Catalysing AI-native FinTech Startups
We scout conviction-driven founders solving real problems, sharpen their story and numbers, and connect them to venture investors.
Our Process
Catalysing AI-native FinTech Startups
We scout conviction-driven founders solving real problems, sharpen their story and numbers, and connect them to venture investors.
Our Process
Catalysing AI-native FinTech Startups
We scout conviction-driven founders solving real problems, sharpen their story and numbers, and connect them to venture investors.
Our Process
Scout
Source talent
Shape
Refine ventures
Connect
Strategic links
Scout
Source talent
Shape
Refine ventures
Connect
Strategic links
Scout
Source talent
Shape
Refine ventures
Connect
Strategic links
VC-aligned strategy · Capital-ready deck + model · 40+ investors in network
VC-aligned strategy · Capital-ready deck + model · 40+ investors in network
VC-aligned strategy · Capital-ready deck + model · 40+ investors in network
Our Team
Purpose-driven. Grit-focused.
Shailen Verma
Managing Partner
Shailen is Founder of Exeter’s VC Society, ex-macro trading intern, and now building Routely. He blends hedge fund insight with founder grit to back high-velocity student ventures.
Nikoloz Khodeli
Studio Ops
Nikoloz leads Studio Ops at X Catalyst. A VC Society co-founder and ex-corporate banking intern, he blends startup agility with finance precision to deliver investor-ready ventures.
Alexander Kanushkin
CFPO
Alexander is CFPO at X Catalyst. A Business Econ student and ex-IB intern, he anchors our deals in sharp valuation, disciplined unit economics, and investor-ready financial narratives.
Shailen Verma is the Founder of Exeter’s Venture Capital Society and Managing Partner at X Catalyst. He previously worked on a macro trading desk at a global hedge fund, where he built FX and rates models used by portfolio managers. His background also includes AI policy research cited by the UK Home Office. Shailen is currently building Routely, a travel-fintech startup tackling rail and flight disruption. A founder since high school, when he joined a Silicon Valley-based startup incubator, he blends macro-level rigor with ground-level operator instincts. At X Catalyst, he drives strategic direction and ensures every student-led venture moves faster, smarter, and with real market intent.
Shailen Verma
Managing Partner
Nikoloz Khodeli leads Studio Operations at X Catalyst. A Marketing and Management student at Exeter, he brings finance discipline from a corporate-banking internship at Bank of Georgia, where he built integrated models, cash-flow projections, and DCFs for credit proposals. On campus, he co-founded Exeter’s Venture Capital Society and leads the analyst training pipeline. Nikoloz also worked on LinkLift, a student ride-sharing startup. His ability to bridge structured finance and agile execution ensures every X Catalyst engagement stays on scope, on budget, and investor-ready.
Nikoloz Khodeli
Head of Studio Operations
Alexander Kanushkin is Chief Financial and Portfolio Officer at X Catalyst. A Business Economics student at Exeter, he has valued IPOs and M&A targets as an investment banking intern at VB Partners and produced equity research for Wall Street Oasis. He led the winning team in the All-Russian Case Championship, refining the modeling and strategy skills he now applies to X Catalyst's deal screening and financial analytics. Alexander anchors the studio’s advisory work in disciplined unit economics, rigorous valuation, and investor-grade financial narratives.
Alexander Kanushkin
Chief Financial & Portfolio Officer
Shailen Verma
Managing Partner
Shailen is Founder of Exeter’s VC Society, ex-macro trading intern, and now building Routely. He blends hedge fund insight with founder grit to back high-velocity student ventures.
Nikoloz Khodeli
Studio Ops
Nikoloz leads Studio Ops at X Catalyst. A VC Society co-founder and ex-corporate banking intern, he blends startup agility with finance precision to deliver investor-ready ventures.
Alexander Kanushkin
CFPO
Alexander is CFPO at X Catalyst. A Business Econ student and ex-IB intern, he anchors our deals in sharp valuation, disciplined unit economics, and investor-ready financial narratives.
Our Team
Purpose-driven. Grit-focused.
Shailen Verma
Managing Partner
Shailen is Founder of Exeter’s VC Society, ex-macro trading intern, and now building Routely. He blends hedge fund insight with founder grit to back high-velocity student ventures.
Nikoloz Khodeli
Studio Ops
Nikoloz leads Studio Ops at X Catalyst. A VC Society co-founder and ex-corporate banking intern, he blends startup agility with finance precision to deliver investor-ready ventures.
Alexander Kanushkin
CFPO
Alexander is CFPO at X Catalyst. A Business Econ student and ex-IB intern, he anchors our deals in sharp valuation, disciplined unit economics, and investor-ready financial narratives.
