Learning

Early-stage founders are often told that “every investor is different” — and that’s true. But after reviewing hundreds of pitch decks and sitting in countless investor conversations, a clear pattern emerges: there is a formula, and there are fundamentals that simply shouldn’t be missing.

​In this practical, hour-long session, Dr. Kristen Weatherby, founder of Breakthrough Labs, will walk through what makes an effective early-stage pitch deck today.

​Kristen reviews pitch decks regularly in multiple capacities:

• ​as an angel investor, evaluating opportunities for her own portfolio

• ​as a scout for an impact-driven VC, assessing founder readiness and clarity

• ​as a judge at startup pitching competitions

• ​and through her work supporting scores of Breakthrough Labs founders, many of whom are preparing for their first (or next) funding conversations

​She also works closely with investors through Breakthrough Labs’ investor sessions, hearing first-hand what investors are responding to — and where founders are consistently losing them.

​This session will cover:

• ​the core structure investors expect to see in an early-stage pitch deck

• ​the slides that are often missing or underdeveloped

• ​common mistakes that weaken otherwise strong ideas

• ​how to balance storytelling with evidence

• ​what matters most right now in early-stage funding conversations

​There will be time for questions, and you’ll leave with a clearer sense of how to approach your pitch deck — whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an existing version.

​This session is ideal for:

• ​early-stage women founders building or revising their first pitch deck

• ​founders preparing for angel, pre-seed, or seed conversations

• ​anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what investors actually want

​Come along, ask your questions, and start your pitch deck process on solid footing.

Product marketing expert Craig Brown of Troubadour speaks to founders about how to position their product for their particular target audience segment.

How can you protect your brand with a trade mark so that your competitors don't benefits from the investments you've made in your business. Marcela Carvalho, trade mark attorney from international firm Marks & Clerk speaks to founders about what they need to consider to protect their brands and avoid infringing on others.

Director of Ventures for Resolution Ventures, Louise Marston speaks to founders about the kinds of workertech solutions they invest in, why impact is so important to them, and how any early-stage founder can think about measuring impact. This webinar is full of practical advice for founders seeking investment, so it's worth a listen even if your startup doesn't fall into this thesis. 

This is a portion of Breakthrough Labs Coach-in-Residence Janine Matho's special intensive session for founders on overwhelm, where she discusses how to use her Opus 8 principles to restore energy and balance.

These are the slides -- and extra resources! - used and mentioned by Meg Roundell Greene in the Sales Masterclass on planning your go-to-market strategy. 

In the second webinar in our Fund Her Future Webinar from Breakthrough Labs, supported by the British Business Bank, we speak with panellists about how early-stage female founders can secure external funding to grow their businesses without giving away equity. Panellists include:  

• Sharon Cook, from Choice Business Loans 

• Lisa Young, from Let's Do Business Finance 

• Nicola Wiley, from InnovateUK Business Growth  

Meet Jem Stein, the founder of Daring Capital. Jem speaks to founders about social investment, how Daring Capital invests, how they support their portfolio companies, and how they find investors who find social impact just as important (or more important) than making money.

The first Masterclass in our Pitching series of 2025, we covered defining your problem, describing your solution, and understanding your audience.

This article, provided by Breakthrough Labs Trusted Supplier Marks & Clerk, discusses brand security in a modern world: Protecting your brand - Essential steps every business should take.

Marks & Clerk is a leading global intellectual property firm for more than a century.

We are so lucky to have TWO expert attorneys from UK Law Firm Mills & Reeve covering the commercial and corporate legal considerations you need to keep in mind as you are in the early stages of your start-up.  

Sophie Burton-Jones is a partner in the commercial team at Mills & Reeve. She is a technology law specialist and supports multiple technology companies, from start-ups to listed companies on all areas of commercial law including IP assignments, development of standard terms, customer/supplier negotiations and privacy policies and documentation.  

Katharine Robinson is a principal associate in the corporate team at Mills & Reeve who supports founders and businesses with their corporate transactional needs from incorporation and spin-out, through multiple fundraisings (seed, series A and beyond) to exit. She also frequently acts for investors and has a particular interest working with companies in the technology and life sciences sectors.  

Moderated by Breakthrough Labs founder Dr Kristen Weatherby, our conversation covered these common issues - and more!  

• How do you avoid giving away equity (when engaging with early advisors, for example)?

• What kinds of early T&Cs do you need to consider putting in place for your website or customers? 

• What do you need to think of if you’re bringing on a co-founder? What needs to be in your data room?

Stop feeling overwhelmed: Build your dream business without burning out. Coach-in-Residence Janine Matho gives founders strategies to manage busy times while maintaining balance.

Is fear driving or stalling your business? 

We all have fears - rational or not - and we may not know or acknowledge how they impact our business.

