Real Futures: Idea, Problem & Market Fit
Early‑stage founders face one core challenge: sharpening the problem, validating the market, and making sure the idea is worth building.
This session creates a focused space for you to test assumptions, refine your thinking, and move from idea to validated opportunity.
Inspired by the Nordic startup ecosystem - known for producing globally successful, impact‑driven companies - these office hours are practical, conversational, and tailored to your stage.
You bring your current challenge.
We work through it together.
What we’ll focus on
Idea, problem & market fit fundamentals:
Clarifying the problem you’re solving and for whom
Refining your value proposition and business model
Customer discovery approaches that reveal real needs
Testing assumptions quickly in the market
Translating insights into next actions that move you forward
This is not a lecture. It’s founder‑led, hands‑on guidance designed to accelerate learning and reduce wasted effort.
About Abda Rothman
Abda Rothman is Head of Sustainability Risks at a leading Nordic bank, bringing 20 years of experience across financial services, regulatory strategy, and digital transformation.
Her expertise sits at the intersection of:
financial regulation and innovation
technology adoption in complex systems
sustainability risk and opportunity
enabling businesses to remain compliant, competitive, and future‑ready
Abda helps organisations align regulatory frameworks with business objectives while safeguarding trust, sustainability, and long‑term resilience. She brings a structured yet founder‑empathetic approach rooted in Nordic startup culture - iterative, transparent, and action‑driven.
Who this session is for
Early‑stage founders shaping their idea
Builders testing early customer insights
Anyone refining their value proposition or market fit
Teams exploring sustainability, finance, or tech‑enabled solutions
Real Futures: Catalyst Converge Accelerator
Real Futures:Catalyst Converge is CSRI’s accelerator for ventures building sustainable real estate and built‑environment solutions. The programme accelerates bold, scalable innovation by connecting founders with researchers, industry partners, and real‑world pilot opportunities.
Ventures receive guided diagnostics, expert mentorship, access to PGIM and UCL resources, and a collaborative ecosystem focused on real‑asset transformation.
What the accelerator offers:
Tailored workshops and matched mentorship
Access to researchers, industry leaders, and investors
Pilot opportunities with PGIM
Support for innovation grant applications
Real‑world validation and market‑readiness
The accelerator integrates with the wider CSRI ecosystem - from Bartlett Invents to executive education, hackathons, and thought‑leadership - creating a clear path from idea to pilot to scale.
👉 Register your interest in Real Futures: Catalyst Converge Accelerator