When Funders Meet Founders: 97 Changemakers, One Unforgettable Evening

25th November 2025 | OneHive Leadership

Ninety-seven people walked into The Shard on a crisp November evening. What walked out? Connections, collaborations, and quite possibly the future of charitable funding in London.

The Livery Impact Exchange wasn't just another networking event with lukewarm coffee and polite small talk. It was a masterclass in what happens when you put the right people in the right room with the right mission: OneHive At A Time.

One Connection, Endless Ripples

Picture this: charity leaders and funders, paired through algorithmic matching based on their values, causes, and ambitions, sitting across from each other for structured "speed dating" sessions. It sounds a bit like Tinder for philanthropy, and honestly? It worked brilliantly.

The follow-up emails started flying before the lifts had reached the ground floor. Funders wanted introductions. Charities found their perfect match. The whole evening proved something we've always believed at OneHive: when you connect communities intelligently, magic happens.

Star Power with Purpose

The evening opened with two keynote speeches that set the tone perfectly.

Julia Sibley MBE, Chair of the Livery Committee and a titan in the world of hospitality philanthropy, reminded us that livery companies have been driving social good in London for centuries. The difference now? Technology can amplify that impact exponentially.

Then came Lord Tony Sewell, our longtime partner and the founder of Generating Genius. His message was characteristically direct: talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn't. That's precisely the inequity OneHive At A Time was launched to tackle.

The Organisations Changing Lives

The superstars of the evening were the charities already proving what's possible when you pair passionate people with powerful technology.

Tutors United, led by CEO Amy Whitelock Gibbs, is on a mission to smash the barriers in education. With over 400 students and 200 tutors, they're proving that income shouldn't determine a child's potential.

Generating Genius, represented by Zindzi Sewell, has been opening doors to STEM careers for underrepresented young people for nearly two decades. Their track record? Over 20,000 students supported, with a 95% placement rate at Russell Group universities from their original cohort. Those aren't just statistics; they're doctors, engineers, and researchers who might never have had the chance.

Motivez, co-founded by George Imafidon MBE (yes, that's Sir Lewis Hamilton's race engineer), has empowered over 13,500 young people across London to explore STEM careers. From Brixton to the boardroom, they're proving that background doesn't determine brilliance.

Future Leaders UK, founded by Faheem Khan, supports over 15,000 active users annually, helping underrepresented young people secure competitive career pathways. Faheem's own journey from Pakistan to Deputy Headteacher to social enterprise CEO makes him the perfect person to tell young people: your story isn't written yet.

Voice For Locals, led by founder Jay Thattai, brings digital transformation to small businesses and local communities, because levelling up should mean everyone.

LunarCloud, with Pritul Khagram FCIPD MIoD at the helm, provides transformational HR solutions that help growing organisations focus on people rather than paperwork. A OneHive partner working together to spread the gospel of Tech For Good.

The Mission: OneHive At A Time

At its heart, the Livery Impact Exchange was about launching something bigger: OneHive At A Time.

The vision? Simple but audacious. Bring charities, social enterprises, and CICs together under one roof. Tear down the barriers that stop brilliant organisations from scaling. Enable personalised learning that actually changes lives. And prove, once and for all, that technology can be a force for good through the BEE Score methodology.

The match funding model makes this real. Organisations don't just get software; they get systems that grow with them, backed by funders who genuinely understand their mission.

What's Next

If you weren't in that room on 25th November, don't worry. This is just the beginning.

The partnerships forged that evening are already bearing fruit. The funders are following up. The charities are scaling. And OneHive? We're doing what we do best: connecting communities, one hive at a time.

Interested in how OneHive can help your organisation scale its impact? Get in touch and let's build something extraordinary together.

Rosie – roseline@onehive.ai

Email: help@onehive.ai