KEYNOTE STAGE
Wednesday 8th October
DAY 1
Welcome to the Festival of Entrepreneurs
Time: 09:30–09:45
Theme
Angle
INTRODUCTION
Chairman remarks
Speakers
Sir Liam Fox
Chair, Festival of Entrepreneurs
The state of scale-up: why this moment matters
Time: 09:50–10:20
Theme
Angle
SCALING UP
Overview
Speakers
Irene Graham
CEO, ScaleUp Institute
Can Britain compete? What growing businesses need to thrive in 2025 and beyond
Time: 10:30–11:20
Theme
Angle
Speakers
ECONOMY
Productivity
Martin McTague OBE
Chair, FSB
Louis Taylor CBE
CEO, British Business Bank
Janine Birt
CEO, Innovate Finance
Anthony Impey
CEO, Be the Business
Moderator: Sir Liam Fox
Chair, Festival of Entrepreneurs
From start-up to £4.1 billion: building one of Britain’s biggest success stories
Time: 11:30–12:10
Theme
Angle
FIRESIDE CHAT
The story of HomeServe
Speakers
Richard Harpin
Founder, HomeServe
Host: Alex Chisnall
Co-Founder, Festival of Entrepreneurs
AI with impact: how founders are using it to scale smarter
Time: 12:20–13:00
Theme
Angle
AI
Productivity
Speakers
Piers Linney
Co-Founder, Implement AI
James Smith
Founder, Critical Cloud
Dominic Kos
Founder, Clever Fox AI
Sabrina Stocker
Founder, 2 Comma PR
Moderator: Andrew Walker
Scaling a business lessons from Social Chain, ANNA and Polyhedra
Time: 12:20–13:00
Theme
Angle
GROWTH
Growth
Speakers
Dominic McGregor
Founder, Fearless Adventure
Sam Pearton
Co-Founder, Polyhedra
Moderator: Jeannette Linfoot
Boris Diakonov
Co-Founder, ANNA
Talent that scales: how top founders build teams that drive growth
Time: 14:00–14:40
Theme
Angle
TALENT
Building teams
Speakers
Jo Dalton
Founder, JD&Co
Roei Samuel
Founder, Connectd
Niki Avram
Founder, Niki Avraam & Workforce Expert, Workwell Labs
Simon Gardiner
Co-Founder, Carrington West
Moderator: Rob Hanna
Venture-backed: what today’s investors are really looking for
Time: 14:50–15:30
Theme
Angle
INVESTMENT
Venture capital
Speakers
Dom McGregor
Founder, Fearless Adventures
Rupert Lyle
Fund Principal, West Midlands Co-Investment Fund
Sarah Finegan
Investor, Antler
Moderator: Andrew Walker
From startup shelf to national brand: how consumer founders scale fast
Time: 15:40–16:20
Theme
Angle
GROWTH
Consumer brand growth
Speakers
Claire Warner
Founder, Æcorn Aperitifs
Laura Fullerton
Founder, Monk
Melissa Snover
Founder, Remedy Health
Mark Rushmore
Co-Founder, SURI Toothbrush
Moderator: Alex Chisnall
Co-Founder, Festival of Entrepreneurs
The AI shift: why every business is about to change — and how founders can lead it
Time: 16:25–17:15
Theme
Angle
FIRESIDE CHAT
Building an AI-only business
Speakers
Piers Linney
Co-Founder, Implement AI
Host: Alex Chisnall
Co-Founder, Festival of Entrepreneurs
The story of LUSH: building a global brand with values at its heart
Time: 17:20–18:00
Theme
Angle
FIRESIDE CHAT
The story of LUSH Cosmetics
Speakers
Rowena Bird
Co-Founder, LUSH
Host: Alex Chisnall
Co-Founder, Festival of Entrepreneurs
KEYNOTE STAGE
Thursday 9th October
DAY 2
Welcome to Day Two: driving scale-up success across the UK
Time: 09:30–09:45
