Resources
Notes from the raise
What we learn from the founders we work with, what the research turns up, and the occasional announcement.
All pieces54
Early Customers9 October 2026How to Turn Your First B2B Pilot Into a Paying CustomerMost early pilots and design partnerships never turn into revenue. How to set up your first B2B pilot so it ends in a signed contract: choosing partners, success criteria, whether to charge, and asking for the decision.10 min read
Founding Team8 October 2026The Co-Founder Agreement: What UK Founders Should Agree in WritingThe ten things co-founders should agree in writing before they need to: roles, equity, vesting, leavers, IP, decisions and more. Plus how founders' agreements, shareholders' agreements and articles fit together in the UK.9 min read
Pitch Deck7 October 2026The 10-Slide Pre-Seed Pitch Deck: What Each Slide Needs to ShowThe ten slides every pre-seed deck needs, what investors check on each one, and the mistakes that cost founders meetings. Based on DocSend data on how investors actually read decks.9 min read
Building the Product5 October 2026How to Price Your First Product: A Practical Guide for Early-Stage FoundersHow to choose what you charge for, set a starting price before you have much data, test it with real customers, and know when to change it. With UK VAT and pricing rules covered.12 min read
Building the Product2 October 2026What to Build After Your MVP (and How to Say No to Everything Else)Once the MVP ships, feature requests arrive from every direction. Here is how to weigh them, a four-question filter for deciding what to build next, and how to turn down the rest without losing customers.8 min read
Ecosystem News1 October 2026UK AI Accelerators for Early-Stage Founders: A 2026 GuideWhat an accelerator actually is, and the UK programmes built for AI startups in 2026: who each one is for, what it costs in equity, and when to apply.12 min read
Hiring30 September 2026Contractor or Employee? Hiring Your First People in the UKMost UK startups start with contractors. Here is how employment status actually works, what IR35 means for a small company, the IP gap investors look for, and what your first employee needs from day one.8 min read
Fundraising29 September 2026How to Get Warm Investor Intros When You Have No NetworkEvery fundraising guide says get a warm intro. Few say where from if you know nobody. Here is how UK founders build intro paths from zero, who can actually introduce you, and how to ask.8 min read
Fundraising27 September 2026How to Build a Pre-Seed Investor List That Actually ConvertsMost pre-seed investor lists are mostly firms that were never going to invest. Here is how UK founders build a researched list: five filters, researching the partner, tiering, and where SEIS and EIS fit.8 min read
Fundraising10 September 2026Are You Actually Ready to Raise? A Pre-Seed Readiness Check for UK FoundersMost founders start raising before they are ready and burn their best investor leads learning that. Here is how to check readiness before you send the first email.8 min read
Building the Product8 March 2026The 2026 Playbook for Building With AI Coding Agents (Without Creating a Codebase You Can’t Maintain)A practical guide for founders using AI coding agents (Cursor, Devin, etc.) to ship fast without creating unmaintainable code. Covers context files, micro-prompting, testing, documentation, and how to survive technical due diligence.8 min read
Early Customers8 March 2026The 2026 Guide to Launching Your Startup: What Works for Pre-Seed FoundersDiscover the 2026 playbook for launching your early-stage startup. Learn how to validate silently, secure your first 10 customers, and orchestrate a rolling public debut to attract seed investors.6 min read
Regulatory5 March 2026EU AI Act: What Founders Need to Know (Without the Legal Jargon)The EU AI Act is here. Here is what it means for founders: risk categories, compliance requirements, what investors will ask, and claims to avoid in your deck.12 min read
Fundraising1 March 2026Bootstrapping vs Raising: The 2026 Calculus (A Decision Framework for Founders)Venture capital is not the only path. Here is how to decide between bootstrapping and raising, what has changed in 2026, and a framework to help you choose.10 min read
Fundraising1 March 2026Micro-Funds and Solo GPs: The New Early-Stage Investors (and How to Raise From Them)The investor landscape has changed. Here is how to find, pitch, and raise from micro-funds and solo GPs.10 min read
