Q&A Zone

What is the biggest mistake early-stage startups make in their first 12 months, and how can founders realistically avoid it?

Most founders don’t launch their startups with fantasies of spreadsheets, due diligence and investor negotiations. You’re likely in it for the passion, the problem-solving and the possibility of changing the world (or at least, one small corner of it). However, if you’re building something of value, it’s inevitable that there will come a day when you’ll need to consider how you’ll eventually move on and that’ll preferably be with some money in your pocket, your reputation intact and future opportunities wide open. That’s where your exit strategy comes in. It’s not about giving up; it’s about growing up. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down what exit strategies ar…

Most city streets have these quiet, overlooked spaces: bike lanes, shared roads, narrow urban junctions. They exist, humming with traffic, often ignored, underestimated. They’re not chaotic free-for-alls, nor are they the high-tech corridors of the future—just spaces where people and machines coexist, sometimes clumsily. Yet, their potential is massive. They’re connective, malleable, strategic. But here’s the thing: some innovators are already rethinking them. Across Europe, cities are testing “smart roads” with sensors that detect cyclists and alert drivers in real-time. In the Netherlands, bike-to-car communication systems warn both parties when someone is in a blind…

This is a question asked by an anonymous member at our most recent event in London.

With so many threads right now being about grants - why not help out the community by answering these grant related questions.

Most smallholder farmers are making decisions with limited, delayed or incomplete information. They walk the fields, spot problems once they’re already visible and rely on guesswork to decide when to irrigate, fertilise or treat pests. By then, it’s often too late as yields drop, inputs are wasted and livelihoods hang in the balance. But here’s the thing: space tech has already solved this problem for large-scale agribusiness. High-resolution satellite imagery, real-time vegetation indexes and AI-powered crop analytics can detect stress before the human eye can see it. It’s like giving farmers X-ray vision for their fields. The catch? Until now, the cost has been out of r…

Most transport systems weren’t built with rural communities in mind. People living in remote and regional areas are often left navigating infrastructure that doesn’t serve their daily realities. While urban mobility has advanced rapidly with things like ride-sharing, micro-mobility and EV networks expanding, rural transport remains fragmented, underfunded, and outdated. For millions, reliable transport isn’t a convenience, it’s a barrier to education, employment, healthcare and social connection. This isn’t just a policy issue. 👉 It’s an overlooked market with real demand. 👉 It’s a sustainability challenge with environmental and economic stakes. 👉 It might just be your ne…

For founders and investors—what’s the dynamic like between investors and startups? We want to hear about your experiences in working with investors. How involved are investors in the day-to-day operations of a startup? What should startups expect in terms of support and guidance from investors? How do you manage investor relationships for long-term success? Join the conversation and share your insights on how investors and startups collaborate for mutual growth.

As startups grow, managing and expanding a team becomes a critical challenge. What hiring practices, culture-building techniques, or operational adjustments have you found most effective in scaling without losing agility?

Business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals, what’s your take on the importance of networking for business success? We want to hear your thoughts on how building connections has impacted your journey. How has networking helped your business grow? Are there specific events or platforms that you’ve found valuable for networking? What’s the best approach to building a strong professional network? Can networking really lead to new business opportunities, or is it overrated? Join the conversation and share your experiences with networking—whether you’re a seasoned networker or just a startup!

For startup founders and investors, how has seed funding helped your business grow? We’d love to know more about the impact of seed funding on early-stage startups. What are the most important benefits of securing seed funding? How does seed funding help startups reach their next milestone? Are there any challenges or strings attached to seed funding that founders should be aware of? Share your experiences with seed funding and how it contributed to your startup’s journe

Crafting a compelling pitch can make or break your funding journey. Share your insights on what investors look for, from presentation techniques to the most crucial data points. Let others learn from your experience or expertise in securing funding.

For those familiar with UK startup investment, can non-residents invest in UK-based startups? We’d love to hear your thoughts on how this works. Are there specific legal requirements or tax considerations for non-resident investors? What challenges or advantages might non-resident investors face when backing UK startups? How do international investors navigate UK investment rules? Join the conversation and share your experiences or knowledge about non-resident investment in UK startups.

Business owners, founders, and investors—how do you see the role of investors when it comes to shaping a business? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the level of influence investors can have. Do investors typically play an active role in decision-making? How does having an investor impact a startup’s strategy and growth? Are there situations where investor influence might become a challenge? How do you balance investor expectations with maintaining control over your business? Share your experiences and perspectives on the ways investors can influence a business’s direction and success!

There are quite a few people talking about grant fundraising on our platform right now, so we thought we'd create this Q&A thread to help centralise answers - why not help out our community and share your expertise!

A founder’s personal brand often becomes a cornerstone for their startup's success. How do you establish authority, build trust, and leverage platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter to grow your network? Provide actionable advice to help others navigate this journey.

"What are some great online tools for startups?" we keep hearing you ask. This is a question asked by an anonymous member at our most recent event in London. Startup tools that will always prove to be useful for small businesses.

We get asked this question a lot at Startup Networks and wanted to throw it out to the community to answer!

This is a question from our community that has been requested time and time again. This is a really important question that a lot of people overlook and think it would be great if someone could answer this.

This is a question asked by an anonymous member at our most recent event in London.