Inside Bristol’s Speed-Dating Demo Night: Canopy and SETsquared supporting South West Founders and Investors
Jan 22, 2026
Bristol’s founders, builders and early-stage investors packed into Engine Shed last night for a Demo Night with a twist: a fireside chat to ground the room, followed by a “startup speed dating” format that had everyone leaning in, asking questions and voting for their favourite founder story. This Demo Night was the first in a new four-part series co-hosted by Canopy and SETsquared Bristol, showcasing the depth of early-stage talent in the South West.
Canopy x SETsquared Bristol at Engine Shed
This collaboration brings together Canopy’s founder-first community with SETsquared Bristol’s track record of helping over 450 tech companies raise hundreds of millions in investment and scale globally out of Bristol.
Engine Shed was the perfect home for this series opener, with founders, operators and investors coming together around one shared goal: helping ambitious early-stage teams make their impact in the world.
Warming up with Iouri - https://www.linkedin.com/in/iouriprokhorov/
The evening opened with a fireside chat with Iouri Prokhorov, sharing the story behind Supo.co.uk and what it really feels like to build in public as a technical founder.
For first time founders in the South West, Iouri’s candid reflections on funding, experimentation and finding product–market fit turned theory into lived experience, connecting directly with the questions many had brought into the room.
Why the speed‑dating demos worked
Instead of a traditional stage-and-slides format, founders rotated around small groups, pitching in short bursts and taking live questions from peers, operators and investors.
That “speed dating” setup meant people could explore different startups at different stages, have more personal conversations, and see how each founder adapted their pitch round after round.
One attendee summed it up:
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“I had a great time at my second Demo Night, this time with a start-up ‘speed dating’ twist. Different start-ups pitching to smaller groups!”
The model works because:
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You learn about different startups at different stages.
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You meet founders, builders and investors, not just watch them on stage.
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You have more personal, honest interactions around the table.
For founders, it was live reps with real value:
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Practice the same core pitch again and again with fresh groups.
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Get instant feedback on your ideas from experienced individuals.
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Practice handling a wide range of questions and spot gaps in your product or story.
Allie, Dominic, Osborne and Julia
Across the waves of demos, the room met founders including Allie, Dominic, Osborne and Julia, each testing different products, sectors and stages of readiness.
The small-group format made it easier for new founders and angel-curious investors to ask the “simple but important” questions that rarely make it into a formal Q&A, from route-to-market to funding needs.
Feedback through the night highlighted:
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Awesome startups, with interesting and innovative products.
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A chance to sit around a table, see live demos and ask honest questions.
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A good pace for the evening, with pitches that never dragged on.
Celebrating Julia: People’s Choice
When it came time to vote, the community spoke clearly: Julia took home the People’s Choice award for the favourite demo of the night.
In a room full of ambitious early-stage ideas, her ability to connect the problem, product and personal story so clearly to first time founders and early-stage investors gave her that extra edge with the crowd.
The energy around Julia’s win captured what this Canopy x SETsquared series is all about: a supportive community where founders can practice, get seen and get sharper together.
Why this series matters for South West founders and investors
For first time founders in Bristol and the wider South West, these four Demo Nights at Engine Shed compress months of learning and networking into a handful of evenings in the room.
For early-stage investors, it is a practical way to scout new teams, understand what local founders are building and plug into a startup community that values human-centred, founder-first support.
People left describing Demo Night as friendly, thought-provoking and “a brilliant way to practice your pitch and support other startups in your local area.”
That combination of learning, connection and momentum is exactly what Canopy and SETsquared Bristol are committed to amplifying through the rest of this year’s series.
Join the next Demo Night
If you’re a first time founder or early-stage investor in the South West, come and experience it for yourself.
Join us at the next Bristol Demo Night in April at Engine Shed, or plug into the wider Canopy startup community at events in London, Lisbon and online at lu.ma/Canopy.
#CanopyCommunity #SETSquaredBristol #EngineShed #BristolStartups
#SouthWestFounders #EarlyStageInvesting #DemoNight #FirstTimeFounder
#StartupNetworking #AngelInvestorsUK
Reach out to the Founders who took part
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-marshall-wessendorf/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-lisa-hawkins/