Theme
Angle
INTRODUCTION
Chairman’s remarks
Speakers
Sir Liam Fox
Chair, Festival of Entrepreneurs
When women lead: the founders and funders fuelling smarter growth
Time: 09:50–10:35
Theme
Angle
FEMALE FOUNDERS
Raising capital
Speakers
Nell Daly
Founder, Revenge Capital
Katie Partridge
CEO, Saphira Group
Heba Bevan OBE
Founder, Utterberry
Moderator: Jeannette Linfoot
Host, Brave Bold Brilliant podcast
The founder’s edge: mindset strategies from the world of elite sport
Time: 10:40–11:10
Theme
Angle
MINDSET
High performance
Speakers
Pete Cohen
Coach
Host: James Burtt
Co-Host, Business Broadcast Podcast
Who supports the CEO? Why great founders don’t lead alone
Time: 11:20–11:55
Theme
Angle
LEADERSHIP
Mentoring and support
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Family, focus and fast growth: how Absolute Collagen became a UK success story
Time: 12:05–12:40
Theme
Angle
GROWTH
Scaling up
Speakers
Maxine Laceby
Co-Founder, Absolute Collagen
Darcy Laceby
Co-Founder, Absolute Collagen
Moderator: Alex Chisnall
From protein bar to powerhouse: scaling the Grenade brand
Time: 12:50–13:35
Theme
Angle
FIRESIDE CHAT
The story of Grenade
Speakers
Juliet Barratt
Co-Founder, Grenade
Host: Jeannette Linfoot
Host, Brave Bold Brilliant podcast
The story of Ted Baker: creativity, culture and global brand building
Time: 13:45–14:30
Theme
Angle
FIRESIDE CHAT
The story of Ted Baker
Speakers
Ray Kelvin CBE
Founder, Ted Baker
Host: Alex Chisnall
Co-Founder, Festival of Entrepreneurs
Scaling smart: what fast-growth founders do
differently
Time: 14:40–15:25
Theme
Angle
GROWTH
Scaling up
Speakers
Raj Thiruchelvarajah
Founder, Hytro
Darren O’Reilly
Co-Founder, WholeSupp
Simon Leslie
Founder, INK Media
Moderator: Alex Chisnall
Under 30, overachieving: young founders building serious businesses
Time: 15:35–16:20
Theme
Angle
YOUTH
Under 30
Speakers
Catalina Valentino
Co-Founder, Elixr
Darcy Laceby
Co-Founder, Absolute Collagen
Sabrina Stocker
Founder, Two Comma PR
FUNDING STAGE
Wednesday 8th October
DAY 1
How to get a Start Up Loan: what founders need to know
Time: 10:25–11:00
Theme
Angle
START UP LOANS
How to get a Start Up Loan
Speakers
Chloe Fenn
Startup Lead, Virgin Startups
Moderator: Lesley Thomas
Host, Let’s Talk Money & More Podcast
Getting angel investment: how early-stage founders earn investor backing
Time: 11:10–11:45
Theme
Angle
ANGEL INVESTMENT
Understanding angels
Speakers
Ben Cooper
CEO, Bristol Angels
Idranil Ghosh
Investor, Tiger Hill Capital
Moderator: LesleyThomas
Host, Let’s Talk Money & More Podcast
How lenders think: how to prepare your business for £250k–£500k debt finance
Time: 11:55–12:30
Theme
Angle
INVESTMENT READY
How loan lenders think
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Private equity explained: what founders need to know before raising
Time: 12:40–13:15
Theme
Angle
PRIVATE EQUITY / VC / FAMILY OFFICE
Myth-busting the PE model
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Understanding debt finance: what type of loan is right for your business?
