On 16 June 2026, founders and investors gathered in Singapore for Rise & Connect Exclusive Breakfast Networking, a morning centered around fundraising, venture building, and private markets.
Hosted by Auptimate and Loyal VC, the session brought together an active mix of operators and investors for focused conversations on how deals are actually getting done today. Beyond the pitches, the room was built for meaningful exchange. Attendees had the opportunity to meet and connect with investors who are actively deploying capital, as well as founders building across sectors.
The discussions went beyond surface-level insights. Conversations touched on SPV investing, syndicate deal flow, and what it really takes to raise from angels, with candid perspectives shared in a setting designed for high-signal interactions rather than broad networking.
Eight founders pitched during the session:
- Stéphane Leyo, Co-Founder & CEO, turning idle batteries into revenue-generating assets
- Dr. Denes Bartha, CEO and Founder, preparing kids for the AI era through hands-on coding
- Suhina Singh, CEO and Founder, building a universal adaptor for healthcare data
- Gautam Param, Founder, creating high-protein snacks from lentils using next-generation extraction
- Ramya Ragupathi, Founder and Director, building a Halal-certified free-from food manufacturer
- Borko Kovacevic, Co-Founder and Managing Director, building the operating system for the global podcast studio economy
- Mehsum Raza Sayani, Co-Founder and CEO, building AI-powered visa infrastructure
- Ke Wang, CEO, building an AI-native OS for product lifecycle management in food and nutrition
One of the highlights of the morning came from Borko Kovacevic of Podyx, who shared a candid and memorable reflection on working with Auptimate. After more than 18 months as a client, with Auptimate managing two of Podyx’s SPVs, he spoke about the value of teams that consistently deliver beyond expectations. He also reflected on stepping outside his comfort zone to pitch a room of strangers, despite preferring warm introductions and relationship-driven fundraising.
The event closed on a strong note with a message from Michael Kosic that captured the spirit of the room: support a founder, things founders do are amazing.
For investors looking to access curated deal flow and connect with founders earlier, sessions like these are where meaningful relationships begin.
A big thank you to everyone who joined.
If you are a founder and want to join the next pitch, apply here:
https://forms.gle/AVnUyEroG8uZz8nZ6
Interested in co-hosting an event with us? Message us here.
