S2: E8 | Glen Waters | Fundraising, term sheets, and scaling: practical advice for early-stage founders from HSBC’s Head of Early Stage Banking

In this episode of Brief Encounters, Richard speaks with Glen Walters, Head of Early Stage Tech and Life Sciences at HSBC Innovation Banking.

They discuss Glen’s journey from chartered accountant to advising high-growth startups, and what founders really need to know when preparing for fundraising. Topics include the importance of being investor-ready, understanding term sheets, the role of legal teams, and the market trends shaping early-stage deals.

Glen also explains why seed stage terms are becoming more founder-friendly, how to avoid pitfalls with high valuations, and why financial modeling and profitability are more critical than ever.