Time: 13:30–14:05
Theme
Angle
DEBT FINANCE
Debt types 101
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Scale through acquisition: how to fund and structure your first business buy
Time: 13:30–14:05
Theme
Angle
ACQUISITION FINANCE
Deal structure deep-dive
Speakers
Gary Lennon
Co-Founder, BizBritain
Equity-ready: how to prepare your business for outside investment
Time: 15:45–16:20
Theme
Angle
INVESTMENT READY
Equity mechanics 101
Speakers
Gary Lennon
Co-Founder, BizBritain
Unlocking R&D tax relief: using pure maths to maximise your claim
Time: 16:30–17:05
Theme
Angle
R&D TAX
R&D as a funding source
Speakers
Sheena Ramchurn
Advisor, RDA
Adeline Bragg
Advisor, RDA
Grant funding unlocked: where to find it and how to win it
Time: 17:10–17:35
Theme
Angle
What’s available and for whom
FUNDING STAGE
Thursday 9th October
DAY 2
Start strong: how to use a Start Up Loan to launch and grow
Time: 10:25–11:00
Theme
Angle
START UP LOANS
Next-stage readiness
Speakers
Matt Gubba
CEO, BizBritain
Beyond the bank: new ways for SMEs to access growth funding
Time: 11:10–11:45
Theme
Angle
ALTERNATIVE FINANCE
Speed & flexibility
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Rejected? What to do next if investors say no
Time: 11:55–12:30
Theme
Angle
INVESTMENT READY
Decode the No
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Debt or equity? How to choose the right funding for your growth
Time: 12:40–13:15
Theme
Angle
DEBT vs EQUITY
Understanding funding stages
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Funded by growth: how revenue-based finance works (and when to use it)
Time: 13:30–14:05
Theme
Angle
REVENUE BASED FINANCING
Recurring revenue
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Get funded: practical strategies for female founders raising capital
Time: 14:15–14:50
Theme
Angle
FEMALE FOUNDERS
Female founder raises
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Think like a CFO: how to structure and run your raise the right way
Time: 15:00–15:35
Theme
Angle
INVESTMENT READY
CFO perspective
Nail the pitch: how to tell your story, win trust, and raise capital
Time: 15:45–16:20
Theme
Angle
PITCHING
Art of the pitch
Speakers
Kostas Mavroulakis
Founder, Empact Ventures
TECH, AI & MARKETING
Wednesday 8th October
DAY 1
Stage sponsored by Constant Contact
From ransomware to phishing: securing your SME in 2025
Time: 10:25–11:00
Theme
Angle
CYBER SECURITY
Protection
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Inside the CMO playbook: what drives real growth in 2025
Time: 11:10–11:45
Theme
Angle
MARKETING
CMO point of view
Speakers
Gemma Adair
Founder, Riada Consultancy
Julia Payne
Founder, Fractional CMO Services
Google yourself: how to control what people see when they search you
Time: 11:55–12:30
Theme
Angle
MARKETING
Personal branding
Speakers
Ben Cantin - Kranz
Founder, ARMD
Telling the story that builds your brand
Time: 12:40–13:15
Theme
Angle
MARKETING
Brand building story
Speakers
Sonya Whittham
Founder, Story22
Do more with less: how to stay top-of-mind
Time: 13:30–14:05
Theme
Angle
EMAIL MARKETING
Constant Contact
Speakers
Constant Contact
Build once, run forever: how smart systems let you grow without hiring
Time: 14:15–14:50
Theme
Angle
AUTOMATION
Tech stack
Speakers
From content to community: how founders are building loyal followings
Time: 15:00–15:35
Theme
Angle
MARKETING
Video content
Speakers
Anthony Smith
Director of Trailers, Diary of a CEO
Charles Black
Founder, SEN Tech
Rich Beedle
Head of Community, South West
Unlocking smarter financial strategy for founders
Time: 15:45–16:20
Theme
Angle
AI & FINANCE
AI meets CFO
Speakers
David Addersone
Co-Founder, Yotopia
Humans + machines: building a content engine with AI
Time: 16:30–17:05
Theme
Angle
AI & CREATIVE CONTENT
Content engine
Speakers
Smarter ads, better outcomes: how AI is reshaping digital advertising
Time: 17:10–17:35
Theme
Angle
MARKETING
Advertising
Speakers
TECH, AI & MARKETING
Thursday 9th October
DAY 2
Stage sponsored by Constant Contact
Owning your AI: scaling smart without handing over your data
Time: 10:25–11:00
Theme
Angle
CLOUD
Privacy
Speakers
James Smith
Founder, Critical Cloud
Implementing AI when you're not a tech company
Time: 11:10–11:45
Theme
Angle
AI
Implementing AI
Speakers
Dr Alook Shukla
Co-Founder, Implement AI