Fundraising1 March 2026UK vs US Fundraising: What's Actually Different (and What It Means for Your Raise)The UK and US fundraising landscapes are different. Here is what actually matters: round sizes, valuations, speed, terms, expectations, and pitching style.11 min read
Fundraising28 February 2026What Investors Actually Look for in AI Startups (2026)The AI hype has matured. Here is what investors actually look for in AI startups now: data moat, distribution, production reliability, unit economics, team, and honest positioning.12 min read
Founding Team27 February 2026Vibe Coding for Non-Technical Founders: What Actually Works (and What Doesn't)You can build a product without coding. But vibe coding has limits. Here is what works, what breaks, and how to talk about it with investors.13 min read
Pitch Deck27 February 2026AI vs Human vs VC Feedback on Your Pitch Deck: What Each Actually Gives YouEach feedback source has strengths and blind spots. Here is what AI, human advisors, and VCs actually give you, and how to layer them for a deck that works.12 min read
Fundraising27 February 2026AI Agents for Founders: What to Automate First (and What Not To)Most founders automate the wrong thing. Here is the filter that tells you what to automate first, what to avoid, and how to get ROI in a week.9 min read
Pitch Deck27 February 20265 Claims Investors Fact-Check in AI Pitch Decks (And How to Get Them Right)Investors verify your claims. Here are the 5 that get checked most often in AI pitch decks, how they verify them, and how to get them right.10 min read
Fundraising27 February 2026How to Pitch an AI Startup to Investors (When Everyone Claims to Be AI-Powered)Every pitch is an AI pitch now. Here is how to stand out when investors are skeptical and "we use AI" is no longer a differentiator.12 min read
Early Customers24 February 2026AI Agents for Founder-Led Sales: 3x Your Consistency Without HiringYou do not need a sales team. You need consistency. Here is how AI agents keep founder-led sales running without losing the human touch.9 min read
Fundraising24 February 2026AI Agents for Fundraising: Automate the Grunt Work, Not the RelationshipsAI agents can help with fundraising, but not the way most founders think. Here is where they add value, where they create risk, and how to use them without destroying trust.9 min read
Early Customers24 February 2026How to Get Your First 10 Customers as an Early-Stage StartupYour first 10 customers are the hardest to get. Here is the step-by-step process to find, reach, and close them when nobody knows who you are.11 min read
Early Customers24 February 2026How to Price Your Startup's Product (Without Leaving Money on the Table)Most founders underprice. Here is how to find the right price for your stage and raise it as you learn.10 min read
Early Customers24 February 2026Cold Outreach That Actually Works for Early-Stage StartupsMost cold outreach fails because it is lazy. Here is how to write emails and LinkedIn messages that actually get replies.9 min read
Early Customers24 February 2026Founder-Led Sales: Why You Cannot Hire Your Way Out of SellingHiring a salesperson before you understand sales is one of the most expensive early-stage mistakes. Here is how to do founder-led sales even if you hate selling.10 min read
Pitch Deck23 February 2026How to Get Honest Feedback on Your Pitch Deck (Without Paying £5,000)Most pitch deck feedback is useless. Here is how to get honest, actionable feedback without spending thousands on advisors.10 min read
Fundraising23 February 2026The Complete Guide to Raising Pre-Seed and Seed FundingEverything you need to know about raising your first round: what investors look for, how the process works, what terms to expect, and how to avoid the mistakes that kill deals.12 min read
Fundraising22 February 2026Fundraising Timeline: How Long Does It Take to Raise Pre-Seed or Seed?A typical pre-seed raise takes 2-4 months. Seed takes 3-6 months. Here is what happens at each stage and how to move faster.9 min read
Fundraising21 February 2026Pre-Seed vs Seed Funding: What Is the Difference and Which Should You Raise?The line between pre-seed and seed has blurred. Here is how to know which stage you are at and which investors to approach.10 min read
Fundraising21 February 2026What Investors Look For in Pre-Seed and Seed StartupsInvestors are not evaluating your deck. They are evaluating what your deck reveals about you, the market, and the opportunity. Here is what actually matters.10 min read
Idea Validation21 February 2026How to Validate Your Startup Idea with a Landing Page (Before Building Anything)You do not need a product to test demand. A weekend of work and some targeted traffic can tell you if your idea is worth building.11 min read
