Startup Christmas Party. 10 dec 2025
Networking, Celebration Rare Founders Networking, Celebration Rare Founders

Startup Christmas Party. 10 dec 2025

The Startup Christmas Party on December 10th, hosted by Rare Founders, SeedLegals, and Hotbed, was an unforgettable celebration at Blue Marlin Ibiza London. It brought together the startup community for a night of festive fun, live DJ sets, and connections. Highlights included performances by Kate Moss via Djaayz, a Christmas Duck Hunt, and plenty of surprises. Sponsors like Djaayz, Scribe, and Sunrise Technology Services helped make the event a memorable experience, offering a relaxed vibe, networking, and festive cheer as everyone celebrated the year's achievements and looked forward to 2025! πŸŽ‰πŸŽ„

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The Rare Factor. 9 dec 2024
Networking, Open mic pitching, Rare Factor Rare Founders Networking, Open mic pitching, Rare Factor Rare Founders

The Rare Factor. 9 dec 2024

The Rare Factor transformed the Google Cloud Startup Hub into a stage for innovation and entertainment. Eight B2B and B2C SaaS startups delivered live demos, competing to impress a star-studded panel of judges, including tech influencer Ghita El Haitmy, investor Dr. Chris Howard, and Ken Thomas from BackFuture VC.

Hosted by comedian Craig Brown, the event mixed sharp insights with laughs, iconic X-Factor buzzers, and networking fueled by Google Cloud. A true celebration of creativity, connection, and remarkable ideas! 🌟

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Open mic pitching and networking. 28 oct 2024
Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko

Open mic pitching and networking. 28 oct 2024

Rare Founders hosted its iconic open mic pitching and networking event at the Google Cloud Startup Hub. Founders pitched their ideas in 1-minute sessions, followed by vibrant networking over drinks and nibbles provided by Google Cloud. The event brought together startups, investors, and innovators in a space designed to empower businesses to scale and succeed in the digital age.

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Co-founder matching. 22 Oct 2024

Co-founder matching. 22 Oct 2024

Rare Founders and SeedLegals teamed up to transform the co-founder search with an innovative, in-person matching event inspired by Y Combinator’s tool. Held at Google Cloud’s new Startup Hub, the night was a vibrant mix of networking, collaboration, and inspiration, creating opportunities to spark partnerships and shape the future of entrepreneurship.

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Tech roast. 29 MAY 2024
Networking, Tech Roast Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Tech Roast Vasily Alekseenko

Tech roast. 29 MAY 2024

Well, Wednesday night was beyond epic! πŸŽ‰

What you missed:

the tech legend behind TechBible (Ghita El Haitmy – now I know it's pronounced like Rita) unleashed her alter ego as a comedian! She roasted herself to death, and it was truly funny! πŸ˜‚

But what happened yesterday was much bigger than Ghita’s sense of humor! πŸš€

On Wednesday, Rare Founders and TechBible gave birth to β€œTech Roast,” where 10 pre-selected #B2B #SaaS businesses went on stage to demonstrate their tech in realtime to the audience of 130 people 😱😱😱. It was fresh, it was fun, and it was super memorable. 🎀

For me personally, there were many hashtag#founders I knew for a while, but I never understood their product until last night. We're going to do more of these events because it’s the best way to get user feedback, reactions, and win over new users (maybe even investors). πŸ’‘

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London’s largest demo day S1E1. 22 Apr 2024
Networking, Open mic pitching, Demo day Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Open mic pitching, Demo day Vasily Alekseenko

London’s largest demo day S1E1. 22 Apr 2024

Experience the thrill of London's first-ever demo day of this scale where startups, founders, and investors collided in an unforgettable showcase of innovation and opportunity! With over 800 participants, including 200 top investors and 100 of the finest founders pitching, this event was nothing short of EPIC. 🀯

✨ Highlights Include:

πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ A founder chased down by an eager investor post-pitch.

πŸ“ˆ 8 investor conversations sparked from a single pitch – a new record!

🀝 Massive networking success with nearly 800 attendees and 200 more on the waitlist.

πŸ€— Unmatched community support with 4 sponsors, 40 investor partners, and 25 community allies.

Missed out? Don't let the next one slip by! πŸŽ‰ Join the most dynamic gathering of the startup ecosystem in London and be where the magic happens. Be seen, be heard, be funded.

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The London Startup Scene. 28 Feb 2024
Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko

The London Startup Scene. 28 Feb 2024

This week has been a lot, but it has also been fun!

Next Wednesday I will have hosted 4 events in 7 days😱. My record so far. But now back to what happened on Wednesday!

You know what happened? Yes, Rare Founders open mic pitching and networking event for founders and investors.

Sadly from 30 investors registered just a couple showed up ☹ But 200+ founders for sure got tons of value from the event anyway!

I see an interesting trend, each time we get more and more advanced startups with some mind-blowing businesses. (Top 2 for me: new type of industrial battery that can store energy for much longer than anything else available out there, AI powered tool that can read the online sentiment on businesses and evaluate the potential of it being a cyber attack by bots to damage reputation).

The highlight of the event was Saranjit Sangar, the CEO of Betterspace. Who shared her journey as a female startup leader on what it takes to build a startup in the current environment.

A few learnings:

1. founders need to be driven by passion, as if they are driven by money, they will be disappointed (at least in the short term).

2. Fundraising never stops and specifically in the UK it is relationship driven.

3. Networking and relationship building are key for startup success. It takes time, huge effort, should not be transactional, but it eventually pays off.