Today's conversation with Coach-in-Residence Janine Matho is all about facing those fears. What fears are you facing? Which ones are holding you back? How can we reframe fear, making our fears our friends so that they don't stall our business' progress?

In this webinar, Lee Lam of Your Startup Partner will be sharing the benefits of bootstrapping your business and why increasingly, the best path to a successful fund raise is to show financial responsibility and prudent decision making.  You will have a better understanding of: 

 - what bootstrapping is and its place in any business strategy 

- the link between bootstrapping and fundraising 

- the foundational principles of bootstrapping

Do you know how to figure out what you truly want from your business? Breakthrough Labs' Coach-in-Residence Janine Matho is here to help!

Slides from the Masterclass on Non-equity Finance Options from the British Business Bank

Jake Fox, Assistant Director of UK angel syndicate SouthEast Angels talks about angel investing and what his organisation's angels look for in their investments. He describes the process of submitting your pitch to SouthEast Angels and takes questions from founders.

Everyone has a story, and you have many stories that will be useful to your business. This is the first in a three-part series of articles from storytelling experts Narativ on how you can find your story.

The second part of our podcast on Business Storytelling. Dan and Jane talk about telling Origin Stories, Milestone Stories, Impact Stories and Future Stories for your business.

What types of funding are available to start-ups? Do you always have to give away equity? What kind of funding should you be looking for?

Check out this handy infographic for the answers to all of your questions!

A 6-step process to guide your sales calls so that you can connect with customers and convert to sales.

The final article in the series on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico

Part 6 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico.

Part 3 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico

Evidence-based guidelines on what should go in your data room and how to structure it.

Here are the slides from Craig Brown's  Product Positioning Masterclass in November 2025. These include the appendix, with tons of extra resources mentioned in the Masterclass.

Sie Ventures COO Jess McCarten speaks to founders about the programmes, support and investment they offer female co-founded businesses at pre-seed and seed stages. 

In this Masterclass, multi-exited founder Emma Rees talks to our members about data-driven approaches she has used to:

• Secure and track investor meetings

• Prepare for investor meetings

• Craft the best answers to investor questions

• Do due diligence on investors

This is not a session to miss!

Serial entrepreneur, Zinc fellow, angel investor and founder of the Table, Carmel Rafaeli speaks to founders about her journey, what she looks for in a start-up and mistakes she has made as a founder. 

Hear from award-winning female entrepreneur Sarah Mintey, MBE, CEO and founder of Developing Experts, an edtech startup she founded after a full career as an education and charity leader. Developing Experts has expanded beyond education and beyond the UK - and Sarah's journey is incredibly inspiring!

Sales Coach Meg Roundell-Greene's session was jam-packed with practical tips and strategies for creating a sensible go-to-market strategy for your business and developing the messaging that allows you to reach your intended customers and convert their interest to your sales!

Welcome to the final webinar in the series Fund Her Future: A Female Founder's Guide to Growth, brought to you by the British Business Bank and Breakthrough 

The series is for female founders who are exploring funding options to grow their businesses. The three webinars take founders through the decision-making process, from determining whether you need external funding, to exploring non-dilutive funding options, to equity investment.  This webinar Navigating Angels, VCs and Due Diligence is designed specifically for early-stage female founders navigating the complex world of equity investment. The objective of this webinar is to help female founders understand their options and make informed choices when contemplating fundraising from early-stage investors. We will hear from a panel of experts who will share perspectives on what angel investors look for, their investment criteria, and the differences between syndicate and individual investments. You'll also hear from an early-stage VC who will outline what kind of business profile is necessary when seeking venture capital funding. Panellists also discussed crucial preparation steps for raising a funding round and key considerations for the due diligence process.  

The panel of experts includes:  

• Vanesa Pazos, Founding Partner at NoBa Capital: Vanesa is the Founding Partner of NoBa Capital, an early-stage venture firm backing tech-driven solutions for the future of work - from HR tech and worker tech to talent marketplaces. More than just an investor, Vanesa is the driving force behind NoBa’s mission - ensuring that work isn’t just about a pay check, but about fulfilment, transparency, and opportunity. She believes in the power of technology to create fairer, more accessible workplaces, and through her advisory roles, she actively supports underrepresented founders and fosters a more inclusive future.  

• Malin Svanberg-Larsson, Partner at Freeths Lawyers: Malin specialises in advising businesses on a wide range of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, management buy-ins and buy-outs, corporate reorganisations and restructurings, and early stage investment. She acts for clients across a range of sectors including technology, manufacturing and consultancy. Malin is a corporate lawyer, well regarded for her highly attentive and solutions-orientated approach.  

