Gathr Emerges from Stealth with Innovative Platform for Entrepreneurs and Investors

Gathr has officially launched from stealth, building on the success of London Tech Drinks (LTD) and London Private Equity Drinks, a community-driven initiative aimed at connecting founders, investors, operators, and service providers. Gathr, founded by CEO Mark Shepherd, has cultivated a network of nearly 10,000 members across the tech ecosystem, driven by the ethos of helping people succeed and overcome the challenges of scaling businesses.

Gathr offers three key verticals: Gathr to Connect, Gathr to Learn, and Gathr to Find, providing a comprehensive platform for its community. Gathr to Connect focuses on fostering relationships between founders, investors, and operators, while Gathr to Learn offers expert-led learning opportunities. The newest vertical, Gathr to Find, serves as a B2B marketplace designed to help businesses discover and engage with best-in-class service providers. At launch, over 125 providers, from boutique firms to major names like Goodwin, Taylor Wessing, and BDO, have signed on to the platform, which was curated from community recommendations over the past nine months.

Mark Shepherd's personal journey with mental health challenges inspired the creation of Gathr, with its initial iteration, London Tech Drinks, starting as a LinkedIn post in February 2022. Expecting only a handful of responses, Shepherd was surprised when the community quickly grew, leading to the broader vision for Gathr.

Reflecting on the expansion, Shepherd commented: “From initially expecting ten people maximum who would want to meet, the response has been overwhelming, with the community organically growing to nearly 10,000 people. As we scale, we’ve launched more peer groups to ensure people can meet others at a similar stage, sector, and seniority."

Arabella Reeves, former Platform Manager at Atomico, praised the launch of Gathr to Find, stating: "Mark has built an extraordinary community... Gathr to Find marks a significant shift in how founders, operators, and investors find and choose service and software providers they use. It addresses a critical pain point for tech stakeholders... allowing businesses to instead focus on their growth and execution strategies."

Gathr’s mission is centered around empowering the tech ecosystem by providing a strong foundation of support, collaboration, and transparency for both founders and investors. With a commitment to fostering meaningful connections, Gathr aims to create an environment where individuals and businesses can not only survive but thrive. The platform is designed to bring together key players in the tech and investment sectors, encouraging open communication and shared growth.

At its core, Gathr focuses on creating a transparent, community-driven approach to problem-solving and scaling. Through its unique ecosystem, which includes founders, investors, operators, and service providers, Gathr ensures that these groups can collaborate effectively and access the resources and networks they need to succeed. This collective approach helps tech businesses navigate the often complex challenges of scaling and growth.

Gathr is built on the understanding that thriving in the fast-paced tech industry requires more than just capital or a good idea; it requires ongoing support, access to reliable services, and a trusted community that can provide guidance at every step of the way. By creating a space where individuals can connect, learn, and grow together, Gathr is helping to transform the tech ecosystem into a more inclusive, supportive, and successful environment for all involved.