From idea to investment: what it really takes to build & scale a business

​Join three experts across the founder journey, exited founder Helen McGuire (Founder’s Sanctuary), equity crowdfunding strategist Toyosi Sanusi (Pitch Slap), and Anthony Rose (Founder, SeedLegals), for a practical conversation on what it actually takes to build, fund and scale a business.

​In this session, we bring together the critical stages of growth, from idea to investment to execution, followed by a live Q&A where you can get your questions answered directly.

​We’ll cover:

​✅ The three things every founder needs to build and scale (and where most go wrong)
✅ How to get raise-ready and mobilise your community to fund your growth
✅ What investors and legal frameworks actually require, and how to avoid costly mistakes
✅ Practical steps you can take immediately, whether you’re starting out or scaling

​​​Meet the hosts🎤

​Helen McGuire
Exited, Author, Speaker & award-winning Founder, The Founder Sanctuary

​Helen McGuire is a serial entrepreneur, AI innovator, mother, author and exited CEO known for building bold, future-focused businesses at the intersection of technology, data, and human impact.

​In 2023, Helen achieved a successful exit with the acquisition of her AI-powered hiring platform, Diversely, by global software group The Access Group - placing her among the 0.5% of female founders worldwide to exit a tech startup. Helen began her entrepreneurial journey with Hopscotch in 2015, a pioneering careers platform focused on improving gender representation across the Middle East and Asia.

​Before founding her own companies, Helen built a strong foundation in media and communications, holding senior roles at BBC Radio 1 and BBDO, where she worked on brand, content, and influence strategy for multinational clients.

​Toyosi Sanusi
Founder, Pitch Slap

​Toyosi is an equity crowdfunding strategist and founder of Pitch Slap, Helping early and growth-stage founders raise capital through equity crowdfunding.

​She specialises in helping founders get raise-ready, build their investor story, and mobilise their community to back their raise. Working with founders across the UK and USA, with a particular passion for the female founders who are building brilliant businesses and deserve the funding to match.

​​​​Anthony Rose
Co-founder & CEO, SeedLegals

​​​​Known as “The man behind BBC iPlayer”, Anthony Rose is a seasoned entrepreneur and the driving force behind SeedLegals, the platform powering a third of all early-stage SEIS/EIS funding rounds in the UK.

​​​​With a background in internet video, P2P tech, and social platforms - plus a patent portfolio spanning content discovery and interactive TV - Anthony brings a rare mix of technical depth and commercial know-how to the startup world.

​​About SeedLegals

​​​​​​​We're the UK’s go-to platform for startup legals, funding, share options, SEIS/EIS and more.

​​​Whether you're just starting out or gearing up for your next raise, SeedLegals is built to help founders move faster and smarter. Our tools make it simple to create and sign essential legal docs, close funding rounds, and reward your team – without burning time or cash on admin.

​​​We’re trusted by 60,000+ startups and investors and power 1 in 6 early-stage funding rounds in the UK. If you're raising, hiring or just figuring out what’s next, we’re here to help you do it right.