• Louise Harvey, UK Lead at HearstLab. Louise is the UK lead for global corporate venture fund HearstLab. Prior to joining the fund a year ago, she was an Associate at Access VC, the purpose-driven CVC of global CPG giant Reckitt Benckiser investing in Series A+ consumer health & wellness brands, with a particular focus on companies and founders from underserved categories/backgrounds. After starting her career at a global consulting firm, she spent 6 years helping lead the Institutional Investment team at Seedrs, the UK’s largest investment platform. She has been named twice in the Innovate Finance Women in Fintech Powerlist; once as a 'Rising Star' and once as an 'Investor'.  

• The panel was moderated by Dr Kristen Weatherby, founder of the Breakthrough Labs community and accelerator for female founders.

Join Louise Harvey from HearstLab UK as she talks to members about how HearstLab invests and the support that Hearst Corporation provides for companies in its portfolio.

Welcome to the first webinar in the series Fund Her Future: A Female Founder's Guide to Growth, brought to you by the British Business Bank and Breakthrough Labs. The series is for female founders who are exploring funding options to grow their businesses. The three webinars take founders through the decision-making process, from determining whether you need external funding, to exploring non-dilutive funding options, to equity investment.

The First Decision: Bootstrap, Borrow or Raise. How do you decide? helps female founders make decisions about how they will fund their business. The panel of experts includes:

Susan Elliott, British Business Bank: Sue is an experienced commercial professional working with British Business Bank stakeholders, intermediaries, and delivery partners to help smaller businesses access finance for growth. Her knowledge and connections in the funding and business support community were gained from co-foundering and running her own advisory and consulting business for 10 years.

Wendy Tindsley, Oxford Innovation: An experience business support professional, Wendy has a scientific background and experience of running several businesses. She has a wealth of experience in obtaining funding for R&D and capital investment. With extensive knowledge of innovative technologies across different sectors, Wendy's passion is helping ambitions businesses to achieve rapid and sustainable growth.

Lee Lam, Startup advisor: Lee has a depth of experience and knowledge in financial services technology due to COO/Chief of Staff roles across her career, spanning over 24 years. She is now founder of Your Startup Partner, a startup strategy advisory service. Lee's mission is to build a strong startup democracy. She breaks down barriers to starting and growing a business and growing into successful organisations of the future.

The panel was moderated by Dr Kristen Weatherby, founder of the Breakthrough Labs community and accelerator for female founders.

This article, provided by Breakthrough Labs Trusted Supplier Marks & Clerk, discusses brand security in a modern world: How to create a brand.

Marks & Clerk is a leading global intellectual property firm for more than a century.

Join Alice Segre, Associate from European impact investor Maze Impact as she and Kristen discuss how Maze Impact invests and what they look for in a startup. Alice also describes the ways in which Maze Impact supports founders in their portfolio and takes questions from Breakthrough Labs members.

Our first Best of Breakthrough Labs session covers the best tips, tricks and advice from all our Meet the Investor, Masterclass and Coaching conversation sessions from July through October 2024.

Octopus Ventures invests in start-ups at many levels, but did you know they also have a separate fund for early-stage businesses?

Join this fireside chat with Octopus Ventures First Cheque Fund's Tilly Fleming to learn all about how Octopus invests at an early stage, as the first cheque!

NoBa Capital partner Vanesa Pazos talks about how they invest in start-ups providing innovative solutions around the future of work.

Learn how your stories can inspire, inform, and enrich your brand identity with storytelling experts Jane and Dan from Narativ London.

There are lots of different non-equity funding options available for start-ups who don't want -- or don't need -- to go the traditional angel/VC/PE route. The British Business Bank goes through what options might be available for founders or businesses based in the UK.

Part 3 in the three-part series of articles from the storytelling experts at Narativ. Start-ups have stories that help build momentum and express the big idea and passion of founders. As your company grows, how do you share that story with new employees? What is your new story?

Packed with practical advice and immediate actions that any founder with a website can take to improve SEO and drive more traffic to your site.

SEO guru Anthony Barone of StudioHawk (visit them in our Trusted Supplier Directory) delivers a Masterclass on SEO that has enables any founder to make changes to improve SEO and get your site higher up in the list of Google search results. 

This one is not to miss!

Storytelling gurus Jane and Dan of Narativ talk about how to find and tell the story for your business. (Available wherever you listen to podcasts.) 

Part 1 of 2

What's the difference between different types of investors: Angels, VC, Private equity? How do they invest, and what are they looking for? 

This handy information sheet answers all of your questions.

Obstacle Planning is an exercise you can use to understand the potential roadblocks in your way.

Part 8 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico.

Part 5 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico.

Part 2 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico.

How to think about planning your technology pilot so that it gives you the information you need to improve your product.

​This one-hour masterclass is for early-stage founders who want more clarity about how their product creates value for users — and how new features are supposed to contribute to that change.

