Just wanted to take a moment to say a massive thank you to everyone who joined us last night at Somerset House for our Startup Networks Summer Special – what an evening!

We hosted two powerful Fireside Chats filled with insight, honesty, and practical advice for founders navigating the ever-evolving startup landscape.

💬 Fireside Chat #1 – Founders & Funding
We explored the current funding environment through the lens of early-stage founders and experienced operators. From the realities of raising investment to international expansion strategies like incorporating in Delaware, the conversation was bold, grounded, and incredibly empowering.

💼 Fireside Chat #2 – The Investor View
Next, we flipped the script and heard from investors and ecosystem enablers. We tackled the tough questions: Is the VC model broken? Can bootstrapping and strategic funding co-exist? Our panellists didn’t hold back, and the transparency was refreshing — giving attendees a clearer view of what’s really happening behind the scenes in UK venture funding.

🎙️ Special thanks to:

• @Dean Williams for moderating both sessions with energy, clarity, and heart.

• Claire D from Corporate London Photography – if you spotted someone effortlessly capturing the moment, that was her. She’s a pro and her photos truly bring the event to life.

🖼️ Full photo gallery is now live! 👉
https://www.startupnetworks.co.uk/gallery/category/3-startup-networks-x-somerset-house/

🙌 A huge shout-out to our brilliant panellists:
John Mathers, Jem Bahaijoub, Jurgen Vleminckx, Munder Shuhmi, Sam Simpson, Varun Aggarwal – your insight and openness made this one of our most impactful events yet.

Let’s keep the conversation going – if you connected with someone, learned something powerful, or want to give a shout-out, drop a comment below 👇

Thank you again for being part of this journey. We’re just getting started. 💥

The photos from last night are stunning – a huge thank you to Claire D from Corporate London Photography for capturing the energy, the people, and the moments that made this event so special.

If you ever need corporate photography, event coverage, or professional headshots, PLEASE reach out to Claire. She’s a total pro and genuinely amazing at what she does. We can’t recommend her enough!

👉 Corporate London Photography