Raiser launch party 🎉

After [n = a lot] months of late-night coding, caffeine and more than one existential “what if it all breaks?” moment, we finally did it. Yesterday we let the very first users loose inside the Raiser app.

And where did we hold our global 🌍 Raiser launch? Not in some glossy London co-working space with neon signs and overpriced lattes. We brought it home—to the Buxton Crescent Pump Room—because that’s where the whole idea was born.

Twenty leaders of local charities and community groups came to celebrate, swap war stories and get their hands on the app. Huge thanks to Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust who were the original brave souls to test my scrappy grant-fundraising system back when it was just me, a spreadsheet and a prayer. They’ve been our chief guinea pigs 🐹 ever since.

Extra high-five to co-founder and AI wizard 💡James Poulter for trekking up from London, and to Joachim Kahn for the snazzy pics.

So what’s Raiser? It’s the small-charity sidekick I wish I’d had as a fundraiser: AI that helps you tell the real story of your impact, write stronger bids and get back some precious time—without the usual cost or faff.

If you’re a small-charity leader and want in, pop your name on the waitlist (button at the top of this page!), then keep an eye on your inbox next week—there may be a juicy 50% founder’s discount code waiting for you.

Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s leftover cake calling. 🍰