Brand Strategy London

Spilling the Tea: Building a Consumer Brand

Date: Tuesday 8th September, 6:15-9 PM UK Time Location: [1 Warwick by Maslow’s](https://share.google/MnxwD6w1PqaJ512K6) [Sign up for this event here! ](https://founders500.com/session/spilling-the-tea-building-a-consumer-brand/)Please note that clicking attend on Meetup will not give you the correct QR code to enter this event. Please sign up for your Universe ticket using the link. ## About the Speaker Yandis Ying is the Founder and CEO of [Dot Dot Tea](https://www.dotdottea.com/), one of the UK’s fastest-growing premium bubble tea brands. Launched in London in 2023 as a small high street café, Dot Dot has quickly grown into a nationally recognised retail brand, creating low-sugar bubble tea made with authentic loose-leaf tea, real fruit and popping boba. Every drink is brewed, bottled and packed at Dot Dot’s own Bubble Tea Brewery in North London, giving the founders control over quality, innovation and production as the business scales. Dot Dot is now stocked by leading retailers and hospitality partners including Harrods, Selfridges, Planet Organic, Ocado, Costco, Virgin Atlantic Upper Class and Nobu Hotel. The brand has received several industry awards, including the UK Soft Drinks Award 2026, Gold at the LUNCH! Innovation Challenge and a Startup of the Year finalist place at The Grocer Gold Awards 2026. Yandis also secured four offers on BBC’s Dragons’ Den. Before founding Dot Dot, Yandis worked in technology at Google and Sapient, specialising in digital strategy and innovation. She is also a mother and passionate about inspiring more women and young founders to pursue ambitious ideas and build brands with confidence. ## Session Overview How do you turn a small neighbourhood café into a nationally stocked consumer brand? In this honest founder conversation, Yandis will share the story behind Dot Dot Tea, from developing its first products and building an in-house brewery to securing major retail partnerships and appearing on Dragons’ Den. The session will explore what it takes to build a product-led business in a competitive market, balance authenticity with commercial growth, scale manufacturing without compromising quality and create a brand that stands out on the shelf. Expect an open discussion about product development, retail growth, investment, resilience and the realities of building a consumer business from the ground up. ## Key Themes * Moving from café to national retail brand * Building a distinctive consumer product * Balancing authenticity with mainstream appeal * Scaling manufacturing while maintaining quality * Securing major retail and hospitality partnerships * Fundraising, investment and Dragons’ Den * Founder resilience and lessons learned * Building a business alongside family life ## Audience Takeaways Attendees will leave with practical insights into: * Turning an idea into a scalable product-led business * Building a memorable consumer brand * Creating products customers genuinely want * Pitching to retailers and investors * Scaling without losing quality or purpose * Navigating the highs, lows and uncertainty of entrepreneurship [Sign up for this event here! ](https://founders500.com/session/spilling-the-tea-building-a-consumer-brand/)Please note that clicking attend on Meetup will not give you the correct QR code to enter this event. Please sign up for your Universe ticket using the link.

Designers × Marketing Agencies Speed Networking

Meet creative professionals and agencies looking for freelance, contract and permanent talent. **Great marketing needs great design.** This event connects talented designers with agencies looking for creative professionals. **Ideal for:** * Graphic Designers * UI/UX Designers * Brand Designers

Beginner New Band -London

Hi all, Hope all is well with you all. My name is Aurel and I am looking to set-up a band for beginners only to sing with. I am also a beginner hence the beginners only band. I live in London , E5 area and I am looking for a drummer , guitar player and keyboard player. I can be the singer – of course all others band member are free to sing to . To start with we can jam on existing songs and bands . Song and bans from 80’s 90’ early 2000 from rock, pop-rock, pop, R&B , gospel, country and different language – English, Spanish ,French , Italian, Portuguese , German, Romanian . What is important is that you need to be beginners artists or willing to work with a beginner one (that’s me) , otherwise makes no sense . I don’t have any preference in times of the week when we practice . We can rent room and instruments and if all goes well we can all pull together to buy our own instruments and equipment we might need. If you are interested let me know aurasdumitruatyahoodotcom , and replay here. Have a great day. Aurel

