Blending Insights for Startup Success: Founder & Investor Panels
As a second-time founder, listening to both the founder and investor panels at the Hult Xploration Day in London, much resonated with me about the realities of startup life, across geographies, industries, and stages. This blog pulls together what stood out, with a little dash of philosophical reflection and practical advice for founders and their teams.
L;DR – Key Insights from Founder & Investor Panels
AI is Everywhere (But Not Everything): 70–80% of US Q1 2025 investments went to AI companies. Investors now see AI as a tool, not a saviour. Non-AI companies face tougher funding conditions, but not all AI hype translates to sustainable business.
Team & Network Matter Most: Technical co-founders are prized, but strong sales, financial, and networking skills are equally crucial. Building and maintaining relationships is a superpower for founders and investors alike.
Regional Ecosystems Are Different: The US dominates VC funding, with San Francisco accounting for 26% of global VC. Europe offers lower costs and different cultural rhythms, but is more hierarchical and requires deeper local networks. The Middle East is relationship-driven and requires a clear local expansion plan.
Startup Mistakes & Lessons: Rigid employment contracts, slow pivots, and over-adjusting for investors are common pitfalls. Clear co-founder agreements and flexible, value-based hiring are essential.
Investor Perspectives: Seed funding is still available, especially for “pedigree” founders, but traction and relationships are increasingly important. The industry is consolidating, with more money flowing to established funds, but there’s still room for emerging VCs and government-backed initiatives.
Practical Advice: Use AI as a core skill, not just a buzzword. Be strategic in networking, give before you ask, and always be prepared. For non-technical founders, focus on building a strong team and be ready to pivot quickly.
Founder Panel at the Hult Xploration Day, Hult International Business School - London.
AI: Hype, Tool, or Necessity?
The panels made it clear: AI is the current engine of venture capital.
In the US, 70–80% of Q1 2025 investments went to AI companies. But as one founder put it, “Investors now understand AI as a tool rather than a saviour.” The initial hype is giving way to a more nuanced view that ‘AI can drive efficiency, but only if the application is clear and the value proposition is strong’.
Philosophical Take:
A fair number of founders in the startup ecosystem can feel the pressure to “AI-wash” their pitches. But, the panels reminded us that technology is just a means to an end. The real challenge is aligning AI with a real-world problem and ensuring that the team can execute. The best AI companies aren’t just built on algorithms, they’re built on domain expertise, customer insight, and relentless execution.
Team, Network, and the Importance of EQ
Both panels emphasised that team composition is critical.
Investors want to see technical depth, especially in AI and hardware startups. But they also value strong sales, financial management, and networking skills. As one investor noted, “You can be the dumbest person in the world, but if people like you and trust you, you’ll do well.”
Practical Tip:
As a non-technical founder, I’ve learned that you need to compensate for your gaps, either by finding a technical co-founder or by building a network of trusted advisors. And as the panels highlighted, networking isn’t about taking, it’s about giving first. Pay for the coffee, offer value, and build relationships before you need them.
Philosophical Take:
Startups are as much about people as they are about products. The ability to connect, inspire, and lead is what separates good founders from great ones. As one panelist said, “Success is 40% IQ and 60% EQ.”
Geography Matters: US, Europe, and the Middle East
The US still dominates global VC funding, with San Francisco alone accounting for 26% of the total. Europe offers lower operational costs and a different pace (think long summer breaks), but is more hierarchical and network-driven. The Middle East is relationship-focused and requires a clear local expansion plan, most likely with a regional partner.
Practical Tip:
If you’re raising money, know your audience. US investors are more likely to take big bets on pedigree founders, while European and Middle Eastern investors want to know you personally and see a clear path to market.
Philosophical Take:
Startup ecosystems reflect their cultures. The US rewards risk-taking and charisma; Europe values stability and local connections; the Middle East prioritises trust and long-term relationships. As a founder, you need to adapt your approach to each context. This goes for customer relationships too.
Common Startup Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The founder panel was refreshingly honest about failure. Rigid employment contracts, slow pivots, and over-adjusting for investors were common themes. One founder shared how hiring full-time employees too early led to a cash drain during the pandemic.
Practical Tip:
Document everything; co-founder agreements, responsibilities, and expectations. Consider project-based hiring in the early days, and be ready to pivot quickly if the market demands it.
Philosophical Take:
Failure is inevitable, but learning is optional. The best founders treat mistakes as data points, not disasters. They adapt, iterate, and keep moving forward. They’re also quick to climb back on the bike when failure happens.
Investor Panel at Hult Xploration Day, Hult International Business School - London.
Investor Perspectives: Seed, Series A, and Beyond
The investor panel highlighted that seed funding is still available, especially for pedigree founders. However, they indicated that traction and relationships are increasingly important. The industry is consolidating, with more money flowing to established funds, but there’s still room for emerging VCs and government-backed initiatives.
Practical Tip:
If you’re not a pedigree founder, focus on building traction and leveraging your network. Use tools like shipshape.vc to find the right investors for your stage and sector.
Philosophical Take:
Venture capital is a human business. Investors are looking for signals, such as social proof, traction, and team quality. But at the end of the day, they’re betting on people, not just products.
AI as a Core Skill
Both panels agreed: AI is here to stay, and founders need to be fluent in it. But as one investor put it, “It’s not about prompt engineering, it’s about identifying hallucinations and getting to the truth.”
Practical Tip:
Integrate AI into your daily workflow. Use it for research, analysis, and automation, but always double-check the results. And don’t let AI replace human connection, such as writing a thoughtful email or having a real conversation, which is still considered a superpower.
Philosophical Take:
AI is a tool, not a replacement for human judgment. The best founders use AI to amplify their strengths, not to replace their weaknesses.
My Question and Reflections
When I asked the founder panel, “What one failure have you learned or grown the most from and why?” the answers were honest and insightful. One founder shared how rigid employment contracts led to a cash drain during the pandemic. Another talked about the importance of clear co-founder agreements. And a third emphasised the need to pivot quickly when the market demands it.
Practical Takeaway:
As a second-time founder, I’ve learned that flexibility and adaptability are everything. You need to be ready to pivot, to change your team, and to adjust your strategy as the market evolves.
Philosophical Take:
Startups are a journey of constant learning. The most important skill is not avoiding failure, but learning from it and moving forward with resilience and humility.
Final Thoughts
The panels at Hult were a reminder that startup success is about more than just a great idea or a slick pitch. It’s about building the right team, adapting to your environment, and learning from every setback. As a founder, your job is to keep learning, keep connecting, and keep pushing forward, no matter what.
And as the panels made clear, the best founders are the ones who never stop learning, never stop giving, and never stop building. That’s the spirit I want to bring to my startup and to every founder I work with.