Tom McGillycuddy is the co-founder of CIRCA5000, an impact investing platform.
McGillycuddy launched CIRCA5000 alongside co-founder Matt Latham 2018, then known as tickr.
CIRCA5000 lets retail investors invest in “responsible businesses that see the value in our continued existence”.
Portfolio companies include the likes of plant-based meat alternative Beyond Meat, alternative dairy product company Oatly and cybersecurity firm Darktrace.
The London-based company has raised more than £10m in funding from investors including Ada Ventures and Love Ventures.
In the latest Founder in Five Q&A, McGillycuddy explains why he had to “bulldoze” his way through early fundraising rejections, reveals who he admires most in fintech and explains why he believes nuclear energy is a misunderstood technology.
1. What funding advice would you give to a first-time founder?
TM: Don’t take rejection personally. Particularly in the early days, during the first round of funding, you have to get used to 99 “nos” out of 100. It’s a numbers, stamina and resilience game....