Our past Inspire events

We were delighted to host our annual Female Founders Breakfast, bringing together an inspiring group of founders and a panel of female investors. Hosted by Camilla Stowell, Chief Executive Officer, Wealth, Rathbones and chaired by Paola Cuneo, lead, entrepreneurial engagement, Rathbones. The panel, Q&A and networking offered opportunities for attendees to gain first-hand insights on how to raise investment funds and scale their business, to help accelerate growth and ensure success. 

The discussion focused on the reality that successful fundraising depends less on persuasion and more on disciplined investor selection and preparation. The speakers emphasised that founders must first determine whether an investor is actively deploying capital, as many investors express interest without having funds available. The panel repeatedly highlighted the importance of relationship management and reputation. Investors often share information informally, and founder behaviour during fundraising is remembered. Founders who demonstrate professionalism, openness to feedback, and consistent progress were viewed as more credible and investable over time. 

Our panellists Marilena Ioannidou, British Business Bank; Maria Santos-Adeyeye, Gresham House and Daniela Duca, Samos Investments shared honest, practical advice on:

• How founders can approach venture capital with confidence
• What investors are really looking for when assessing opportunities
• How to position a business story clearly and authentically
• Common pitfalls to avoid when seeking funding
• How founders can build long-term values-aligned investor relationships

The panel agreed that founders should conduct their own diligence on investors by researching their theses, recent investments, and typical stages, and by identifying funds that have demonstrably invested in similar companies. Warm introductions from other founders, particularly those who are not direct competitors, were described as one of the most effective ways to access serious investors, as these referrals often lead to higher-quality conversations and investments.

The event hosted by Paola Cuneo, Lead Entrepreneurial Engagement at Rathbones, catered to founders and business owners at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey.