Events

Webinar: Demystifying Early-Stage Funding & SEIS

Navigating the legal and financial complexities of early-stage fundraising can be one of the most daunting hurdles for any founder. From choosing the right funding route to ensuring your business is tax-efficient for investors through SEIS, getting the foundations right is critical for long-term success. Success in fundraising isn’t just about having a great product, it’s about transparency, legal readiness, and understanding how to make your startup as attractive as possible to investors.
Mar 4, 2026 12:00 PM
Zoom

About the event

Navigating the legal and financial complexities of early-stage fundraising can be one of the most daunting hurdles for any founder. From choosing the right funding route to ensuring your business is tax-efficient for investors through SEIS, getting the foundations right is critical for long-term success. Success in fundraising isn’t just about having a great product, it’s about transparency, legal readiness, and understanding how to make your startup as attractive as possible to investors.

Join Sam Simpson, Co-founder of FounderCatalyst, for a practical, deep-dive session into the realities of the early-stage investment journey. As a seasoned founder who scaled a tech startup from £0 to £27m in four years, and an active angel investor with over 35 investments, Sam brings a unique dual perspective from both sides of the deal table.

This 60-minute webinar will unpack:

  • Funding options: A breakdown of Grants vs. Debt vs. Equity and which fits your stage.
  • The investor landscape: Understanding the nuances between Angels, Angel networks, and VCs.
  • The SEIS advantage: Why SEIS is a game-changer for both founders and investors.
  • Advance assurance: Why it is important  and how to secure it successfully.
  • Insider tips & myths: Debunking common SEIS misconceptions and sharing "secrets" from the front lines.
  • Legal simplified: How to make funding round legals more transparent and affordable.

Whether you’re planning your first raise or refining your investor materials, this session is for founders who want to make their company more attractive to investors early on.

Ready to scale faster with Europe's best

Boardwave is open to European tech founders and CEOs scaling to €100M ARR and beyond.
Membership is curated.
Tell us your stage. Tell us your ambition. We'll show you what's possible.
Boardwave members shaking hands while networking at a community event.

Trusted and supported by Europe's leading investors and advisors

STRATEGIC Partners
Hg
McKinsey & Company
Alliance Partners
A&O Shearman
ASSOSoftware
Alantra
Albertine
Alpha Advisory
Amazon Web Services
Arma Partners
Bank of America
Berenberg
Canaccord Genuity Partners
Crosslake
Deloitte
Egon
Farringford Legal
GP Bullhound
Gazelle Law
H.I. Executive Consulting (H.I.E.C)
HSBC Innovation Banking
Heidrick & Struggles
IBM
Jamieson
Jefferies
La Fosse
LegalEdge
Liberty Corporate Finance
London Stock Exchange
Mindstone
OC&C
Portolano
Propel
Rothschild & Co
Rothschild & Co Wealth Management
Russell Reynolds Associates
Snowball
Solano Partners
Stifel
SuperScalers
Techspace
Teneo
Travers Smith
UBS
VenturePath
West Peak
Wilson Sonsini
Xoriant
INVESTOR Partners
A3c
Advent International
Apax Partners
Ares Management
AshGrove Capital
August Equity
Axiom Equity
BC Partners
BGF
Bain Capital
Beringea
Blackstone
Bridgepoint
CINVEN
Carlyle
Dawn Capital
FPE
FirstPartyCapital
Five Arrows
Francisco Partners
Frog Capital
GCP - Growth Capital Partners
Goldman Sachs Asset Management
H.I.G. Capital
Hellman & Friedman
Highland Europe
KKR
Livingbridge
Mercia Ventures
Oakley Capital
Osprey
Oxx
Permira
Rivean Capital
Sixth Street
Skøyen Software
Smedvig Capital
TA Associates
Thoma Bravo
Upliift
Ventech
Verdane
Warburg Pincus
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