Where ambitious founders meet the partners who help them scale.
3-4 November | 200 speakers | 4 stages | 150 exhibitors
Built for founders who run growing businesses.
The Festival of Entrepreneurs brings together decision-makers building real companies. Founders with revenue, teams and plans.
They attend to learn from proven operators — and to meet the partners who can help them move faster.
83% of attendees are founders or senior leaders.
Nearly half are actively exploring funding, technology or specialist services.
The conversation is commercial from the outset.
In 2026 the agenda focuses on the decisions founders are making right now — raising capital, applying AI inside the business, strengthening leadership teams, improving marketing performance and preparing for scale.
Across four stages, the speakers include founders who have built nationally recognised companies, senior leaders from major institutions, and specialists working directly with high-growth businesses.
The sessions are practical, direct and shaped around real operating experience.
Exhibit in front of 5,000 growth-focused decision-makers.
The Festival brings together founders running revenue-generating businesses from across the UK.
The visitors attend with clear priorities:
• 66% come to meet partners
• 47% are looking for technology or specialist services
• 48% are exploring funding
Across two days at the NEC, exhibitors meet founders who are actively reviewing suppliers, advisers and capital options.
The exhibition floor sits alongside four content stages and curated meet-ups, creating multiple opportunities for meaningful conversations throughout the event.
Sir Richard Harpin (Founder HomeServe)
Rowena Bird (Co-Founder LUSH Cosmetics)
Piers Linney MBE (Co-Founder Implement AI)
Ray Kelvin CBE (Founder Ted Baker)
Sir Liam Fox (Chair Festival of Entrepreneurs), Louis Taylor CBE (CEO British Business Bank), Irene Graham OBE (CEO Scale up Institute), Ian O'Donnell MBE (Director FSB), Anthony Impey (CEO Be the Business)
Maxine & Darcy Laceby (Co-Founders Absolute Collagen)
Tre Lowe (founder SOBO) Sabrina Stocker (Founder 2 Comma PR)
Juliett Barrat (Co-Founder Grenade)
Claire Warner (Co-Founder Aecorn Drinks), Melissa Snover (Founder Remedy Health), Laura Fullerton (Founder Monk)
Boris Diakonov (Co-Founder ANNA Money), Jo Dalton (Founder JD&Co), Dom McGreggor (Co-Founder Social Chain)
Heba Bevan OBE (Founder Utterberry), Rav Thiruchelvarajah (Co-Founder Hytro), Rebecca Bird (CEO Vistage)
Giovanna Forte (Founder Forte Medical)
Sir Richard Harpin (Founder - HomeServe)
Rowena Bird (Co-founder - LUSH Cosmetics)
Piers Linney MBE (Co-founder - Implement AI)
Ray Kelvin CBE (Founder - Ted Baker)
Ray Kelvin CBE (Founder - Ted Baker)
Maxine Laceby (Co-founder - Absolute Collagen)
Mark Rushmore (Co-founder - SURI Toothbrush)
Sir Liam Fox (Chair - Festival of Entrepreneurs)
Louis Taylor CBE (CEO - British Business Bank)
Melissa Snover (Founder - Get Nourish3d)
Boris Diankov (Co-founder ANNA money)
Dom McGregger (Co-Founder - Social Chain)
Catalina Valentino (Co-founder ELIXR)
Tre Lowe (Founder SOBO)
Geovana Forte (Founder - Forte Medical)
Heba Bevan OBE (Founder - Utterberry)
Testimonials from the 2025 event
“I had a fantastic experience at the Festival of Entrepreneurs. I left feeling inspired with valuable new connections.”
“Overall, the event was a brilliant platform for us”
“We exhibited and picked up many leads for our fractional c-suite services, so this is a highly recommended event.”
“The scale and energy in Festival of Entrepreneurs was fantastic.”
“Festival of Entrepreneurs was a fantastic event for Strategus Consulting. We’ll be back in 2026 with a much bigger stand.”
“The Festival of Entrepreneurs stood out for its clarity of purpose.”
“The Festival of Entrepreneurs was a great event, there was real interest in applied AI with established founders.”
“So many ideas under one roof! ”