How we raised £250k before launch (UK-focused, step-by-step, with some hacks)

We just hit:

600+ people on the Meet-Ting waitlist

275+ invites sent

50+ meetings booked

~30 weekly actives using it regularly

I’ve just written up the full story of how we raised before our launch - including the hacks and step-by-step approach we used (UK-focused) - on my Substack.

I’m a first-time founder, so if this can save you hours of podcasts, GPT prompts, and late-night desk research, I hope it helps!

Here are a few highlights:

1) SEIS is a cheat code for UK founders

Lets you raise up to £250k with huge tax relief for investors + downside protection.

Get advance assurance before outreach - it makes the conversation easier and warmer.

2) LinkedIn as a dealflow tool

Search your 1st-degree connections for “angel” or “investor.”

DM with self-awareness (“this is awkward, but…”).

You’ll be surprised who replies.

3) The “team” slide matters more than you think

Past mentors -> small equity for advisor roles.

Signals credibility and plugs skill gaps early (for me: senior technical voices).

4) Build an investor FAQ doc

Capture every question after calls.

Sends a transparency signal and stops you repeating yourself.

5) Name the risks before they do

Ours: “What if Calendly or Google do this?”

Answer it straight - it builds trust.

The full post covers:

• The POC that got early believers

• Writing a deck that makes you pitch-ready

• Momentum psychology in fundraising (from £0 to oversubscribed)

• Landing $350k in Google Cloud credits

• The boring-but-critical legal and insurance stuff

If you’re raising in the UK or thinking about it, hope it is useful: https://chiefting.substack.com/p/from-idea-to-250k-the-ting-journey

Happy to answer any UK-raise or SEIS Qs in the thread?