London AI Forum: Funding AI
The London AI Forum 2026 brings together 120 founders, VCs, CVCs, LPs, angel investors and enterprise decision-makers to address the changing dynamics of AI investment and company building across B2B applications, Enterprise AI and FinTech.
✅ KEY TOPICS
→ AI Investment Landscape
Capital flows and investment priorities across B2B applications, Enterprise AI and FinTech.
→ AI Deal-Making
Investment criteria and decision-making from Seed to Series B.
→ AI Moats and Defensibility
Building and sustaining competitive advantages as underlying AI technologies commoditise
→ Operational Data and AI Defensibility
How proprietary operational data contributes to product differentiation and defensibility.
→ Down Rounds and Recapitalisations
Valuation adjustments, cap table implications and financing decisions.
→ Exits and Founder Liquidity
The strategic decisions, deal preparation and negotiations that underpin a successful acquisition.
✅ SPEAKERS:
→ Lukas Harustiak | Partner, Flashpoint Capital
Runs the Direct Secondary Fund at Flashpoint ($600M+ AUM), specialising in secondaries, cap table optimisation and founder liquidity across Europe.
→ Sergey Toporov | Partner, LETA Capital
Has led 50+ early-stage software deals, including inDrive and Novakid, with a focus on deal structuring, valuations and board governance.
→ Naza Metghalchi | Partner, Heartcore Capital
Invests in European Applied AI & Fintech pre-seed and seed rounds, recognized on Business Insider’s definitive list of top venture capitalists. Spearheaded key tech investments yielding major global exits, including Voice AI platform Sonantic (acquired by Spotify) and Hofy (acquired by Deel)
→ Aamir Faaiz | Founder, Bayseian
Builds AI systems for enterprise, government and regulated industries. OpenAI Select Partner and one of Tech Nation’s Top 25 Founders of the Future.
→ Alexandra Zotova | Investor, Rapyd
Investment Director at The Ultima World ($2B+ AUM). Nearly a decade in FinTech and DeepTech VC, backing CoreWeave, Epic Games, Curve and Solugen.
→ Khyati Sundaram | Exited Founder, Applied
2x enterprise tech founder who scaled Applied, a predictive analytics hiring platform, to 500+ global clients ahead of its acquisition by Phenom (2026). Speaks on AI and enterprise software at Sifted, London Tech Week & Harvard.
→ Kaan Akin | Managing Partner & CCO at Tenity
Previously founded Hackquarters, an accelerator running innovation programs for Visa and Meta until its acquisition by Tenity. Today, he drives growth for Tenity's global FinTech & InsurTech ecosystem - which boasts 200+ portfolio investments and 1,600+ supported startups - while remaining an active angel investor with multiple successful exits.
→ Jessica Mendoza | Venture Adviser, Loyal VC
3x founder who built proptech platform Monadd, backed by Amazon’s Impact Fund and acquired in 2025. Now advises startups at Loyal VC on fundraising, distribution and commercial growth.
→ Ivan Maryasin | Chief Strategy Officer, Altitude
Exited Founder of Monite, the fintech infrastructure behind 26+ platforms including Payoneer and Mollie. Backed by Valar Ventures & Point72 with $22M+ raised, the company was acquired by OakNorth Bank in 2026. Forbes 30 Under 30.
→ Eranda Maldeniya | Co-Founder & Director of Product, Solutions & AI, Enterprise Analytics
Two decades in enterprise software across ERP, fintech and machine learning, now building autonomous AI systems for high-risk corporate environments.
→ Kairat Mamiyev | Founder, TezCo
Built Central Asia’s leading logistics-tech platform, underpinning ~75% of the region’s consumer economy. Early-stage investor expanding into AI.
→ Egor Pavaliaev | Co-Founder, InTone (Berkeley SkyDeck Alumni, Acquired by Sanas)
Serial entrepreneur and B2B AI expert. Raised $2.3M in the US for Voice AI startup InTone. Following the acquisition of its IP by Sanas, he pivoted the company to generative AI agents, scaling it from zero to $1.5M ARR in 4 months. Currently advises YC W25 startups on GTM and fundraising.
