This panel brings together top venture capitalists and angel investors to provide clear, practical advice for early-stage founders looking to build fundable businesses. Aimed at those in the pre-seed to seed phase, it explores what investors truly value beyond the pitch deck—covering topics such as founder-market fit, storytelling, and personal vision; what materials investors actually review; how to time fundraising; and how to balance traction with hype. It also examines strategies for authentic networking and accessing investor communities, especially for underrepresented founders, as well as how to identify supportive investors who offer more than just money. Attendees will gain honest insights, real-world examples, and actionable guidance to help them confidently grow and navigate their startup journey.

Meet the panel:

Jem Stein, is the founder of Daring Capital, an impact investor syndicate backing early-stage, purpose-driven founders, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, with over £1.9 million invested since its launch in September 2023. Previously, Jem founded and scaled The Bike Project, a social enterprise supporting refugees, growing it to £2.5 million in annual revenue and earning awards such as Social Entrepreneur of the Year. He also sits on the social investment committees of two major charitable trusts. This series offers not just inspiration but practical, actionable advice for founders, creatives, and future leaders ready to grow, adapt, and thrive.

Carmel Rafaeli is the Founding Partner of The Table, a global community of over 280 investors co-funding early-stage climate ventures led or co-led by women. She backs climate-positive startups across sectors, with a focus on inclusion, intentional capital, and measurable environmental impact. With more than 15 years of entrepreneurial experience spanning fashion, tech, and sustainability, she began investing through small angel deals to support overlooked founders and accelerate climate solutions. Today, she provides capital, mentoring, and strategic advice, with a particular emphasis on financial storytelling and founder-investor alignment. She is also a Venture Partner at The Conduit Connect and a trusted advisor to early-stage founders. Carmel believes inclusive innovation and smarter capital allocation are essential to solving the climate crisis.

Dan Bowyer is a Partner at SuperSeed VC. Dan has more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, having built and exited 2 startups and angel invested in many more. He’s most passionate about connecting people, product and process, creating something from nothing. At SuperSeed Dan looks after partnerships and portfolio companies, alongside new and existing investments.

Thank you to our founding partner Signal for making this event happen.