Events, pitching and participation: the practical details.
New to AI Founders Connect? Start here. If your question is about a particular event, its own listing takes precedence on practical arrangements.
Founder network
Who is the founder network for? AI founders, investors, operators and advisers interested in business-building, capital and commercial opportunity. Bring a relevant perspective and respect other participants.
Do I need to be raising money? No. General community participation is distinct from investment-readiness or pitch selection. Individual events may set their own criteria.
Do I need a large funding round to participate? No. People at different stages can join. Belonging is not measured by the size of a funding round or your ability to pay. Pitch selection for an individual edition remains separate.
Is community access free? Yes. Community participation is free. Event tickets and optional Founder Support are separate; check their own details before committing.
How do I join WhatsApp? Start by emailing a community request. Review the group information and privacy implications before choosing to open an approved invitation. You will not be automatically added through this website.
Events and pitching
Can I attend without pitching? Where an event offers general attendance, yes. Check its listing for the available registration options.
Does buying a ticket give me a pitch slot? No. A ticket buys only the attendance described in its listing, not pitch selection, investor attention or a funding decision. Pitch selection is separate and based on the programme and available capacity.
Why do some events charge for tickets? Ticket income helps cover the costs of running our events and not-for-profit activities. It is a way to make the community’s work possible, not a pay-to-play model for selling introductions or investment opportunities.
Who organises the community and events? Experienced volunteers and contributors organise the community. Contributors and their roles are identified per edition on its event page.
Can I suggest a speaker or support an event? Yes. Email about speaking or email about partnerships, with the relevant edition if known.
Where are past events? Our Event Library brings together the history beginning with the first recorded Silicon Valley round on 10 January 2024, with contributors and approved media. It is not a public attendee directory.
What do the programme numbers measure? The 658 figure is tickets recorded sold across 18 listings in the programme register checked on 26 September 2026. It is not 658 unique people or confirmed attendance. Individual event pages explain what is documented for each edition.
What if an event changes or is cancelled? Check the organiser’s current event notice and booking channel for the applicable arrangements. Do not rely on a historic edition’s ticket or refund terms for another event.
Founder Support
What is Founder Support? A monthly service from Alderwick & Co. LLC, New York, focused on your current business priorities. It combines a working session, commercial review and practical follow-up.
What does it cost? $200/month for your first 3 monthly billing periods, then $500/month from period 4. Prices are in USD and include applicable tax.
What does the 60% reduction mean? The $200 introductory rate is 60% below the $500 ongoing monthly rate. Three introductory periods cost $600, compared with $1,500 at that ongoing rate: a $900 difference. The ongoing rate is not a previously charged price.
What does a month include? One 45-minute session and a written plan with one primary metric and up to three actions. Also, one review of a deck up to 12 slides or a two-page business document. You can ask two brief follow-up questions. Legal-readiness resources and signposting are included.
How many places are there? The initial founding cohort has capacity for 15 paid startup subscriptions. Capacity is not a claim of current enrolment or cumulative founders supported.
Does that include all my legal work? No. The package includes legal-readiness signposting, not unlimited legal services. Individual legal work needs a separate professional engagement with the appropriate provider.
How does cancellation work? Your subscription renews monthly. Email stacy@westminstersmail.com before your next renewal to cancel.
How do I apply? Apply for Founder Support through our two-step form. It takes 2–4 minutes. Share your startup stage, current metric and priority. We confirm fit, capacity and terms before enrolment. Applying does not start a subscription or take payment. Your first session is arranged with Stacy after acceptance.
Does support guarantee traction or funding? No. We record support activity separately from founder execution and company outcomes. Free network activity and paid programme results are also kept separate.
Do I need paid support to join the network? No. Network participation is free. Event tickets and Founder Support are separate. The fee pays for the defined support scope, not investor introductions.
Build traction, win customers and prepare your next raise with a defined monthly support scope. Pay $200/month for your first 3 monthly billing periods, then $500/month. Prices are in USD, including applicable tax. Support does not guarantee customers, deals or funding.
Identity and independence
Is AIFC an investment fund? No. AI Founders Connect is the community and events organisation. Any investment activity by another organisation is separate.
Will joining get me funding? No funding, pitch slot or introduction outcome is guaranteed. Participation creates opportunities to learn and connect.
How is Westminster involved? Westminster & Partners’ legal and investment businesses support the ecosystem. You may explore them separately; participation in AIFC does not create an engagement with either.
Are tickets tax-deductible? We do not make a blanket tax-deductibility claim. Check the documented status and treatment of the specific payment, taking independent advice if needed.
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