How HSBC Connected with 150+ Funded Founders Through Curated Mixer Events
Client Profile
HSBC needed to understand the banking requirements of early-stage funded startups and build relationships with founders who had recently raised capital.
The Problem
HSBC faced challenges in reaching funded startups:
- Needed to connect with founders who had recently closed funding rounds
- Limited understanding of specific banking needs of venture-backed startups
- Traditional banking outreach doesn’t resonate with startup founders
- Required direct conversations to understand post-funding requirements
- Needed to position HSBC as a banking partner for growth-stage companies
The core challenge: How do you reach funded founders at the exact moment they need banking solutions for their fresh capital?
Our Approach
We organized exclusive founder mixer events specifically for funded startups across India’s major startup hubs.
Phase 1: Curating Funded Founders
Identifying the right audience:
- Targeted startups that had raised funding in the last 6-12 months
- Focused on seed to Series A funded companies
- Identified founders actively setting up banking infrastructure for growth
- Curated attendees from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore ecosystems
Why this worked: Every attendee had immediate banking needs—they were managing fresh capital and scaling operations.
Phase 2: Funded Founder Mixer Events
Creating intimate networking experiences:
We organized three exclusive mixer events across major cities:
Event format:
- 40-50 funded founders per city event
- Casual, networking-focused environment (not formal presentations)
- Peer-to-peer conversations about post-funding challenges
- HSBC team present as advisors, not salespeople
- Open discussions about banking pain points for startups
Topics naturally discussed:
- Managing runway and burn rates
- International payment solutions for global operations
- Multi-currency accounts for overseas hiring
- Credit facilities for growth
- Treasury management for funded startups
Why it worked:
- Founders shared real challenges with peers
- HSBC listened and learned about actual needs
- No hard selling—focus on understanding requirements
- Casual format encouraged honest conversations
Phase 3: Understanding Banking Requirements
Direct feedback from founders:
During mixer events, HSBC team:
- Conducted informal conversations about banking pain points
- Learned about gaps in existing startup banking solutions
- Identified common needs across funded startups
- Gathered insights on what founders value in a banking partner
- Discovered specific challenges around fund deployment and compliance
Outcome: HSBC gained deep understanding of funded startup banking needs directly from founders.
Phase 4: Service Introduction
Natural showcase of HSBC solutions:
- Shared relevant HSBC services in context of founder challenges
- Demonstrated how HSBC supports funded startups globally
- Connected founders with HSBC relationship managers
- Provided resources for startup banking needs
Approach: Solutions were discussed in response to founder pain points, not generic pitches.
Phase 5: Relationship Building
Post-event connections:
- Scheduled follow-up meetings with interested founders
- Connected HSBC team with founders for deeper consultations
- Shared relevant case studies of how HSBC supports funded startups
- Built ongoing relationships beyond the events
Results
3-Event Outcomes
Founder Engagement:
- 150+ funded founders connected across three cities
- Companies representing $500M+ in cumulative funding
- 85% attendance rate (founders actually showed up)
- High-quality conversations with decision-makers
Market Intelligence:
- Direct insights into funded startup banking needs
- Identified common pain points across growth-stage companies
- Understood gaps in current startup banking offerings
- Gathered feedback on HSBC’s positioning in startup ecosystem
Relationship Building:
- 150+ warm relationships established with funded founders
- Multiple founders opened HSBC accounts post-event
- Ongoing conversations with interested startups
- Referrals to other funded companies in their networks
Geographic Coverage:
- Successfully reached funded startups in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore
- Built presence in India’s top three startup ecosystems
- Created foundation for ongoing founder engagement
Feedback Quality:
- Founders appreciated peer networking opportunity
- Valued HSBC’s listening-first approach
- Positive sentiment about HSBC’s understanding of startup needs
- Multiple requests for future founder mixer events
Key Success Factors
- Funded founders only – Laser-focused on startups with immediate banking needs
- Listening before selling – Understanding requirements first
- Multi-city presence – Reached founders where they are
- Peer networking value – Founders came for connections, stayed for conversations
- Casual format – Mixer environment encouraged authentic discussions
- Decision-maker access – Direct conversations with founders, not mid-level employees
Facing Similar Challenges?
If you need help with:
- Reaching funded startups and early-stage companies
- Understanding banking needs of venture-backed founders
- Building relationships in the startup ecosystem
- Connecting with founders post-fundraise
- Organizing founder networking events in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore
- Positioning banking services for growth-stage startups
Our curated founder events can connect you with funded startups at the exact moment they need your services.
