1,000 Days to Get It Right – Founders and Investors on What Actually Matters
As part of the London Tech Week 2026 Fringe Event, Imperial College London and Nexus (Imperial x H&F), are bringing together founders and investors to share the hard-won lessons from the critical early years of building a venture.
Expect candid conversations, real-world experiences, and practical insights for anyone building within the West London ecosystem and beyond. Whether you’re at day one or day 900, this is the room you want to be in.
Founders Panel:
- Julia Fan Li, CEO & Co-founder – Micrographia
- Claire Trant, CEO – Untap
- Rima Suppan, Co-Founder – Peachies
- Fryderyk Szydlowski, Co-Founder & CEO – Embargo
Investor Panel:
- Adam Cragg, Partner – Osney Capital
- Maureen Haverty, Investment Principal – Seraphim
- Tom Weatherall, Senior Analyst – Amadeus Capital
What the Session Will Cover
- Building the foundations of leadership: what it takes to form the right team, culture, and decision-making structures in the earliest and most uncertain days
- Navigating product development: how to stay focused, iterate fast, and avoid the common mistakes that derail startups before they find their footing
- Earning early investor trust: what founders and investors really look for in those first relationships, and how to set the right expectations from day one
- Lessons from those who’ve lived it: candid insights from founders and investors who’ve been through the first 1,000 days and come out the other side
Who Is This For?
- Early-stage founders
- Aspiring entrepreneurs
- The West London and LTW ecosystem
- Investors & VCs
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