​Most founders don't have a pitching problem; they have a connection problem.

​Strong deck, clear ask, solid business - and still, silence. Cold emails ignored. LinkedIn messages into the void. The average reply rate from angels sits around 1%, and most founders chalk it up to a tough market.

​It's rarely the market. It's how you're showing up.

​This session with James Church - award-winning fundraising consultant, Amazon best-selling author of Investable Entrepreneur, and the man whose methodology has helped founders raise over £200m - goes straight into that.

​James will walk you through a repeatable system for engaging angel investors: highly personalised, no deep research required, builds human connection instantly. The founders he works with see 60% reply rates and 25% pitch request rates.

​You'll leave with something you can actually use the next morning.

​Then, we open the mic.

​One minute. One mic. A room full of people who could change everything.

​For founders who are fundraising or about to. Test your pitch, sharpen your story, get in front of the room that matters. Open to anyone in the ecosystem — building, investing, or just here for the energy.

​The Format

​Every 20–30 minutes we randomly pull 5–6 founders. 60 seconds to sell your vision.

​⏱️ Go over time? 💦 Meet the water guns.

​Agenda

• ​6.00 pm - 7.00 pm: Arrival & Networking

• ​7.00 pm - 7.40 pm: Welcome + James Church's Session

• ​7.40 pm - 8.10 pm: Networking

• ​8.10 pm - 8.30 pm: Open Mic Pitching (Round 1)

• ​8.30 pm - 9.00 pm: Networking

• ​9.00 pm - 9.20 pm: Open Mic Pitching (Round 2)

• ​9.20 pm - 10.00 pm: Final Networking

​Come for the insights. Stay for the connections. 🚀

​​👉 Spots are limited - sign up now.

​​​By joining, you're allowing us to capture and share moments from the night. Photos and videos may be used to showcase our community and promote future events.

​​About Rare Founders​

​A founder-led community connecting early-stage founders, operators, and investors through curated events across London - open mics, roundtables, and Demo Days. Sign up to our weekly newsletter for handpicked startup events and opportunities.

​💥 Get better connected with Sophy

​Sophy is your networking companion built for founders, investors, and operators. See who's in the room, add notes to your contacts, set follow-ups, and search your entire network - so no connection ever slips through. Join the waitlist: GetsophySoPhy — Never Lose a Contact Again

​​​​​Want to sponsor the event and get exposure with hundreds of businesses? Please email [email protected]

​​​A Huge Thanks To Our Sponsors & Partners!

​James Church

​Award-winning fundraising consultant and Amazon best-selling author of Investable Entrepreneur: How to convince investors your business is the one to back. His methodology has helped founders raise over £200m in early-stage funding. Winner of Business Advisor of the Year at the Growing Business Awards, featured in Entrepreneur Magazine and Forbes, and a regular speaker at international conferences and accelerators. On a mission to stop startups failing because of poor communication.

​Safety Partner

​​​​Safespace Plus is helping us to foster a safe and inclusive environment at our events. Check out our Code of Conduct so you are aware of what kind of behaviour is not allowed at our events.

​​Venue Partner

​​​​​​​​45 London is a vibrant creative workspace and event venue in the heart of Shoreditch, London. Designed for innovators, founders, and creators, it blends stylish design with flexible spaces perfect for networking, workshops, community meetups, and startup events. A hub where creativity meets connection, 45 Curtain Road is ideal for events that bring people together to collaborate, learn, and grow.