Shailen Verma is the Founder of Exeter’s Venture Capital Society and Managing Partner at X Catalyst. He previously worked on a macro trading desk at a global hedge fund, where he built FX and rates models used by portfolio managers. His background also includes AI policy research cited by the UK Home Office. Shailen is currently building Routely, a travel-fintech startup tackling rail and flight disruption. A founder since high school, when he joined a Silicon Valley-based startup incubator, he blends macro-level rigor with ground-level operator instincts. At X Catalyst, he drives strategic direction and ensures every student-led venture moves faster, smarter, and with real market intent.
Shailen Verma
Managing Partner
Nikoloz Khodeli leads Studio Operations at X Catalyst. A Marketing and Management student at Exeter, he brings finance discipline from a corporate-banking internship at Bank of Georgia, where he built integrated models, cash-flow projections, and DCFs for credit proposals. On campus, he co-founded Exeter’s Venture Capital Society and leads the analyst training pipeline. Nikoloz also worked on LinkLift, a student ride-sharing startup. His ability to bridge structured finance and agile execution ensures every X Catalyst engagement stays on scope, on budget, and investor-ready.
Nikoloz Khodeli
Head of Studio Operations
Alexander Kanushkin is Chief Financial and Portfolio Officer at X Catalyst. A Business Economics student at Exeter, he has valued IPOs and M&A targets as an investment banking intern at VB Partners and produced equity research for Wall Street Oasis. He led the winning team in the All-Russian Case Championship, refining the modeling and strategy skills he now applies to X Catalyst's deal screening and financial analytics. Alexander anchors the studio’s advisory work in disciplined unit economics, rigorous valuation, and investor-grade financial narratives.
Alexander Kanushkin
Chief Financial & Portfolio Officer
Shailen Verma
Managing Partner
Shailen is Founder of Exeter’s VC Society, ex-macro trading intern, and now building Routely. He blends hedge fund insight with founder grit to back high-velocity student ventures.
Nikoloz Khodeli
Studio Ops
Nikoloz leads Studio Ops at X Catalyst. A VC Society co-founder and ex-corporate banking intern, he blends startup agility with finance precision to deliver investor-ready ventures.
Alexander Kanushkin
CFPO
Alexander is CFPO at X Catalyst. A Business Econ student and ex-IB intern, he anchors our deals in sharp valuation, disciplined unit economics, and investor-ready financial narratives.
Our Team
Purpose-driven. Grit-focused.
Shailen Verma
Managing Partner
Shailen is Founder of Exeter’s VC Society, ex-macro trading intern, and now building Routely. He blends hedge fund insight with founder grit to back high-velocity student ventures.
Nikoloz Khodeli
Studio Ops
Nikoloz leads Studio Ops at X Catalyst. A VC Society co-founder and ex-corporate banking intern, he blends startup agility with finance precision to deliver investor-ready ventures.
Alexander Kanushkin
CFPO
Alexander is CFPO at X Catalyst. A Business Econ student and ex-IB intern, he anchors our deals in sharp valuation, disciplined unit economics, and investor-ready financial narratives.
Shailen Verma is the Founder of Exeter’s Venture Capital Society and Managing Partner at X Catalyst. He previously worked on a macro trading desk at a global hedge fund, where he built FX and rates models used by portfolio managers. His background also includes AI policy research cited by the UK Home Office. Shailen is currently building Routely, a travel-fintech startup tackling rail and flight disruption. A founder since high school, when he joined a Silicon Valley-based startup incubator, he blends macro-level rigor with ground-level operator instincts. At X Catalyst, he drives strategic direction and ensures every student-led venture moves faster, smarter, and with real market intent.
Shailen Verma
Managing Partner
Nikoloz Khodeli leads Studio Operations at X Catalyst. A Marketing and Management student at Exeter, he brings finance discipline from a corporate-banking internship at Bank of Georgia, where he built integrated models, cash-flow projections, and DCFs for credit proposals. On campus, he co-founded Exeter’s Venture Capital Society and leads the analyst training pipeline. Nikoloz also worked on LinkLift, a student ride-sharing startup. His ability to bridge structured finance and agile execution ensures every X Catalyst engagement stays on scope, on budget, and investor-ready.
Nikoloz Khodeli
Head of Studio Operations
Alexander Kanushkin is Chief Financial and Portfolio Officer at X Catalyst. A Business Economics student at Exeter, he has valued IPOs and M&A targets as an investment banking intern at VB Partners and produced equity research for Wall Street Oasis. He led the winning team in the All-Russian Case Championship, refining the modeling and strategy skills he now applies to X Catalyst's deal screening and financial analytics. Alexander anchors the studio’s advisory work in disciplined unit economics, rigorous valuation, and investor-grade financial narratives.
Alexander Kanushkin
Chief Financial & Portfolio Officer
Shailen Verma
Managing Partner
Shailen is Founder of Exeter’s VC Society, ex-macro trading intern, and now building Routely. He blends hedge fund insight with founder grit to back high-velocity student ventures.