Build a brand they’ll remember: how story drives growth
Time: 11:55–12:30
Theme
Angle
MARKETING
Storytelling
Speakers
Sonya Whittham
Founder, Story22
Retention is the new growth: email that brings customers back
Time: 12:40–13:15
Theme
Angle
MARKETING
Email marketing
Speakers
Constant Contact
How AI is reshaping the way entrepreneurs sell and scale
Time: 13:30–14:05
Theme
Angle
AI
Sales
Speakers
Dominic Kos
Founder, Clever Fox AI
The science of persuasion: how AI and behavioural data are changing the way people buy
Time: 14:15–14:50
Theme
Angle
AI
Sales psychology
Speakers
Built to stand out: personal branding in the age of AI
Time: 15:00–15:35
Theme
Angle
MARKETING
Personal branding
Speakers
Tru Powell
CEO, Black Business Magazine
Hayley Appleby-Burt
Founder, Orange Lamb
The new content engine: how entrepreneurs are using AI to win on social
Time: 15:45–16:20
Theme
Angle
INTRODUCTION
Social media
Speakers
Christina Robinson
Founder, Green Umbrella
SCALE UP STAGE
Wednesday 8th October
DAY 1
From ideas to impact: embedding innovation in your business DNA
Time: 10:25–11:00
Theme
Angle
INNOVATION
Unlocking growth
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
The mindset for scale: thinking bigger, acting bolder
Time: 11:10–11:45
Theme
Angle
MINDSET
Decision making
Speakers
Jeanette Linfoot
Mentor, Jeanette Linfoot Associates
Scaling people: building teams that drive performance
Time: 11:55–12:30
Theme
Angle
TALENT & TEAM
Developing people
Speakers
Susan Brewer
Founder, Insight Development
From founder to CEO: making the leadership leap
Time: 12:40–13:15
Theme
Angle
LEADERSHIP
Unlocking strategic support
Speakers
Mike Harris
Founder, Strategus Consulting
David Stubberfield
Founder, Carter Consultancy
Unlocking operational maturity: how great businesses transition beyond the founder
Time: 13:30–14:05
Theme
Angle
CONSULTING
Operational scaling
Speakers
Chris Charlton
Founder, Namaste
Robert Peopall
Director, Namaste
Smart finance for fast growth: what every founder needs beyond the basics
Time: 14:15–14:50
Theme
Angle
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Finance support
Speakers
Paul Barnes
Founder, Cloud Account (CASS)
Think bigger, grow local: how to tap into the regional support on your doorstep
Time: 15:00–15:35
Theme
Angle
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Regional support
Speakers
University of Wolverhampton
Scaling culture: designing a workplace that drives performance and wellbeing
Time: 15:45–16:20
Theme
Angle
TALENT & TEAMS
Culture & wellbeing
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Social selling for scale-ups: turning content into customers
Time: 16:30–17:05
Theme
Angle
SALES
Speakers
Miles Croft
Founder, Croft Productions
Performance culture: leading with clarity, energy and expectation
Time: 17:10–17:45
Theme
Angle
LEADERSHIP
Culture
Speakers
Melissa Curran
Performance Director, Modern Mind Group
SCALE UP STAGE
Thursday 9th October
DAY 2
Talent in plain sight: the untapped value of neurodiverse hiring
Time: 10:25–11:00
Theme
Angle
TALENT & TEAMS
Neurodiversity
Speakers
Phillipa Nicholson
Founder, Recruit Inclusively
The mental model of a scale-up CEO: from reactive to deliberate
Time: 11:10–11:45
Theme
Angle
MINDSET
Neurodiversity
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Winning the talent race: how scale-ups attract and retain top performers
Time: 11:55–12:30
Theme
Angle
TALENT & TEAMS
Recruiting
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
Leading with EQ: how emotionally intelligent founders scale stronger teams
Time: 12:40–13:15
Theme
Angle
MINDSET
Leadership
Speakers
Megan Stachini
Founder, Intrinsic
Peter Clark - Lewis
Founder, MA Reimagine Learning
Turn your IP into equity: how innovation becomes a balance sheet asset
Time: 11:55–12:30
Theme
Angle
INNOVATION
IP
Speakers
Jeremy Tear
Director, RDA
Scaling at the right pace – here’s what I learned from Allplants
Time: 14:15–14:50
Theme
Angle
SCALE-UP
Lessons learned
Speakers
Jonathan Petrides
Founder, Allpants
Culture, creativity, and challenge: how diverse teams outperform
Time: 15:00–15:35
Theme
Angle
TALENT & TEAMS
Diversity
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon
The export mindset: taking your product to new markets
Time: 15:45–16:20
Theme
Angle
GLOBAL
Exporting
Speakers
Speakers will be added soon