Kelly Kehn: ‘Backing startup innovators is an investment in the industry’s future’
Kelly Kehn, who has over two-decades experience in the tech space, and is co-founder of All-in Diversity Project and startup launchpad, Defy the Odds, has praised iGB L!VE London and sister show ICE Barcelona for supporting new businesses and in the process investing in the ‘future of the whole industry.’
Speaking ahead of iGB L!VE’s Startup Accelerator, which will put early-stage founders and investors face-to-face in the same room at Excel London (30 June) and provide entrepreneurs with a clear understanding of what investors want, said: “Every one of the biggest businesses in this industry was a startup once. The companies coming through now will, by definition, not be widely known but supporting them is an investment in the future of the industry. Events like iGB L!VE and ICE are where the industry gathers, so they’re in the best position to help open that door to potential investment.”
Looking ahead to the Startup Accelerator which she is moderating and has helped to curate, Kehn believes the investment climate is more favourable than many assume. With global sports booming—from the FIFA World Cup to the surge in women’s competitions—attention and capital are flowing into sports tech, betting, and prediction markets. The challenge, she says, is differentiation. “Tech isn’t a moat anymore. Anyone can build the product, so the question every founder has to answer is what actually protects them.” Investors, she notes, are no longer dazzled by features; they want defensibility, whether that’s courtesy of brand trust, a defined niche or a unique advantage.
Kehn believes shared experience makes it easier for new businesses to raise funds from successful individuals who’ve been through the same process. She verified: “Exited founders have been through exactly what these founders are facing, so they get it in a way most investors don’t: the grind, the regulatory walls, what it actually takes to build here. That makes them strong prospects, both as capital and as people who can open doors. The catch is there aren’t many of them and they’re not always visible, which is why networking initiatives such as the Startup Accelerator matters so much in fundraising. A lot of the best money in this industry isn’t advertised. You find it through the right introduction.”
Asked what success looks like she confirmed: “We’ve built a really engaged network of startups, expert and capital and I would love to make new connections to add to that. Beyond that, I hope people leave the Startup Accelerator having learned something they can use, whether they’re raising, investing or just trying to read where the market’s going. If founders leave with a clearer path and investors leave with companies worth backing, that’s a good day.”
Register for the 2026 edition of iGB L!VE (1st- 2nd July) at https://www.igblive.com
