Thank You for 12 months of Connection, Collaboration and Community Growth

The Canopy Year runs December to November, so every year about this time, we pause. Not to slow down, but to breathe deeply and look back with gratitude at what’s been created, connected, and catalysed through the Canopy Community.  With Web Summit just around the corner it's the perfect time to reflect on what the last 12 months have been like.

For those who’ve been part of this journey—whether you joined a Demo Night, mentored a founder, opened a venue door, or simply stopped to share a few kind words—thank you. This year, more than any before, has shown us the power of community and collaboration across our startup founder network.

A Year of Impact and Expansion

The last 12 months have seen an incredible momentum for the Canopy community. Across London, Lisbon, Cornwall, and beyond, we’ve worked tirelessly to support first-time founders, build confidence, and create pathways to investment and opportunity.

Together, we’ve:

• Hosted 22 Demo Nights, including editions in London, Lisbon, Cornwall, and two remote events

• Welcomed over 600 founders into our growing ecosystem

• Launched and expanded our virtual incubation programme, sharing knowledge monthly

• Introduced our new ideation programme, helping first-time founders turn ideas into MVPs

• Delivered courses on SEIS fundraising and internationalising to the UK

• Formed new partnerships with three UK universities

• Planted the seeds of a new investment fund, launching in 2026

• Interviewed 20+ People’s Choice Award winners and 7 new investors for our Investor Circle Podcast

• Collaborated with 10+ universities across the UK, USA, and Portugal—including Nova SBE, Northeastern, City St George’s, Bayes, Tufts, Bristol, and the University of the Algarve

• Published over 50 blog articles celebrating founders and insights from our network

• Delivered more than 500 mentoring hours, connecting founders with experts in residence

• And, this year, Canopy was recognised as Business Enabler of the Year at the UK Best Business Awards

Each achievement reflects not just hard work, but shared belief—belief that entrepreneurship can be a vehicle for social mobility, creativity, and transformation.

Gratitude for Our Partners and Collaborators

A strong founder ecosystem is like a living organism—constantly moving, adapting, and growing stronger through the connections that feed it. We are so grateful for the organisations that helped us shape this year’s journey.

🌿 BPCC (British Portuguese Chamber of Commerce)

The BPCC remains part of our origin story in Portugal. Their friendship, referrals, and wise advice have guided us since the beginning. Chris Barton and Helena Fernandes—you’ve helped make so much possible.

🚀 Startup23

Thank you for the collaboration, peer review, and belief in our programmes. The shared energy with Tomas Caeiro has been a driving force behind many of our ideas to support founders.

🎓 Nova SBE & the Haddad Entrepreneurship Institute

Hosting our first Demo Night at Nova during Discoveries Week was magic. The openness and engagement of André Gonçalves and Maria Eugenia Mascarenhas made this partnership special.

🌏 GCamp Taiwan

Each year around Web Summit, our collaboration reminds us what global community truly means. Thank you Walis Lin and Paloma Ho for bringing such joyful, creative energy.

💡 Adamastor

For keeping the Portuguese startup scene connected and inspired—thank you Carlos Resende and Malik Piara. Your insights fuel us to think bigger and collaborate wider.

🧩 City Ventures / City St George’s University of London

Our partnership embodies our shared belief in entrepreneurship as a tool for social mobility. Huge appreciation to Ralph La Fontaine, Sionade Robinson, Anthony Finkelstein, Sam Steele, and Sarah Worth for championing inclusive innovation.

🦄 Ground Capital

Thank you for hosting multiple events in the Unicorn Factory and for your openness to ideas. Filipe Portela, Nancy Brito, and Paulo Pinho—your generosity has amplified our community in Lisbon.

✈️ International Study Programs

For curating immersive learning experiences that connect our founders with students from around the world—thank you Monika Macenauer and Leigh Woods. You’ve made cross-border learning real.

🇵🇹 Startup Portugal

Your PRR grant helped us deliver more impact than ever before—turning ambition into action. Miguel Aguiar, Tomás Valverde, and Manuel Machado—your belief fuels our mission to elevate Portugal’s startup ecosystem.

🌊 Tech Cornwall

Four Demo Nights, endless positivity, and true community spirit. Thank you Niki Davies and Shona Marsh for making Cornwall’s tech scene such a supportive space for founders.

☀️ Algarve Evolution

Your collaboration and openness have been invaluable in connecting our founder networks across regions. Thank you António Guerreiro, Joaquim Nascimento, and Sílvia Paz for helping innovation thrive in the Algarve.

The Shared DNA of Our Partners

When we reflect on what unites these incredible people and organisations, three words come to mind: collaboration, community, and curiosity.

Every one of them embodies a mindset that believes in giving as much as receiving. They understand that a rising tide lifts all boats—and that by investing time, energy, and empathy into others, we build a better ecosystem for everyone.

It’s this mindset that defines the Canopy Community. Whether it’s a startup founder preparing for their first pitch or a university partner creating pathways for student entrepreneurship, every act of collaboration contributes to something larger.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we gather during Web Summit week to reflect and plan, we’re filled with anticipation for what’s next. 2026 will see the launch of our Canopy Investment Fund, expanded virtual programmes, and more cross-continental collaborations connecting founders from Lisbon to London, Boston to Bengaluru, Singapore to Cornwall.

We’ll continue to nurture the growth of our virtual incubator, deepen our entrepreneur mentorship network, and create more pathways for early-stage startup support. The goal is simple yet powerful—to help every founder build something meaningful, sustainable, and scalable.

Our gratitude fuels that mission.

To every member, mentor, investor, and partner—thank you for believing in this movement. Together, we are proving that when founders come together, share knowledge, and support each other, magic happens.

Here’s to curiosity, courage, and community. Here’s to 2026 and here's to leveraging entrepreneurship as a tool for social mobility.

Become part of the community today https://www.canopy.community/store 

Join the next event https://lu.ma/canopy 

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