candid panel on how the VC ecosystem operates like a powerful network, where being part of it can mean rapid growth and success, but staying out can mean isolation and struggle in a hyper-competitive startup world. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 15:00 - 15:40 BST |
👇 This isn’t just another event. It’s a movement.
If you believe founders deserve the truth — not filtered soundbites — then you belong in the room.
We’re curating every attendee to protect the energy in the space.
Free access ends soon. Waitlist is your only shot to get in without paying.
🎟 Join the waitlist now and be part of something different.
👉 Join the waitlist here.
Vasily Alekseenko
Founder
@ Rare Founders
Rare Founders - building the bridge between founders and investors via regular in-person and online events, meetups, conferences.
There’s what you hear at startup conferences — and then there’s what gets whispered between founders and investors in the pub.
We’re done with the polished PR panels and LinkedIn-perfect stories. At London’s Largest Demo Day, we’re opening the door to what really happens behind closed doors — on the Dark Side of the Money stage.
These are the stories people usually only tell in private.
The deals that went wrong.
The co-founders pushed out.
The investors who crossed the line.
The emotional and financial cost of “just raising a round.”
This isn’t clickbait. It’s what founders need to hear — and what no one talks about on traditional stages.
To protect the people sharing their truths, some sessions will be:
🔐 Held under Chatham House Rule
📵 Completely phone-free
🎭 Featuring masked speakers to protect their identity
We’re creating a space where people can finally speak freely — so others can stop making the same mistakes.
What to expect at London’s Largest Demo Day:
2,000+ attendees
450+ investors (VCs, angels, family offices, CVCs)
100 top-rated startups pitching
2 content stages packed with raw and unfiltered discussions
Non-stop networking across every level of the startup ecosystem
🚨 Free tickets are almost gone.
Starting next week, the only way in will be paid access.
If you want to join the movement — and hear what’s never said out loud —
🎟️ Join the waitlist now for free entry before we close it.
👉 Join the waitlist here.
PANELS OF THE DAY❤️
 | The Dark Side of the Money StageConfessions of a VC: The Deals I Regret – and Why I’d Never Fund Them AgainFounders they backed that didn’t work out — not just for business reasons but for misalignment, character, or speed. What red flags they ignored because of FOMO. The types of founders they’ll never invest in again (and why). In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 10:00 - 10:40 BST |
 | The Dark Side of the Money StageSleeping with the Enemy: The Investor Who Killed My Business (and What I Did Next)A brutally honest one-on-one interview with a founder who saw the red flags, ignored them, and took the money anyway. What followed was a slow unraveling—power struggles, broken trust, and the eventual collapse of a once-promising business. But this isn’t just a story of failure—it’s a story of survival, self-awareness, and what happens when founders choose short-term funding over long-term alignment. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 11:00 - 11:40 BST |
 | The Dark Side of the Money StageFundraising in hell: when they don’t just take your company—they take your lifeCandid stories of founders whose mental health, relationships, and personal lives were destroyed by the relentless demands of their investors. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 12:00 - 12:40 BST |
 | The Dark Side of the Money StageOwning Less Than 50%: What Really Happens When Investors Own More of Your Company Than You DoAn unfiltered discussion on the power dynamics that shift when founders give up majority ownership, exploring the loss of control, decision-making authority, and the risks of becoming a minority stakeholder in your own business. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 13:00 - 13:40 BST |
 | The Dark Side of the Money StageThe Speed Myth: The Real Reasons Investors Need You to Go FasterA deep dive into how venture funds operate, revealing that the pressure for rapid growth often stems from their need to raise the next fund rather than your business’s needs. This session exposes how aligning your startup’s pace with their fundraising cycle can lead to reckless decisions that kill businesses. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 14:00 - 14:40 BST |
 | The Dark Side of the Money StageF* the VC World: How Bootstrapping Builds Real Businesses, Not Ponzi SchemesA bold argument against the VC model, showcasing bootstrapped founders who built sustainable businesses without outside capital. In-person event 1 Wimpole Street, London, UK Fri 25 Apr, 15:00 - 15:40 BST |
👇 This isn’t just another event. It’s a movement.
If you believe founders deserve the truth — not filtered soundbites — then you belong in the room.
We’re curating every attendee to protect the energy in the space.
Free access ends soon. Waitlist is your only shot to get in without paying.
🎟 Join the waitlist now and be part of something different.
👉 Join the waitlist here.
Vasily Alekseenko
Founder
@ Rare Founders
Rare Founders - building the bridge between founders and investors via regular in-person and online events, meetups, conferences.
Reply