Founding Team17 February 2026Technical Cofounder vs CTO Hire: What to Do If You Are Non-TechnicalShould you find a technical cofounder or hire a CTO? A decision framework for non-technical founders at pre-seed and seed stage.8 min read
Equity & Cap Table11 February 2026Founder Vesting ExplainedFounder Vesting Explained: 4 Years, 1-Year Cliff, and Why It Matters10 min read
Idea Validation10 February 2026How to Validate a Startup Idea in 14 Days Without Writing CodeA practical 14-day plan to validate your startup idea without code. Includes interview scripts, landing page tests, and concierge pilots.9 min read
Fundraising10 February 2026Modern Startup Funding (Pre-Seed and Seed)A practical guide to SAFEs, convertible notes, and priced rounds for pre-seed and seed founders. Covers valuation caps, dilution, and common mistakes to avoid.10 min read
Idea Validation9 February 2026How to Validate Your Startup Idea Before Writing Code42% of startups fail because no one wanted what they built. Here is how to validate your idea in 2-6 weeks before writing a line of code.10 min read
Founding Team9 February 2026How to Find a Cofounder (Pre-Seed and Seed)A step-by-step guide to finding a cofounder for your startup. Covers where to look, how to evaluate fit, trial sprints, equity splits, and vesting.11 min read
Equity & Cap Table1 February 2026How to Split Equity Between CofoundersEqual is easy, not necessarily fair. How to have the equity conversation properly and structure a split both cofounders believe in.10 min read
Fundraising26 January 2026SEIS/EIS is leverage, not paperwork.A practical guide to using SEIS and EIS as leverage in your raise, covering eligibility, timing, round structure, and the mistakes that cost founders months.4 min read
Fundraising24 January 2026Pre-seed buys clarity. Seed buys speedHow to know which round you're actually ready for.3 min read
Building the Product23 January 2026Data infrastructure is what makes your startup hard to replaceStrategies and insights for building defensible, acquisition-ready startups.3 min read
Equity & Cap Table23 January 2026Equity is how early teams buy speedEquity is how early teams buy speed. A practical guide to co-founder splits, vesting, first hires, and SAFE dilution.3 min read
Idea Validation5 January 2026Signs Your Startup Idea Has Legs: How to Know If You Should Keep GoingNot sure if your idea is working? Here are the signals that suggest you should keep going, and the warning signs that suggest you should not.10 min read
Idea Validation1 January 2026How to Run Customer Interviews That Actually Tell You SomethingMost customer interviews are useless. Here is how to run ones that actually tell you something before you waste months building the wrong thing.8 min read
Ecosystem News23 December 2025Platvix Launches Build Studios AI Cohort: an Equity-Free ten Week Programme to Build Next-Gen AI StartupsPlatvix, an investment intelligence platform for VCs and startups designed to streamline the investment process, Platvix announced the launch of Build Studios (AI Cohort), an equity-free, 10-week programme built for the new reality of startup-building, where AI has democratised execution and speed is no longer the advantage on its own.3 min read
Early Customers15 December 2025How to Find Your ICP: A Practical Guide for Pre-Seed and Seed FoundersYour ICP is not who could use your product. It is who will pay first. A 2-week process for finding your ideal customer profile.10 min read
Equity & Cap Table12 February 2025Startup Equity ExplainedWhat every founder should know about equity before signing anything. Covers dilution, vesting, options pools, and common mistakes.10 min read
Equity & Cap Table11 February 2025Cap Table BasicsYour cap table is the financial architecture of your company. Learn how dilution works, why the options pool costs more than you think, and how to avoid costly mistakes.9 min read
Founding Team5 February 2025How to Build Your Startup Team at Pre-Seed and SeedHow to build your founding team the right way. Covers cofounders, equity splits, vesting, decision rights, and first hires.9 min read
Equity & Cap Table14 January 2025Employee Equity for Early Hires: How Much to Give and How to Structure ItYour first employees are taking real risk. Equity is how you compensate for it. A practical guide to how much to give and how to structure it.12 min read
Hiring18 January 2024Your First Hire at a Pre-Seed Startup: Engineer vs Sales vs OpsA framework for choosing your first startup hire based on what's actually limiting growth.3 min read