Fundraising Without the Guesswork
Most fundraising advice is written for a very specific kind of founder.
Not you.
This event is for female and non-binary founders who are actively preparing to raise, mid-raise, or trying to figure out if raising is even the right move. We're cutting through the noise and getting into the stuff that actually matters, the mindset, the mechanics, and the conversations nobody puts in a blog post.
What to expect
Three hours. A small, curated room. Real investors, real founders, real talk.
We're keeping this intimate by design, 25–30 founders who are genuinely in the thick of building. No fluff, no panels where everyone agrees with each other.
The Agenda
6:00 PM — Networking & Investor Bingo
Get warmed up. Meet the room. Yes, Investor Bingo is exactly what it sounds like.
6:30 PM — Welcome & Scene-Setting
The phased raise approach : how to think about your raise before you start it.
🎤 Speaker: Shreya Choudhuri, Founder and CEO, BuildHer Labs
7:15 PM — Panel 1: Are You Actually Ready to Raise?
The milestones, the mindset, and the honest checklist most founders skip.
🎤 Panellists:
Karina Manzur, GTM Lead at Borderless and Founder of migreats
Ajit Barik, Founder & CEO of Wyzr
Steve Rimmer, Angel investor and Strategic Advisor (focused on future of work, environmental and social impact)
7:55 PM — Fireside Chat: Beyond VC — Family Offices, Angels & Microfinance
Because VC isn't the only path and for many founders, it's not the right one.
🎤 Panellists:
Alison Hoffer, Founder of The Eighteen Percent Fund
Amira C, Angel Investor at Alma Angels
Ana Cavez, Angel Investor at Wand AI
8:20 PM — Break & Demo
Cap table clarity. Quick, practical, useful.
8:30 PM — Workshop: Build Your Investor Targeting List
Leave with an actual list. Not a vague plan, a list.
Led by : Max Heal, CEO at FounderCatalyst
9:00 PM — Panel 2: The Raise Process: What Nobody Tells You
The rejections, the pivots, the things that actually moved the needle.
🎤 Panellists:
Natasha Kumar, Founder at Lexo
Ajit Barik, Founder & CEO at Wyzr
Simon Walsh, Partner at Oury Clark
Max Heal, CEO at FounderCatalyst
9:25 PM — Investor Speed Networking
Four-minute rotations. Warm, structured, and surprisingly effective.
9:45 PM — Open Q&A + Hot Seats
Bring your real questions. We'll work through them live.
9:55 PM — Wrap-Up
Who this is for
✅ Female and non-binary founders
✅ Pre-seed to Series A
✅ You have traction and you're not at idea stage
✅ You want honest conversation, not a highlight reel