Experimentation London Meetup #12

Our next Experimentation London Meetup will take place on **Wednesday, 29th July 2026**. You **must** sign up on the [Experimentation London website](https://www.experimentationlondon.com/) to purchase your ticket and be granted entry for health and safety reasons! We have a fantastic lineup of speakers, including: Emma Travis, Director of Research at Speero: "AI x UX Research: Embracing Efficiency Without Losing Empathy." Divya Isaiah, Head of Experimentation at BBC: Experimentation Fireside Chat: How the BBC Experiments at Scale. To help us manage the space's capacity (and ensure we have the right amount of food and drink for everyone), please sign up for your ticket on our [Experimentation London website](https://www.experimentationlondon.com/). \-\-\- **Location** *Central London location - see full address and details on the [Experimentation London website](https://www.experimentationlondon.com/)* \-\-\- **Agenda** 6:00 PM - Welcome drinks, pizza and networking 6:30 PM - Introductions 6:40 PM - Emma Travis 7:10 PM - Short break 7:30 PM - Divya Isaiah 8:00 PM - More Networking 8:30 PM - Official end \-\-\- **Event & Speaker Guidelines** * No Sales Pitches: Our group is a space for genuine connections and learning. Tell stories. * Respect and Open-Mindedness: Embrace diversity, treat everyone with respect, and value different perspectives. * Community Spirit: Engage positively to build a supportive and collaborative community.

Friday Strategy Board Games at the Coat and Badge, Putney

Strategy Board Games at the The Coat and Badge, Putney. **Is this event for you?** If you have been to a few WLGC events, or are used to playing modern board games with a significant amount of rules, then this event is for you. If not, please join us at our "Beginner Friendly" event every other week. This is an event to play Strategy games which range from medium to heavy in complexity and last 2-4 hours, depending on the game. It can take about 15-30min to teach, again depending on the complexity of the game. I usually advertise which game I am going to bring a few days in advance, as it can be helpful to at least be familiar with the rules. Other gamers may bring another selection of games, so be prepared to be surprised on the day. Here are more details specifically about the Putney events: We’re a friendly, social group that regularly play a range of board games and card games. This event has been running since June 2022 and we have a core group of regular gamers but welcome new members who are looking for a games group to play on a regular or fairly regular basis. Games we play range from, 30min - 1hour games, to the heavier 2-3hour games. We alternate the weeks we play shorter games versus the longer strategy games (check the event title for which type of games are being played). Quicker, fun, social games we play: • Just One https://youtu.be/0DDRxztfJP0?si=QPavmMFE3DFipM-x • Skull King https://youtu.be/xlFHfCqY-5Y?si=X-U1WLP5JOI0oTcB • Planted https://youtu.be/BB5mwXFPrUA?si=oLor8WTSpLUs7B12 • Project L https://youtu.be/EFV-qavWUlE?si=41_XhoZQvWs_9Zp2 • 7 Wonders https://youtu.be/z_Wfdn5Es8U?si=-L3cLo2Uppdip2ow Longer, Strategy games we play: • Lost Ruins of Arnak https://youtu.be/Kg2z4ApABY8?si=l46LNYRjQA_0QoZS • Terraforming Mars https://youtu.be/n3yVpsiVwL8?si=SW7VCdJpnqErKlIO We like to start on time but if you do arrive late, don’t worry, it may mean you have to wait a bit until the next game starts, but we always try to accommodate where we can. If it's Strategy games night, it is more important that we start on time as the games are longer and we want to finish on time. If you know you are going to be late please just let us know your eta. The event is free but please keep in mind that in order to have the space and run the event on a regular basis we need to purchase drinks/food from the venue. Also, please don’t sign up and not show up. Not only do you take up a spot for someone keen to play games but we have limited space that we need to reserve with the venue and no-shows jeopardise our relationship with the venue. Thanks for your understanding. Hope to see you at a games table!!

