Entrepreneurs Society: London Startup Fair Director

I’m running for London Startup Fair Director because I’m passionate about creating events that genuinely connect students with startups and opportunities.

As Head of Events at UCL Data Science Society, I’ve helped organise and scale some of our biggest events—from career panels to hackathons—many of which sold out with 100+ attendees. I’ve also planned successful events with UCL Division Women in Tech, working across teams to deliver engaging and accessible tech communities.

For the London Startup Fair, I’d focus on expanding outreach across all four universities, strengthening startup partnerships for the showcase and pitching competition, and ensuring high-quality branding and promotion so the event attracts both top startups and engaged students. I’d also prioritise creating a well-structured, memorable experience that makes it easy for attendees to network, learn, and discover new opportunities.

With my experience in event leadership, promotion, and collaboration, I’m confident I can help deliver a London Startup Fair that is impactful, well-attended, and exciting for everyone involved.

I am standing for London Startup Fair Director because I believe the fair should do more than showcase startups — it should help accelerate them. As part of the Outreach & Operations team for London Startup Fair 2026, I have already seen the scale of its potential: not just as a successful event, but as the flagship student startup platform in London. I want to help shape it into a space where ambitious student founders can connect meaningfully with investors, operators, and builders across the ecosystem.

Having worked on organising this year’s conference, I understand both the opportunity and the complexity behind delivering an event of this scale — from outreach and coordination to creating an experience that is valuable for founders and attendees alike. Beyond the event itself, I understand the realities of early-stage building: fundraising, partnerships, product-market fit, and execution under pressure. That perspective matters, because the best startup fair is one that creates outcomes, not just attendance.

If elected, I want to raise the standard through stronger founder selection, better investor engagement, and more intentional follow-up so that startups leave with momentum, whether that means a first cheque, a first pilot, or a first long-term supporter. London Startup Fair can be more than an event; it can be the launchpad for the next generation of London founders. I am standing to help build that standard.

Vote Tanmaye Shagotra for LSF Director!

I have learned how the machine works. Now I want to lead it.

I want to be the London Startup Fair Director next year because I have already seen what it takes to build it from the inside. As an Executive this year, I have worked on the execution, marketing and operations, and I understand both the pressure points and the untapped opportunities. A director is not just about running the event. It is about setting the vision, strengthening partnerships and scaling the impact. I want to take what we have built and push it further, whether that is higher-calibre founders, stronger sponsorships, or tighter execution.

I've pitched sponsors, marketed a product from zero, and navigated the uncertainty of building something from scratch. But more than any of that, I know what it feels like to walk into a room not knowing what you're looking for - and walk out with exactly what you needed.

Building my PropTech startup - an AI receptionist for property firms - taught me that the right introduction is worth more than the best pitch deck. One conversation with the right person unlocked a meeting that shaped my entire product.

That's when I understood what a room full of the right people can do.

So why me?

Because I don't just organise rooms - I connect people inside them. I naturally pick up on who should meet who, and I make it happen. I'll leverage my industry connections to bring in the right startups, investors, and partners from day one. Anyone can book a venue and fill it with stalls. The difference is whether students leave with a contact that changes something for them.

That's the fair I want to create.