This time we also had some surprises for founders:

Julia O'Toole, co-founder of MyCena Security Solutions and Nkeiruka Whenu, Founder of Web3sy won free tickets to C3 Dev Festival in Amsterdam on 14-15 June. Polina Bertosh, thank you a lot for this amazing prize!

3 founders (Nkeiruka Whenu, Rupert Holms, Mike Adams) will enter a draw to pitch at London’s largest demo day and investor & founder conference on 22 April 2024. In the coming days, I will be posting their pitch video from the event. The post that gets the most engagement will be shortlisted to pitch at the event. Pretty simple.

That’s all for now. Open mic pitching event will be back soon❀️

Huge thank you to Raushan Irgaliyeva Nikita Pevnev and Luca Spiller for helping out at the event and to Michael Nugent for welcoming us again to Dockside Vaults ❀️

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The London Startup Scene. 29 Jan 2024
Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko

The London Startup Scene. 29 Jan 2024

The more you have, the more you fear losing it.

Monday, RareFounders - The London Startup Scene hosted its first open mic hashtag#pitching and hashtag#networking event of the year.

Since launching nearly a year ago, I've hosted over 10 events, each drawing an average of 250 attendees. But nothing is guaranteed, and I've come to realize the seasonality involved.

January was our first attempt at a post-New Year event, and Dry January's impact on attendance was a concern, as many opt out of alcohol-involved gatherings.

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The London Startup Scene. 28 NOV 2023
Cold reads, Networking Vasily Alekseenko Cold reads, Networking Vasily Alekseenko

The London Startup Scene. 28 NOV 2023

On Tuesday, RareFounders - The London Startup Scene hosted its last #networking event for #founders and #investors this year. And, as always with us, it was an event with a twist πŸŒ€.

We presented our new branding with the website. A website isn't something special, but for us, it is, as we have been operating without one for 10 months. Now, all our events are in one place 🌐.

We also introduced everyone to RareFounders #DemoDay, which we will be hosting in partnership with VCs in April 2024 (more on this later) πŸ“….

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Founders pitching brunch. 28 Oct 2023
Networking, Open mic pitching, Brunch Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Open mic pitching, Brunch Vasily Alekseenko

Founders pitching brunch. 28 Oct 2023

RareFounders’ Brunch: Where Founders Fine-Tune Pitches Over Fine Food 🍳🎀

In the whirlwind of October's four back-to-back events, RareFounders - The London Startup Scene hit a sweet note with our first-ever founders-only open mic networking brunch. It was a cozy and vibrant affair, attended by 37 entrepreneurial spirits, united by a passion for innovation and a penchant for great food. 🍽️

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The London Startup Scene. 25 Oct 2023
Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko

The London Startup Scene. 25 Oct 2023

RareFounders Embraces the Spooky Season with a Spectacular Startup Bash! πŸŽƒπŸ‘»

Despite a last-minute venue cancellation and the emergence of copycat events, RareFounders - The London Startup Scene triumphed once again, hosting a spooktacular networking and pitching event that embraced the Halloween spirit. πŸŽ‰ It was a night where founders and investors proved that serious business can be seriously fun!

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The London Startup Scene. 05 Oct 2023
Networking, Open mic pitching, Cold reads Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Open mic pitching, Cold reads Vasily Alekseenko

The London Startup Scene. 05 Oct 2023

RareFounders' Seventh Edition: A Spectacular Melting Pot of Global Innovation πŸŒπŸš€

Navigating the bustling world of startup events without a social media manager means my updates are fashionably late, but always worth the wait. Last Thursday, we celebrated the 7th edition of RareFounders - The London Startup Scene, and what a fiesta of entrepreneurship it was! πŸŽ‰

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The London Startup Scene. 30 Aug 2023
Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko

The London Startup Scene. 30 Aug 2023

RareFounders Rocks Omeara: A Startup Spectacle of Grit and Triumph! πŸŒŸπŸŽΈπŸš€

We did it again, and this time, it was not just a gathering; it was a celebration of the indomitable spirit of London's startup community at the illustrious Omeara stage, courtesy of TVG Hospitality. Despite the odds, the event surpassed expectations, turning potential setbacks into a night to remember. πŸ’«πŸŽ‰

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The London Startup Scene. 26 apr 2023
Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko

The London Startup Scene. 26 apr 2023

RareFounders Event: Igniting Passions and Opportunities in London's Startup Scene πŸ”₯

The RareFounders networking and pitching event last night was nothing short of a phenomenon. The air was electrified at Park Row, thanks to the incredible setting and Matthew Prowse's unwavering support. πŸŽ‡

Saying goodbye to my corporate life has opened a world where ambition and passion burn bright in the hearts of the startup community. The concentration of eager, innovative, and driven individuals last night was truly inspiring, and I'm humbled to be at the epicenter of this movement.

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The London Startup Scene. 22 MAR 2023
Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko Networking, Open mic pitching Vasily Alekseenko

The London Startup Scene. 22 MAR 2023

The London Startup Scene's Networking Spectacular: Zero Budget, Heroic Impact & the Launch of Open Mic Pitching 🎀πŸ’₯

In the heart of London's startup scene, something extraordinary is happening. Foogin's networking events, crafted from sheer will and zero budget, have sparked a revolution. Here's where ambition meets opportunity, and where we made our mark with the debut of Open Mic Pitching.

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