Founder Groups London
Connect with London founders through groups
Spilling the Tea: Building a Consumer Brand
Tue, Sep 8, 5:15 PMDate: Tuesday 8th September, 6:15-9 PM UK Time Location: [1 Warwick by Maslow’s](https://share.google/MnxwD6w1PqaJ512K6) [Sign up for this event here! ](https://founders500.com/session/spilling-the-tea-building-a-consumer-brand/)Please note that clicking attend on Meetup will not give you the correct QR code to enter this event. Please sign up for your Universe ticket using the link. ## About the Speaker Yandis Ying is the Founder and CEO of [Dot Dot Tea](https://www.dotdottea.com/), one of the UK’s fastest-growing premium bubble tea brands. Launched in London in 2023 as a small high street café, Dot Dot has quickly grown into a nationally recognised retail brand, creating low-sugar bubble tea made with authentic loose-leaf tea, real fruit and popping boba. Every drink is brewed, bottled and packed at Dot Dot’s own Bubble Tea Brewery in North London, giving the founders control over quality, innovation and production as the business scales. Dot Dot is now stocked by leading retailers and hospitality partners including Harrods, Selfridges, Planet Organic, Ocado, Costco, Virgin Atlantic Upper Class and Nobu Hotel. The brand has received several industry awards, including the UK Soft Drinks Award 2026, Gold at the LUNCH! Innovation Challenge and a Startup of the Year finalist place at The Grocer Gold Awards 2026. Yandis also secured four offers on BBC’s Dragons’ Den. Before founding Dot Dot, Yandis worked in technology at Google and Sapient, specialising in digital strategy and innovation. She is also a mother and passionate about inspiring more women and young founders to pursue ambitious ideas and build brands with confidence. ## Session Overview How do you turn a small neighbourhood café into a nationally stocked consumer brand? In this honest founder conversation, Yandis will share the story behind Dot Dot Tea, from developing its first products and building an in-house brewery to securing major retail partnerships and appearing on Dragons’ Den. The session will explore what it takes to build a product-led business in a competitive market, balance authenticity with commercial growth, scale manufacturing without compromising quality and create a brand that stands out on the shelf. Expect an open discussion about product development, retail growth, investment, resilience and the realities of building a consumer business from the ground up. ## Key Themes * Moving from café to national retail brand * Building a distinctive consumer product * Balancing authenticity with mainstream appeal * Scaling manufacturing while maintaining quality * Securing major retail and hospitality partnerships * Fundraising, investment and Dragons’ Den * Founder resilience and lessons learned * Building a business alongside family life ## Audience Takeaways Attendees will leave with practical insights into: * Turning an idea into a scalable product-led business * Building a memorable consumer brand * Creating products customers genuinely want * Pitching to retailers and investors * Scaling without losing quality or purpose * Navigating the highs, lows and uncertainty of entrepreneurship [Sign up for this event here! ](https://founders500.com/session/spilling-the-tea-building-a-consumer-brand/)Please note that clicking attend on Meetup will not give you the correct QR code to enter this event. Please sign up for your Universe ticket using the link.
BOOM Networking – London | Patch St. Paul’s
Wed, Aug 26, 4:30 PM**BOOM** is where London founders and business leaders meet the right people, not just more people. **Your ticket includes:** * Welcome drink * Food served during the evening * Access to 50+ curated founders & decision makers BOOM regularly attracts founders and senior leaders from finance, technology, property, consulting and professional services across London. It’s networking that feels social, considered and genuinely enjoyable. **The Venue** This August, we’re bringing BOOM to Patch St. Paul’s, a vibrant venue in the heart of the City, just moments from St. Paul’s Cathedral. Blending contemporary design with relaxed cocktail-bar energy, Patch creates exactly the kind of atmosphere BOOM is known for. From its stylish lounge spaces to its Shoreditch-inspired DJ bar, the venue naturally encourages conversation and connection without feeling overly corporate or forced. It’s social, energetic and designed for people who actually enjoy being in the room. This isn’t a packed bar or a noisy crowd. It’s BOOM, done properly. Expect easy introductions, a comfortable setting and a room full of people worth your time. No pitching. No name badges. No pressure. Just natural conversation and genuine connection. **What people say** “Great atmosphere, a strong mix of people, and genuinely good conversations.” **Jay Scott, Step Ahead** “Still buzzing from a fantastic event. Everything was spot on.” **Toby Pawson, Rivervale Leasing** “One of those evenings that leaves you genuinely optimistic about what’s coming next.” **Danny Wood, Adesse** **Evening schedule** 17:30 – Arrivals and open networking 18:30 – Welcome and short BOOM introduction 18:45 – Food served and networking continues 20:00 – Official close The venue remains open if you’re staying on **The BOOM Room – Online Access Included** First-Time Access guests receive temporary access to The BOOM Room before the event. You can: * See who’s attending * Introduce yourself early * Start conversations before the evening * Continue them for a short time afterwards BOOM works best when relationships begin before you arrive, and continue once the night ends. **Tickets & Access** BOOM is a membership-led business community focused on long-term relationships and continuity. First-Time Access – £39 + VAT. One-time access only. Capacity is limited and August is expected to fill quickly. If you’ve attended a BOOM Networking event previously, you’ll need to join BOOM to attend future events. * Monthly membership * 30 days’ notice required to cancel * Annual options available at best value View membership options and [join via the BOOM website](https://boombusinessclub.com/join-now/). **Sponsorship** A limited number of Spotlight Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event. [Enquire](https://boombusinessclub.com/sponsor-boom/) to find out more. **Final note** If you’re looking for a London business networking event that feels social, premium and properly curated, you’ll feel right at home. **Places are limited, so we recommend securing your ticket early.**
BOOM Networking - London | Barrio Shoreditch 🌴
Wed, Sep 30, 4:30 PM**BOOM** is where London founders and business leaders meet the right people, not just more people. **Your ticket includes:** * Welcome drink * Food served during the evening * Access to 50+ curated founders & decision makers BOOM regularly attracts founders and senior leaders from finance, technology, property, consulting and professional services across London. It’s networking that feels social, considered and genuinely enjoyable. **The Venue** This September, we’re bringing BOOM to Shoreditch with a little more energy, atmosphere and Latin-inspired flair. Hosted at Barrio Shoreditch, the evening blends BOOM’s curated networking atmosphere with one of East London’s most vibrant social venues. Expect colourful interiors, relaxed cocktail-bar energy, music, great food and an atmosphere designed to help conversations happen naturally. Barrio is known for doing social properly, and that’s exactly why it works so well for BOOM. This isn’t a stiff networking event or a corporate function. It’s BOOM, done properly. Expect easy introductions, flowing conversation and a room full of ambitious people who genuinely want to connect. No pitching. No name badges. No pressure. Just natural conversation and genuine connection. **What people say** “Great atmosphere, a strong mix of people, and genuinely good conversations.” **Jay Scott, Step Ahead** “Still buzzing from a fantastic event. Everything was spot on.” **Toby Pawson, Rivervale Leasing** “One of those evenings that leaves you genuinely optimistic about what’s coming next.” **Danny Wood, Adesse** **Evening schedule** 17:30 – Arrivals and open networking 18:30 – Welcome and short BOOM introduction 18:45 – Food served and networking continues 20:00 – Official close The venue remains open if you’re staying on **The BOOM Room – Online Access Included** First-Time Access guests receive temporary access to The BOOM Room before the event. You can: * See who’s attending * Introduce yourself early * Start conversations before the evening * Continue them for a short time afterwards BOOM works best when relationships begin before you arrive, and continue once the night ends. **Tickets & Access** BOOM is a membership-led business community focused on long-term relationships and continuity. First-Time Access – £39 + VAT. One-time access only. Capacity is limited and September is expected to fill quickly. If you’ve attended a BOOM Networking event previously, you’ll need to join BOOM to attend future events. * Monthly membership * 30 days’ notice required to cancel * Annual options available at best value View membership options and [join via the BOOM website](https://boombusinessclub.com/join-now/). **Sponsorship** A limited number of Spotlight Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event. [Enquire](https://boombusinessclub.com/sponsor-boom/) to find out more. **Final note** If you’re looking for a London business networking event that feels social, premium and properly curated, you’ll feel right at home. **Places are limited, so we recommend securing your ticket early.**
AI Builders Program | Apply to Join | Pub Night for AI Builders
Thu, Aug 20, 5:30 PM**Build. Explore. Test what visual AI can do in the real world.** Join 15 selected builders, technical founders, and tinkerers for a hands-on evening exploring what’s possible with **Viso Now, the world’s first Visual General Intelligence platform**. This isn’t a conference or a theory session. You’ll get direct access to the technology, work alongside the [viso.ai](https://viso.ai/?utm_source=luma) team, and put visual AI to work on real-world problems. Throughout the evening, you’ll explore and build around challenges such as understanding activity in physical spaces, detecting unusual events, automating visual inspection, tracking objects and processes, and turning camera feeds into useful real-time intelligence. You can experiment with one of our build challenges or explore an idea of your own. The goal is simple: **get your hands on the technology, push it, and see what you can build.