Funded & Fearless: London, England
On a warm June evening in Shoreditch, 160 women founders and small business owners gathered with a shared intention. To stop shrinking their ambitions. To stop fearing the tools reshaping business. And to learn how to fund and grow what they are building with clarity and confidence.
Funded & Fearless: AI-Powered Marketing & Fundraising for Small Business was not about hype. It was about practicality, perspective, and permission. Permission to use AI without fear. Permission to pursue funding paths that actually make sense. Permission to build businesses that work in real life, not just on paper.
Because fear is not a failure. It is information. And on June 12th, London showed up ready to listen, learn, and act.
The evening opened with an intimate conversation between Mireia Llusia-Lindh, Founder of DeMellier of London, and Anna Skoglund, Co-Head of Investment Banking EMEA at Goldman Sachs.
Mireia spoke candidly about the realities of building a global brand while also raising a family. One theme resonated deeply across the room. You cannot scale a business without support at home.
She emphasized the importance of equity in domestic labor as a foundation for entrepreneurial success and recommended two books that sparked many hallway conversations later in the night. Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates and Fair Play by Eve Rodsky.
The message landed clearly. Growth is not just about strategy or capital. It is about the systems that hold you up.
Next, the investing panel brought nuance to a conversation that is often oversimplified. Mary McKenna and Priya Guha unpacked the real differences between venture capital and angel investment, without glamorizing either path.
Mary offered a line that drew laughter and knowing nods from the audience. “Don’t ever expect your VCs to love you. Your angels might love you, but your VCs never will.”
It was a reminder that funding is a tool, not validation. Understanding incentives, expectations, and long-term implications matters far more than chasing logos.
The room buzzed during the live demos from Canva and OpenAI.
Erika Diskancova showed how Canva’s AI-powered tools can dramatically reduce the time it takes to create polished marketing and investor materials. No design background required. Just clarity and intention.
Then Orian English from OpenAI took the stage to demonstrate how ChatGPT can support real business workflows. From content creation to operational thinking, the demo focused on everyday use cases that founders could apply immediately.
The highlight came when Orian made ChatGPT speak Italian to the entire audience. The room erupted in laughter. It was playful, yes, but it also made a serious point. These tools are flexible, accessible, and far less intimidating than many people assume.
Too often, conversations about funding fixate on equity alone. The institutional finance panel brought balance.
Theodora Hadjimichael, CEO of Responsible Finance, named the elephant in the room. Debt financing “isn’t sexy,” but it is often far more realistic and sustainable for small businesses.
She encouraged founders to look locally and explore options like Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs, which are designed to serve businesses that are frequently overlooked by traditional lenders.
The takeaway was clear. Smart funding is about fit, not flash.
The night closed with a powerful conversation between Asma Khan, Founder of Darjeeling Express, and Sarah Friar, Co-Founder of Ladies Who Launch and CFO of OpenAI.
Asma spoke about legacy, responsibility, and the importance of bringing other women along as you rise. Her words stopped the room.
“I cannot live. I cannot breathe. I am not free if everybody around me is in chains. I have liberated myself by taking women with me.”
It was a reminder that success is not just personal. It is collective.
Key Takeaways
Fear is not a stop sign. It is a signal.
Equity at home supports equity in business.
Angels and VCs play very different roles. Know the difference, and what you need, before you start seeking investment funding.
Think of a good AI prompt like a recipe: the more clearly you describe what you want, the better the result will be.
Debt financing can be practical, accessible, and empowering. Look locally for funding opportunities, including CDFIs, which tend to be better at offering financing to underserved groups.
Legacy is built by lifting others as you grow.
Event Recordings
Full session recordings from this event are available on our YouTube channel.
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