→ Vlad Pushmin | Co-Founder & CEO, TYTEN
Builds TYTEN - AI layer that runs Facilities Management back offices. Raised $1M+ from Concrete Ventures, Antler, Fuel Ventures and angels. 2x VC-backed founder, ex AI for HVAC automation (Hilton, DHL, Emaar).
More speakers to be announced soon.
✅ MODERATORS
→ Aida Chushkina | Investment Professional, Hg
Board Observer at Azets, focused on B2B software and tech services. Previously FinTech M&A at FT Partners.
→ Sean Sukonnik | BD Director, Odix8 (MedTech AI)
Angel investor and ex-founder of Malevich.AI. Five years in US/EU VC, sourcing Perplexity, Collectly and Deepset.
→ Kristina Marinovic | COO, Duamentes
15+ years in tech infrastructure and operations, with partnerships spanning Nvidia and NetEase. Startup adviser and certified business coach.
→ Mikael Saakyan | Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Rattlesnake Group
Leads a London product studio working with Fortune 500 companies, VC funds and scale-ups. Head of Product at Undo Capital, an AI-native fundraising and equity management platform for UK startups.
→ Alexander Yatsenko, CFA | Co-founder and CEO, Alpha Clarity
Brings 6+ years in institutional fund research, on portfolios over £300 billion, to building Alpha Clarity, the AI operating system for investment fund research: multi-agent AI that automates the manual work and brings research, evidence and decisions into one audit-ready platform.
✅ WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
→ Founders & C-level teams building in AI and B2B tech with a live product
→ Exited and repeat founders
→ VCs, CVCs, PE, LPs, family offices and angel investors
→ Enterprise and Big Tech decision-makers responsible for AI adoption and innovation
→ Legal, finance and M&A advisors to tech companies
✅ PARTNERS
Beyond Tech
Helps tech and science professionals prepare UK Global Talent, US O-1 and EB-1A applications, and supports founders and experts in building their public profiles within the tech community.
Civo Tech Junction
Civo’s tech-first event space in London, Hosts industry talks, hands-on workshops, hackathons, and networking events designed to spark collaboration, encourage fresh thinking, and make meaningful connections happen.
Yotewo
Helps startups and scale-ups hire vetted IT talent and build their engineering teams.
✅ MEDIA PARTNERS
The Ventures Club - a global network connecting over 800 startup founders and 420+ top venture capital firms. The club equips tech leaders with advanced startup analytics, expert guidance, and worldwide accelerator.
AppGala Conference - B2B event series for the mobile app and gaming industry. Hosting conferences in Warsaw and Barcelona, it connects global creators with crucial insights on mobile growth, app subscriptions, and marketing trends
Ladies Who Tech - a London community for ambitious women in tech, connecting founders, C-level leaders and tech professionals through events, networking and partnerships.
AdhocSpace - a Scottish tech platform connecting developers, engineers, founders, and technology enthusiasts across the UK. Based in Edinburgh, adhocSpace fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional growth through community events, expert talks, tech content, media production, and digital services
✅ AGENDA
09:30 – 10:30 Registration & Networking
10:30 – 10:40 Opening Ceremony
10:40 – 11:05 Where Is AI Capital Moving (Fireside Chat)
11:05 – 11:45 Decision Logic Behind AI Deals (Panel)
11:45 – 12:30 The AI Moat: Scaling Defensible B2B Tech (Panel)
12:30 – 13:40 Lunch
13:40 – 14:05 AI Defensibility Through Real-World Operational Data (Fireside Chat)
14:05 – 14:40 Cap Table Strategy: Down Rounds & Recapitalisation (Fireside Chat)
14:40 – 15:10 Coffee Break
15:10 – 15:30 Tech Nation, topic TBC (Fireside Chat)
15:30 – 16:15 AI Exit Strategies: How Founders Build for Liquidity (Panel)
16:15 – 17:00 Post-Event Networking
Learn more about London AI Forum and meet our speakers on LAIF website.
✅ Practical details
→ Lunch and refreshments included
→ Photography and filming will take place during the event
Organised by Founders Connect, a London network & platform for discussions in tech.