In-person meetup: Accelerating PM Workflows and Elevating Customer Value with AI

**Please note this is an offline event with limited space. RSVP only if you will be able to attend in person. If you want to watch the live streaming, please RSVP to our [Online Event](https://www.meetup.com/producttank-london/events/315625891/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link&utm_version=v2&member_id=449315265)**. **Also, this event will not include catered food.** **\-\-\-\-\-\-\-** **Inside & Out: Accelerating PM Workflows and Elevating Customer Value with AI** The true power of AI lies where team velocity meets user experience, but getting there isn't always smooth sailing. This July, ProductTank London explores how product leaders supercharge internal workflows and elevate customer value with AI. Moving past the hype, our speakers, spanning **startups to scale-ups,** will share how they embed AI across the **entire SDLC**, from discovery and wireframing to delivery and rapid iteration, and **keeping product roadmaps aligned**. You’ll hear first-hand accounts of the hurdles, risks, and hard-won lessons our panel faced to reach that "happy path" output. Join us to walk away with practical, real-world frameworks to navigate the AI landscape **successfully** and build smarter. **Our speakers:** [Desmond Leo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/desmond-leo/) \- Product Leader @ Empathy Research [Charlie Wildish](https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-wildish/) \- Staff Product Manager @ Checkout\.com [Gareth Behn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-behn-5b3425111/) \- AI Product Lead @ TTC Tech As always we will close our meet-up with a candid discussion and Q&A. This event is sponsored by Checkout.com **Location:** Wenlock Works, Shepherdess Walk, London, N1 7BQ, United Kingdom **Timings:** 6:00 - Doors open 6:00 - 7:00 - Networking 7:00 - 8:00 - Talks 8:00 - 8:20 - Networking and drinks/ nibbles 8:20 - 8:40 - Speaker Q&A 8:40 - 9:00 - Networking Please note that the event will also be live-streamed on our YouTube channel and images will be taken throughout the evening. To keep up-to-date with our upcoming talks, follow our [LinkedIn page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/producttanklondon) and our [YouTube channel.](https://www.youtube.com/c/MindtheProductTV) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- By attending this event, you agree to give permission for any photos taken during the event to be used for promotional purposes, give permission for your name and surname to be used for registration purposes, and agree to be contacted by email by ProductTank.

Friday Board Games at the Coat and Badge, Putney (Beginner Friendly)

**Is this event for you?** This is an event for both experienced and non-experienced gamers. It's a great opportunity if you want to get into the board gaming hobby and try a game or two with minimal rules. There will be experienced gamers on the night and so depending on attendees we may play slightly more complex games. If you are new to games/beginner, please let me know either by comments or DM so I can bring some suitable games. We will help you to learn and play a game on the night. We will be playing board games which range from light to medium in complexity and last about 15mins to 1.5 hours, depending on the game. It can take about 5-15min to teach, again depending on the game. I usually mention in the comments which game I am going to bring a few days in advance, in case you want to be familiar with the game(s). Other gamers may bring another selection of games, so be prepared to be surprised on the day. Attendee numbers are dependent on who can bring and/or teach games and so can vary week to week. If you have a game(s) that you are willing to teach on the night please do mention this in the chat and/or comments. Most of us are up for anything! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Here are more general details about the weekly Putney events:** We’re a friendly, social group that regularly play a range of board games and card games. This event has been running since June 2022 and we have a core group of regular gamers but welcome new members who are looking for a games group to play on a regular or fairly regular basis. Games we play range from, 30min - 1hour games, to the heavier 2-3hour games. We alternate the weeks we play shorter games versus the longer strategy games (check the event title for which type of games are being played). **Quicker, fun, social games we play:** • Just One https://youtu.be/0DDRxztfJP0?si=QPavmMFE3DFipM-x • Skull King https://youtu.be/xlFHfCqY-5Y?si=X-U1WLP5JOI0oTcB • Planted https://youtu.be/BB5mwXFPrUA?si=oLor8WTSpLUs7B12 • Project L https://youtu.be/EFV-qavWUlE?si=41_XhoZQvWs_9Zp2 • 7 Wonders https://youtu.be/z_Wfdn5Es8U?si=-L3cLo2Uppdip2ow **Longer, Strategy games we play:** • Lost Ruins of Arnak https://youtu.be/Kg2z4ApABY8?si=l46LNYRjQA_0QoZS • Terraforming Mars https://youtu.be/n3yVpsiVwL8?si=SW7VCdJpnqErKlIO We like to start on time but if you do arrive late, don’t worry, it may mean you have to wait a bit until the next game starts, but we always try to accommodate where we can. If it's Strategy games night, it is more important that we start on time as the games are longer and we want to finish on time. If you know you are going to be late please just let us know your eta. The event is free but please keep in mind that in order to have the space and run the event on a regular basis we need to purchase drinks/food from the venue. Also, please don’t sign up and not show up. Not only do you take up a spot for someone keen to play games, but we have limited space that we need to reserve with the venue and no-shows jeopardise our relationship with the venue. Thanks for your understanding. Hope to see you at a games table!!

