Funded Founders Breakfast
About this event
Real Stories. Better Investment Decisions.
What does it actually take to raise a round — and how do investors really make decisions?
Join us for a curated breakfast during Upstream Festival week in Rotterdam. As an official side event, this session brings together recently funded founders to share the unfiltered stories behind their rounds — from first investor conversations to closing the deal.
Fundraising is rarely linear. You’ll hear about challenges, rejections, and the turning points that actually mattered.
This is an intimate, interactive gathering — not a panel. Expect honest conversations and meaningful connections over great coffee.
What you'll learn
• How fundraising conversations actually unfold in real life
• What investors really look for when making decisions
• Common mistakes and turning points in successful rounds
• How to think about your own fundraising strategy
Session flow
10:00 – 10:15 · Arrival, Coffee & Breakfast
10:15 – 10:20 · Opening & Context Setting
10:20 – 10:50 · Founder Stories
10:50 – 11:10 · Open Discussion & Q&A
11:10 – 11:30 · Networking & Connections
Who should attend
• Founders raising or preparing to raise
• VC and angel investors
• Startup ecosystem builders and operators
Format
Curated breakfast gathering (approx. 90 minutes)
Interactive discussion + founder storytelling + networking
Hosted by RISE LENS
RISE LENS is an AI decision intelligence platform for private markets.
We help investment teams make faster, more consistent decisions by turning complex deal data into structured, actionable insights .
From sourcing to evaluation, RISE LENS brings clarity and confidence to every investment decision.
About Upstream Festival
Upstream Festival is a leading startup and innovation festival in Rotterdam, bringing together founders, investors, and ecosystem builders from across Europe.
The festival focuses on supporting purpose-driven entrepreneurship and fostering meaningful connections within the startup ecosystem.
Location
CIC Rotterdam, Stationsplein 45, A4 (4th floor), 3013AK, Rotterdam
Attendance
Curated guest list · Approval required
Space is limited. RSVP to secure your spot. We look forward to seeing you there.