Nikoloz Khodeli
Studio Ops
Nikoloz leads Studio Ops at X Catalyst. A VC Society co-founder and ex-corporate banking intern, he blends startup agility with finance precision to deliver investor-ready ventures.
Alexander Kanushkin
CFPO
Alexander is CFPO at X Catalyst. A Business Econ student and ex-IB intern, he anchors our deals in sharp valuation, disciplined unit economics, and investor-ready financial narratives.
Louis Clement-Davies
Venture Network Lead
Louis is Venture Network Lead at X Catalyst and an Economics student at Exeter. He blends VC training from Bocconi with sharp communication skills to drive founder–investor relations.
Toby Podbur
Startup Pipeline Lead
Toby
Harrison Ellis
Head of Outreach
Harrison
Louis Clement-Davies is Venture Network Lead at X Catalyst. A driven Economics student at the University of Exeter, he blends a strong academic foundation with a practical understanding of financial markets. He honed his valuation and deal-making skills during the Bocconi Undergraduate Summer School on Venture Capital and Private Equity, and has applied them in roles such as his internship at Cambridge Mind Technologies. Passionate about connecting people and ideas, Louis leverages sharp analytical and communication skills to build and expand strategic partnerships. His proactive, results-oriented approach helps X Catalyst ventures tap into the right networks at the right time.
Louis Clement-Davies
Venture Network Lead
Toby Podbur
Toby Podbur
Startup Pipeline Lead
Harrison Ellis
Harrison Ellis
Head of Engagement Outreach
Louis Clement-Davies
Venture Network Lead
Louis is Venture Network Lead at X Catalyst and an Economics student at Exeter. He blends VC training from Bocconi with sharp communication skills to drive founder–investor relations.
Toby Podbur
Startup Pipeline Lead
Toby
Harrison Ellis
Head of Engagement Outreach
Harrison
Interested? Connect with us.
Let’s build the future—together.
shailen@xcatalyst.co.uk
Louis Clement-Davies
Venture Network Lead
Louis is Venture Network Lead at X Catalyst and an Economics student at Exeter. He blends VC training from Bocconi with sharp communication skills to drive founder–investor relations.
Toby Podbur
Startup Pipeline Lead
Toby
Harrison Ellis
Head of Outreach
Harrison
Louis Clement-Davies is Venture Network Lead at X Catalyst. A driven Economics student at the University of Exeter, he blends a strong academic foundation with a practical understanding of financial markets. He honed his valuation and deal-making skills during the Bocconi Undergraduate Summer School on Venture Capital and Private Equity, and has applied them in roles such as his internship at Cambridge Mind Technologies. Passionate about connecting people and ideas, Louis leverages sharp analytical and communication skills to build and expand strategic partnerships. His proactive, results-oriented approach helps X Catalyst ventures tap into the right networks at the right time.
Louis Clement-Davies
Venture Network Lead
Toby Podbur
Toby Podbur
Startup Pipeline Lead
Harrison Ellis
Harrison Ellis
Head of Engagement Outreach
Louis Clement-Davies
Venture Network Lead
Louis is Venture Network Lead at X Catalyst and an Economics student at Exeter. He blends VC training from Bocconi with sharp communication skills to drive founder–investor relations.
Toby Podbur
Startup Pipeline Lead
Toby
Harrison Ellis
Head of Engagement Outreach
Harrison
Interested? Connect with us.
Let’s build the future—together.
shailen@xcatalyst.co.uk
Louis Clement-Davies
Venture Network Lead
Louis is Venture Network Lead at X Catalyst and an Economics student at Exeter. He blends VC training from Bocconi with sharp communication skills to drive founder–investor relations.
Toby Podbur
Startup Pipeline Lead
Toby
Harrison Ellis
Head of Outreach
Harrison
Louis Clement-Davies is Venture Network Lead at X Catalyst. A driven Economics student at the University of Exeter, he blends a strong academic foundation with a practical understanding of financial markets. He honed his valuation and deal-making skills during the Bocconi Undergraduate Summer School on Venture Capital and Private Equity, and has applied them in roles such as his internship at Cambridge Mind Technologies. Passionate about connecting people and ideas, Louis leverages sharp analytical and communication skills to build and expand strategic partnerships. His proactive, results-oriented approach helps X Catalyst ventures tap into the right networks at the right time.
Louis Clement-Davies
Venture Network Lead
Toby Podbur
Toby Podbur
Startup Pipeline Lead
Harrison Ellis
Harrison Ellis
Head of Engagement Outreach
Louis Clement-Davies
Venture Network Lead
Louis is Venture Network Lead at X Catalyst and an Economics student at Exeter. He blends VC training from Bocconi with sharp communication skills to drive founder–investor relations.
Toby Podbur
Startup Pipeline Lead
Toby
Harrison Ellis
Head of Engagement Outreach
Harrison
Interested? Connect with us.
Let’s build the future—together.
shailen@xcatalyst.co.uk