Open Mic Pitching and Networking - Fundraising 2026. 28 jan. 2026

45 Loondon,

45 Curtain Rd, London, EC2A 3PT, UK

Pitch Fast or Get Soaked 💦

Fundraising Trends for 2026 & Live Pitch Feedback

We do not do boring networking events. We do honest feedback, real connections, and strict time limits.

At our latest Rare Founders Open Mic night in London, we looked at the reality of fundraising. We invited Ken Thomas from Backfuture VC to share what investors want right now. We also had Anthony Rose from SeedLegals give live feedback to founders on stage.

The rules were simple. You have one minute to pitch. If you speak for too long, we spray you with a water gun.

Here is what we learned from the night.

Fundraising Trends for 2026 with Ken Thomas Ken Thomas is the Principal at Backfuture VC. He sees hundreds of pitch decks. He explained what is happening in the market for pre-seed and seed startups.

Pre-seed means traction: You cannot raise money with a simple idea anymore. Investors want to see an MVP, early customers, or partnerships.

Stop building AI wrappers: The market is full of them. Investors want to see vertical AI solutions that solve specific problems for specific industries.

Do not wait for funding: If you wait for money to build your product, you will fail. The best founders find a way to start without investment.

Pitch Deck Mistakes: Do not send a deck that takes 20 minutes to read. If an investor does not understand your business in two sentences, they will delete your email.

How to Pitch a Startup with Anthony Rose is the founder of SeedLegals. He listened to our open mic pitches and gave immediate feedback. Most founders make the same mistakes.

Sell the sizzle, not the steak: Do not spend your time explaining how your tech works. Explain why people need it and how it changes their lives.

Start strong: Tell us who you are and what your company does in the first 10 seconds. If you leave it to the end, people will forget you.

Focus on the problem: Investors invest in solutions to big problems. Show us the pain point before you show us the product.

The Water Gun Rule We believe in efficiency. Many founders ramble when they pitch. At Rare Founders, we use water guns to enforce the one-minute limit. It forces you to be clear and concise. It is also fun to watch.

Watch the full video to see the pitches, the feedback, and the founders who got soaked.