#2 - the UX of social connection

**Meet likeminded UX professionals over coffee/brunch and discuss ways to use design to spark social connection.** ​**The Problem:** With community spaces on the decline and more people feeling disconnected, how can we use design to spark deeper connections between people? ​For our second **design impact lab** session, we’ll be using an icebreaker card game as a lens to discuss how simple interventions can help us go beyond small talk and connect with people on a deeper level. ​**The Flow (Sunday 26th July 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM):** * ​**10:30 \| Coffee & Intros \(Paris Baguette Southbank\):** We’ll meet for coffee & brunch to kick things off. You'll meet other attendees and discuss the problem space. * ​**10:45 \| Icebreaker Game:** We'll break up into small groups of 4-5 and play a Japanese icebreaker game designed to encourage you to share what you value in a fun way. * ​**11:15 \| Discussion:** After the game, we'll discuss how it made us feel, and what about it was effective at sparking social connection. * ​**11:30 \| Free Discussion:** We'll wrap up with free discussions about UX, design, social connection or whatever is on your mind. *** ​**Pre-Event Mission:** ​Your mission is to think about the last time a stranger became your friend. What happened to spark the connection, and how did it grow? Keep this in mind for our discussion on the day. *** ​**The Details:** * **Location:** [Paris Baguette Southbank](https://maps.app.goo.gl/5fwo9QUZFZr8mqYh7) (1 min from Waterloo Station) * ​**Capacity:** We’re keeping this to a small group to ensure everyone can connect and contribute. Please ensure your RSVP is up to date and let us know if you're unable to attend. * ​**Vibe:** Friendly and relaxed! No laptops, just notebooks and fresh air. *** ​**Why Join?** ​If you’re a designer or researcher who wants to use your skills for more than just conversion, come say hi. ​It’s a chance to meet like-minded people and consider how design can solve universal human problems. ​**Who is this for?** ​Our events are for UX designers, researchers and other strategic and creative thinkers who are passionate about using their skills for social good, not just profit. Please note that this is not a networking event, or a place to find a job. ​**Who is the host?** ​Hi! 👋 I'm Max - a London based design researcher. Until recently I was based in Tokyo, where I ran a small design agency and spent over 10 years as a meetup organizer. I'm exploring ways to bring designers together to use our skills to work on meaningful problems. If that sounds like something you're interested in, I'd love to have you join! \*This event is being advertised on multiple sites, so the actual number of attendees will be different to what appears on meetup.

Trance Sanctuary Sunset Boat Party 2026

ContentUK // London Meetup #68

Hello London content marketing folks - come along to the next ContentUK meetup! This month the meetup will be at Notes Coffee Roasters & Bar in Kings Cross. **About ContentUK meetups** We're London's #1 meetup for content marketers 😊 We exist to allow people working in content to meet IRL, collaborate and support each other in an informal environment. **Meetup format:** * Meet from 6:30pm (table will be booked under Emily Byford) * Introduce yourself to other content folks * Chat about what you're working on in content and try to support each other * Have fun :) **Who is the meetup for?** * Anyone with a career in content (in-house, freelance, agency) * Content managers, content writers, content designers, SEOs, heads of content, content strategists Hope to see you there! Emily ([ContentUK](https://www.contentuk.co/))

