Redwood Roundup: Campus Connections and Startup Successes
Edition #2
Welcome to the December edition of the Redwood Newsletter. It's been an exciting month, and we’re here to give you the inside scoop on everything that's been happening—and what's coming next.
Over the past few weeks, the Redwood team has connected with some incredible founders, investors, and students. We’ve been hard at work refining our approach, both online and on the ground, to build a community of the brightest minds out there.
When we first set out, we knew we had to step up our game on social media to reach more of the right people. But we also understood the power of being in the communities we want to serve—especially on university campus. With a team of recent graduates, we’ve been able to tap into fresh perspectives, spot trends, and start building the Redwood community in a way that's truly authentic.
In this edition, we’ll be sharing updates on our recent events, a peek into what's coming up, and a few other exciting things you won’t want to miss. Let’s dive in.
1. RF x CUEFS Cambridge
Hosted a panel at the University of Cambridge on Islamic Finance, featuring experts Ibrahim Khan, Umer Suleman, and Raza Ullah.
Youness Abidou, CEO of Nester, shared his journey of building a tech-driven property business from the ground up.
2. Deen Developer Day
Eight teams pitched their startups after seven weeks of building, with some receiving immediate prize funding.
Previous Redwood Launchpad founders returned to demo their projects and share updates.
3. RF Startup Showcase at Imperial College London
Over 10 startups presented their ideas to curious students eager to learn and network.
A panel, led by Zain Mobarik, discussed the key ingredients for entrepreneurial success in today’s competitive landscape.
4. Bath Hackathon & Accelerator Programme
In partnership with the University of Bath, we ran a 10-week accelerator programme with 16 startups pitching at the final hackathon.
The programme offered hands-on mentorship, resources, and expert advice to help startups grow and refine their ideas.
Our Curated Community List:
Reflections on a failed computer vision Startup | Case Studies on Startup messaging systems | Greg Eisenberg on the next wave of Startups
Relevant Videos:
The Bottom Line:
We’re meeting students where they are—on the ground at universities across the UK. By building real connections and supporting the next wave of founders, we’re staying close to the action and helping turn ideas into startups.
Excited for what’s next!
Our upcoming event:
18 December - Founders’ & Future Founders’ Dinner
And that’s all for this month.
See you in January!