​You’ll be introduced to a simple way of thinking about your product as a theory of change:

• ​What behaviour or capability are you asking users to change?

• ​Why should your product be the thing that enables that change?

• ​What assumptions are you making as you add new features?

​We’ll use a logic model framework (often used in evidence-based fields) to help you:

• ​Connect features to user behaviour and outcomes

• ​Spot gaps between what you’re building and what you want to change

• ​Make better decisions about what to prioritise next

​This isn’t about adding process or slowing down.

​It’s about making sure your product will make the impact you want it to make.

Use this matrix from Craig Brown, who gave our Product Positioning Masterclass, to compare the strengths and weaknesses of target buyer segments.

Award-winning founder and international cheerleader Chantal Epp speaks to our founders about her work founding ClicknClear, a pioneering music rights tech and licensing company specialising in choreographed sports such as dance, gymnastics, figureskating and cheerleading. Learn about her journey securing deals with all the major players in the music industry -- as well as global sports federations -- and delivering the tech and solution they need.

In this Meet the Investor session, UFI Ventures Director of Ventures Helen Gironi offered specific advice to all attendees and gave insider information about how to make a successful pitch to UFI Ventures and to early-stage investors in general.

These are the slides Janine Matho used in her June 2025 2-hour intensive coaching session on overwhelm

Our second Best of Breakthrough Labs webinar covers content from January through early May 2025. If you're new to the community or you just want a recap, watch the recording to get a great summary of these sessions:

• Sales Masterclass

• Pitching Masterclass

• Legal Q&A

• Legal guidance for early-stage start-ups

• Meet the Investor: Daring Capital

• Meet the Investor: HearstLab

• Meet the Investor: Maze Impact

Join investors from TwinklHive, Ascension Ventures and an angel investor for this 90-minute panel discussion on what they look for in a pitch deck. What makes them say yes and what is an automatic no? What should be in every deck? This was one of our highest-rated sessions in the Breakthrough Labs accelerator

In Part 2 of our Pitching Masterclass series, we work with founders on how to use stories in their pitch, we brainstorm the kinds of stories that are helpful, and we start to look at the structure of the pitch deck.

These are the slides that were used in the Pitching Masterclass on 6 March 2025.

This article, provided by Breakthrough Labs Trusted Supplier Marks & Clerk, discusses brand security in a modern world: Protecting your brand - Latest counterfeiting trends and how to fight back.

Marks & Clerk is a leading global intellectual property firm for more than a century.

This article, provided by Breakthrough Labs Trusted Supplier Marks & Clerk, discusses brand security in a modern world: Why a strong brand is your business' greatest asset.

Marks & Clerk is a leading global intellectual property firm for more than a century. 

Founders brought their legal questions to Malin Svanberg Larson, Partner at Freeths LLC. During the session, founders asked questions about a range of legal issues, including:

• Contracts with service providers

• Co-founders and co-founder agreements

• Shareholder agreements, anti-dilution clauses

• Making mistakes with investors

• Trademarks and IP

• Impact funders

• Downloading core legal agreements (T&Cs/contracts) from the web vs speaking to an attorney

• As well as specific questions about their businesses.

Meet the co-founder of Alma Angels and learn what they look for in their investments.

In this interactive workshop, building on our Masterclasses on Branding and Storytelling, we work together to create and plan consistent messaging that conveys how your business addresses client pain points.

How do you figure out what you really want from your business? This was the topic of September 2024's Coaching conversation. If you missed it, watch the recording and use this worksheet to help you think through the impact you want your business to make on your life.

Welcome video with founder Dr Kristen Weatherby welcomes you to the community and shows you how to set up your profile, notifications and more.

In this hands-on workshop, you learn how to create a killer brand, from developing a mission and vision to creating a logo, to planning your colour scheme. There's something for everyone!

Part 2 in the three-part series of articles from the storytelling experts at Narativ. This article talks about how stories come into the pitching process.

If you have created a website or any other technology that your users interact with, chances are they will encounter technical issues that could negatively impact their impression of your company or product. 

This how-to guide helps you understand what these issues are and gives you practical solutions to address them. 

Interviews are incredibly useful data collection methods, and here's how to get reliable, usable data from them.

This guide tells you how to interview customers or key stakeholders or conduct research-based focus groups to learn more about how your product is being used or what your customers needs are. 

Seed, pre-seed, Series A - what does it all mean? What level should your start-up be fundraising at, and what kinds of organisations provide funding at that level? This handy information sheet answers all of your questions!

How to create useful surveys that give you the data you need to improve your product or communicate to stakeholders.

Part 7 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico.

Part 4 in the series of articles on branding from branding expert the Copper Portico.

Part 1 in the series of articles on branding from branding and marketing expert The Copper Portico.