Unfair Advantage: How High-Performing Founders Stay Sharp For Years

Unfair Advantage: How High-Performing Founders Stay Sharp For Years A one-day, in-person workshop for founders building for the long game. 17 July 2026. Limited to 16 seats. When you compete against a giant in your industry, the gap isn’t just capital and scale. The CEO on the other side has infrastructure around them. Chiefs of staff, executive coaches, performance teams, structured recovery. They are trained to stay sharp across decades. You don’t have that. The company, the strategy, the people, the decisions, all of it sits on a brain that wasn’t trained for any of it. This workshop closes that gap. The same protocols that keep elite operators sharp for twenty years, taught in one day, built for founders. What you’ll work on The four energy systems every founder runs (physical, emotional, mental, attentional) and which one is actually empty when you reach for another coffee. The neuroscience of decision fatigue, attention residue, and why your best thinking has quietly moved from morning to never. Recovery protocols used by operators who are still sharp a decade in. Not meditation apps. Not biohacking stacks. The actual mechanisms. A personal diagnostic on where your energy goes, where your attention goes, and the gap between the two that’s costing you your edge. A 30 day plan you build in the room, with structured follow up for the first two weeks after. Who this is for Founders at any stage who recognise that their cognitive edge is the asset and want to protect it deliberately. Pre seed through scale up. You don’t need to be in crisis. You need to be honest about the trajectory. Who this isn’t for Anyone looking for wellness, meditation, or motivation. This is operator grade. Expect honest diagnostics and uncomfortable questions about how you’re spending the one resource you can’t raise more of. Why this works Built on 30 years of peer reviewed research in cognitive performance, translated into protocols founders can actually run. Not theory. Tools. Who runs it Vivek and Vidhi co-lead the workshop. Vivek has twenty plus years across high performing industries including consumer strategy, marketing, and AI transformation at a FTSE 100. Ex Boston Consulting Group consultant. Founder of SynapticFlow, a neuroscience based peak performance company running cognitive performance workshops for founders. Vidhi is an executive and business coach who works with senior leaders, founders and high-potential professionals when the decisions get consequential and the path forward isn’t obvious. Trained through Harvard, the ICF framework, the Academy of Executive Coaching and the Co-Active Training Institute, she helps people think with more precision and act with more confidence. The room Capped at 20 founders by design. Small enough for honest conversation, large enough for the cohort to matter. Every applicant is reviewed personally. Cost: FREE Includes lunch, materials, diagnostic, and 30 day post workshop follow up.

Product Pints July - Sponsored by SGI 🍻

July is here, and we’re heading back to **The Volley** for this month's meetup. It’s incredibly easy to get to, just a minute's walk from Old Street station. Even better, this month's event is sponsored! That means there will be a limited bar tab behind the bar, so make sure you get down early to grab a free drink before it runs out. **A massive thanks to our sponsor: [Source Group International (SGI)](https://www.sourcegroupinternational.com/)** **[Source Group International (SGI)](https://www.sourcegroupinternational.com/)** is a global technology talent partner that helps businesses find, attract and retain the specialist talent they need to grow and innovate. Working across areas including Data & AI, Cloud, Cyber Security, Software Engineering and Digital Transformation, SGI connects great people with great organisations across Europe and North America. Our mission is simple: helping people and businesses discover their potential. **What is Product Pints, anyway?** It's simple: Forget the stuffy presentations, Product Pints is all about meaningful connections and stimulating conversations for product people. Our diverse crowd includes everyone from aspiring PMs to seasoned CPOs, entrepreneurs, developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts. Need advice on a tricky problem? Curious what other PMs are building? Or just want to share a beer with your peers? This is the perfect opportunity to grow your network and launch some genuinely great chats! **P.S. If your company is interested in sponsoring future events in 2026, please reach out to us at [hello@productpints.com](mailto:hello@productpints.com) \- thanks\!**