- London's Startup Pulse
- Posts
- The Wildest Investor Meetings (And What You Can Learn from Them)
The Wildest Investor Meetings (And What You Can Learn from Them)
+ weekly list of handpicked startup events for founders and investors in London
Vasily Alekseenko
November 17, 2024
The Wildest Investor Meetings (And What You Can Learn from Them)
Investor meetings are part of the founder journey, but let’s face it: they can be downright bizarre. For anyone trying to raise funds, there’s always a chance you’ll walk into a meeting that feels less like a pitch and more like a test of your patience (and sanity). Let me share some of the worst experiences I’ve heard about, and more importantly, the lessons they teach us.
Imagine waiting an hour to pitch a big international fund—only to enter the room and find the investor barefoot, casually picking his feet while eating lunch. He smokes a cigarette mid-meeting, snuffs it out in his food, and pours his coffee over the mess. Power play or performance art? Who knows. But one thing’s clear: that was not someone worth doing business with.
Or take another founder who flew across the country for a meeting, only to discover none of the actual decision-makers showed up. They pitched to junior associates who had no authority to write checks. The result? A waste of time, energy, and airfare.
And then there’s the investor who spent the first five minutes of a pitch testing the founder’s ability to speak Chinese—ignoring the startup entirely. Spoiler: it didn’t lead to a deal.
These meetings, while extreme, highlight a crucial point: investor interactions can be unpredictable. But instead of letting them discourage you, use them to set realistic expectations. Fundraising is hard, time-consuming, and sometimes downright weird, but keeping your focus is key.
Here are some takeaways:
1. Respect is Non-Negotiable
Investors who waste your time or treat you poorly during a meeting won’t magically change after writing a check. Walk away if the vibe is off.
2. Control the Narrative
Always have a clear story about your business. Even if an investor gets distracted, you should remain sharp and professional.
3. Don’t Chase “Bad Money”
A great investor moves quickly, respects your time, and doesn’t micromanage. A bad one? They create more problems than they solve. Choose wisely.
4. Stay Grounded
Raising money isn’t your end goal—building a great business is. The right investors will see that, and they’re the ones worth working with.
Remember, fundraising isn’t about pleasing everyone. It’s about finding the right partner to help build your vision. Stay focused, and don’t let a wild investor meeting shake your confidence.
What was your wildest experience at investor meetings?
RARE FOUNDERS EVENTS❤️
 | Rare FoundersBuilding a Business While Navigating MotherhoodJoin us for “Redefining Success: Building a Business While Navigating Motherhood. The event will feature an interactive panel and open discussion on the unique challenges faced by founders who are balancing the pressures of two full-time roles—building a business and modern-day motherhood. Last chance to register - 10am Monday. In-person event Google Cloud Startup Hub, 4-5 Bonhill St, London, EC2A 4BX, UK Wed 20 Nov, 18:00 - 21:00 GMT |
 | Rare FoundersHow to Nail Your User Research - MasterclassJoin us for an intensive one-hour workshop, How to Nail User Research, designed to give you the tools and insights to create a research strategy that drives your business forward. This masterclass covers essential concepts in user research, the three core key methods you need to learn, and how to align research with your company’s goals. In-person event Google Cloud Startup Hub, 4-5 Bonhill St, London, EC2A 4BX, UK Mon 25 Nov, 10:00 - 13:00 GMT |
 | Rare FoundersThe Rare Factor: B2B & B2C SaaS Live DemosGet ready for The Rare Factor! On December 9th, we’re putting a comedic twist on the classic X-Factor format, specifically crafted for B2B and B2C SaaS startups. This isn’t just another pitch event—it’s a live showdown where 8 selected companies will showcase their products in real time. The last day to apply for b2b & b2c SaaS startups is on Mon, 25h of Nov. Apply now. In-person event Google Cloud Startup Hub, 4-5 Bonhill St, London, EC2A 4BX, UK Mon 9 Dec, 18:00 - 21:00 GMT |
OTHER LONDON EVENTS🌟
 | Block DojoFounderthonLooking to supercharge your startup? Building in the tech space and want to set yourself apart from the competition? Join Block Dojo's Founderthon, a free half-day event to get a taster of Block Dojo programme and take the crucial next step in your founder journey. In-person event Google Cloud Startup Hub, 4-5 Bonhill St, London, EC2A 4BX, UK Mon 18 Nov, 9:30 - 13:30 GMT |
 | Pillar VCFounder-Led Biotech London TourCalling all founders, future founders and members of the biotech ecosystem in London. Join the Pillar VC team for a curated, in-person community event at their London tour stop! Cocktails, mocktails, and appetizers will be served. In-person event Oxford Circus area, London, UK Mon 18 Nov, 18:00 - 20:00 GMT |
 | ScribeLessons from Automating 50 Angel Outreach CampaignsJoin Scribe for this exclusive one-off Webinar, where they will be sharing lessons learned from running 50 Angel outreach campaigns, powered by their data. Online event Tue 19 Nov, 11:00 - 12:00 GMT |
 | YorkseedFrom Websummit to London: Founders and Funders Mix & MingleThis event is open for all founders investors executives and tech/venture community builders. The Yorkseed London hub aims to foster connections, catch up, and mingle with new faces in the ecosystem. In-person event Charing Cross area, London, UK Tue 19 Nov, 18:00 - 20:00 GMT |
 | GoodTech VenturesWinter SocialAfter the excitement of GoodTech Ventures Cohort 2 showcase at Techspace, they are heading over to The Fox pub in Shoreditch for a relaxed evening of drinks, chats, and good vibes. Whether you’re part of the GoodTech family or just want to soak up the atmosphere, everyone is welcome to join them! In-person event The Fox, 28 Paul St, London, EC2A 4LB, UK Thu 21 Nov, 17:30 - 20:30 GMT |
 | CITY University of LondonThe Art of Entrepreneurship Through AcquisitionBayes X at Bayes Business School is excited to host a high-impact event designed for aspiring acquisition entrepreneurs and search fund managers. This event will bring together acquisition-focused professionals, including entrepreneurs, search-CEOs, active and new searchers, and search fund investors from across the UK, to network, share insights, and explore key challenges and opportunities in the dynamic world of search funds and entrepreneurship through acquisition. In-person event Bayes Business School, 33 Finsbury Square, London, EC2A 1AG, UK Thu 21 Nov, 18:00 - 20:00 GMT |
PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES🌿
 | SeedLegalsSeedLegals Awards 2025 Nominations are Open!Don’t miss your chance to enter yourself or nominate someone sensational for a SeedLegals Startup Award 2025 – the deadline for nominations and entries is 13 December 2024. We’ve got 13 awards up for grabs for the ultimate game-changers, disruptors and visionaries of the UK startup scene. Every finalist stands a chance to win our prestigious Startup of the Year title and a £50k+ investment offer! |
 | WayraCVC Office Hours24 CVCs from around the world have joined forces to define the most pressing areas they want to explore startup technologies for their enterprises' strategic interests. They are offering their time in 121 office hours to startups whose applications showcase strategic collaboration opportunities in their industry. We want to see our startups getting in front of them, which is why we recommend it. Apply by November 20th and take your startup on the strategic capital journey! |
Vasily Alekseenko
Founder
@ Rare Founders
Rare Founders - building the bridge between founders and investors via regular in-person and online events, meetups, conferences.
Reply