Meet our mentors
Whether it’s your first pitch or your 50th, our mentors are here to help you refine your story and stand out as a regional finalist.
Get set for the stage with our mentors
Whether you’re perfecting your pitch deck or starting from scratch, our mentors are on hand to help shape what you share on stage.
All 60 finalists will be offered an exclusive session on their area of expertise, giving you the chance to explore the areas of your business with potential to attract investor interest.
Anthony Rose, SeedLegals
Founding and fundraising
As SeedLegals co-founder and CEO (and now CEO of The Pitch), Anthony Rose is no stranger to building a business. Behind his impressive portfolio is a bubbling enthusiasm to change things for the better, refining typically challenging tasks and making them accessible to all.
With SeedLegals, he’s been helping founders simplify their legals by having everything they need all in one place. From EMI options to SEIS/EIS, SeedLegals has everything you need to raise, invest and grow – no wonder it’s the UK’s #1 closer of funding rounds.
A natural leader and mentor, Anthony gets a kick out of helping founders navigate the world of investment. That’s why you’ll find him taking part in webinars, writing for national and specialist media, or sharing bite-sized insights on his LinkedIn profile.
Session topic: Perfecting the art of the pitch: what investors look for
Simon Ritchie, Blox
Financial modelling
A seasoned entrepreneur and software innovator, Simon Ritchie cut his teeth in financial modelling and analysis before founding financial planning and analysis (FP&A) platform Blox.
Built for SMEs, Blox gives business owners the tools to make smarter financial decisions without breaking the bank. Their cloud-based FP&A platform simplifies financial modelling, automates routine tasks and delivers accurate, up-to-date financial insights – putting you in control of your finances, so you can focus on what matters most.
With a deep understanding of both finance and technology, Simon supports founders as they move beyond the limitations of spreadsheets, helping them make bold plans with the finances to back them.
Session topic: Financials that get funded: what investors really want to see
Katrien Grobler, AI KAT
Branding & design
After shifting to the startup world, Katrien Grobler faced the challenge of producing enough quality content needed to drive growth. While AI technology promised to lighten the load, none could authentically capture a brand’s unique voice – so she took matters into her own hands.
Fast-forward to 2024 where, after countless hours spent blending two decades of brand marketing experience with fresh AI insights, she founded AI KAT Creative Brand and Content Agent.
AI KAT is a UK-based brand management company leveraging AI to democratise access to professional branding tools. From AI Brand DNA™ analysis to full rebranding packages, the brand management company helps SMEs build consistent, scalable and authentic brand narratives with soul and substance.
Session topic: Brand like a boss: make your pitch deck unforgettable
Alex Stanley-Bell, Founder 2 Closer
Sales
Meet Alex Stanley-Bell, the Founder 2 Closer figurehead who knows how to turn pipelines into profits.
With a track record of creating new revenue streams from scratch, Alex has taken fledgling businesses from startup to scale-up and beyond – and through Founder 2 Closer, he shares the tricks of the trade every founder should know.
Drawing on more than a decade in tech sales, the Founder 2 Closer programme coaches early-stage founders on the fundamentals of sales. Across six weeks of tailored guidance, Alex reveals how to build seamless systems that find and close revenue, with clear, practical guidance on how to scale at speed.
Session topic: Mistakes founders make when selling (and what they should do instead)
Lucy Kebbell, The WIP
Sustainability
Former fashion stylist turned sustainability advocate and industry connector, Lucy Kebbell founded The WIP to create a positive present and future for people and the planet.
To help founders build sustainable businesses that do good and grow strong, The WIP offers 1:1 coaching, a supportive community and trusted resources that put purpose and people at the heart of every venture. Together, founders can grow businesses that align with their values – making a difference while turning a profit.
Session topic: From greenwashing to grounded: showing real impact in your pitch
Alexandra Kafka, Oxyzn
Wellbeing
Alexandra Kafka is a sought-after speaker, a corporate well-being architect, and the founder and CEO of Oxyzn.
After burning out as a PR lead, Alexandra travelled to 34 countries in search of sustainable, high performance through evidence-based well-being tools. Now, she’s showing employees how to harness well-being practices for peak performance, good health and fulfilment.
With hundreds of live and on-demand events across 45+ wellness categories, Oxyzn is redefining workplace wellbeing. From mental health to movement, the platform delivers wellness classes, webinars and workshops that reinvigorate employees and help teams feel balanced, energised and connected.
Session topic: Mental fitness for creatives: focus, energy and boundaries
Partner
Want to partner with The Pitch?
We’re currently talking to partners about our 2026 programme. If you want to learn more about the process and back the UK’s brightest startups, please contact us at partnerships@thepitch.uk.