** What to expect * Hands-on access to **Viso Now** * A **real-world visual AI build challenge** * 1:1 time with the **[viso.ai](https://viso.ai/?utm_source=luma) founders and technical team** * A seated dinner with a curated group of **15 builders** * Live building, experimentation, and demos * A look at where visual intelligence is heading next * Open discussion with people building at the edge of computer vision and AI Choose one of our build challenges or bring an idea of your own. The goal is simple: **get your hands on the technology, push it, and see what you can build.** Who it’s for People who like to **build, test, and figure things out**. Technical founders, engineers, product builders, AI practitioners, and tinkerers working with - or curious about- visual AI, computer vision, cameras, robotics, physical environments, and intelligent systems. You don’t need a polished use case, pitch, or project. **Just come ready to build. Bring your laptop!**
Tide HQ – Startups, Entrepreneurs - Business Networking Event in London, Old Str
Wed, Aug 19, 5:00 PM**Looking for meaningful startup networking in London?** Join an evening of founder-focused networking at Tide HQ, hosted by GMax Card, Getshop Today, and Tide - three products built by founders, for founders. **WHY ATTEND** ✅ Meet startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, operators, investors and early-stage builders ✅ Find potential co-founders, partners, clients, collaborators and hires ✅ Learn practical tools to grow and operate your business more effectively ✅ Connect with people actively who are building, launching and scaling businesses ✅ Free Premium Digital Business Card (£65 value) for paid ticket holders (ask the hosts, not distributed automatically) **WHO ATTENDS** • Startup founders and co-founders • AI, SaaS, FinTech and technology entrepreneurs • Startup operators, growth professionals and product leaders • eCommerce founders and digital business owners • SME decision makers • Investors, advisors and startup ecosystem professionals • Ambitious professionals exploring entrepreneurship **ABOUT THE EVENT** Building a startup can be challenging, especially when you're doing it alone. That's why we've **refined a networking format** designed specifically for founders and entrepreneurs: • **Structured introductions** that make meeting people easier • 30–60 second founder introductions (public) so everyone knows who is in the room • Short founder-focused talks and insights from Tide and GMax Card • Practical discussions around growth, operations, funding, networking and business development • Informal networking over drinks and refreshments Whether you're validating an idea, launching your first product, growing a startup, or scaling an established business, you'll be surrounded by people facing similar challenges and opportunities. **VENUE** **Tide HQ, London** Hosted inside Tide's modern London headquarters — a space built to support entrepreneurs, founders and growing businesses. Part of our ongoing founder and startup networking series. **ORGANISERS** * [GMax Card - Digital business cards](www.gmaxcard.com) and networking tools designed for modern professionals and growing teams. * [Getshop Today - A UK-based eCommerce platform](www.getshop.today) helping entrepreneurs launch and grow independent online businesses. * [Tide - The digital-first business banking platform ](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F)built specifically for startups, founders and SMEs. **DRESS CODE** Business or smart casual is recommended. **IMPORTANT INFORMATION** * Photography and video may be captured by [Cine Eye Audiovisual Production Studio](www.cineeye.co.uk) for promotional purposes. **You will be required to sign a simple media release form.** * Age Requirement: 18+ only. Proof of ID may be requested. * Refund Policy: Refunds available up to 24 hours before the event. Platform fees are non-refundable where applicable. * Attendance is at your own risk. Organisers are not liable for any loss, injury, or damage. **Spaces are limited and founder events at Tide HQ often reach capacity. Early registration is recommended.**
Turing Fest Founder Dinner series - London
Thu, Sep 3, 5:00 PMTuring Fest run small founders dinners throughout the year in London, Manchester, Edinburgh & beyond. 10 founders. One table. A 3-course dinner with drinks. No pitching, no panels — just an honest conversation with a small group of people who are building companies and know what that involves. The dinner is hosted in partnership with Brewin Dolphin. There is no cost to attend. **Sign ups are being managed on Luma**: [https://luma.com/turingfest](https://luma.com/turingfest "https://luma.com/turingfest") \- this meetup page is for visibility only\. Confirmation will be sent after approval on Luma\. \*\*Who is this for?\*\* Founders, co-founders, and CEOs of venture-backed UK startups at seed or Series A stage, with an active product and customers. No agencies, consultants, or service providers. \*\*Date:\*\* Thursday 3rd Sept 2026, 6-10pm \*\*Location:\*\* London (venue confirmed on application via luma) More dinners & socials are coming, see our Luma calendar for more information
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