Rising Stars

Each year, Founders Forum Group leverages its global network to select a handful of exciting early-stage startups with world-changing potential. The founders of these emerging disruptor brands attend Founders Forums to speak about their ideas, innovations, and plans for the future, bringing new talent and technologies into the fold.

Our Rising Star Alumni

2017: Whitney Wolfe Herd presented at Founders Forum London
2021: Bumble listed on the NASDAQ, valued at $14 billion

2015: Payal Kadakla presented at Founders Forum New York
2021: ClassPass achieved unicorn status before being acquired by Mindbody

2013: José Neves presented at Founders Forum Brazil
2018: Farfetch listed on the New York Stock Exchange, valued at $5.8 billion

2016: Daniel Schreiber presents at Founders Forum London
2020: Lemonade listed on the New York Stock Exchange, valued at $1.2 billion

2011: Jeff Lawson presented at Founders Forum London
2016: Twilio listed on the New York Stock Exchange, valued at $1.2 billion

2014: Peter Szulczewski presented at Founders Forum New York
2020: Wish listed on the NASDAQ, valued at $14 billion

2014: Taveet Hinrikus presented at Founders Forum London
2021: Wise listed on the London Stock Exchange, valued at $11 billion

2013: Demis Hassabis presented at FF New York while in stealth mode
2014: Acquired by Google for $650m

The goal of our Rising Stars programme is to put promising founders with potent potential on the map. We introduce them to keen investors and fellow founders who can share their knowledge of our ever-evolving tech landscape.

Many of the Rising Stars who present on the FF stage go on to achieve unicorn status or IPO at record-breaking valuations.