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Date: Thursday October 24th  |  Time: 09:00 – 16:00  |  Location: STEAMhouse

ScaleUp Summit

The ScaleUp Summit is a jam-packed event offering invaluable advice and best practices for tech entrepreneurs at every stage of startup life. Covering topics from founder resilience to building a stellar team, the pros and cons of fundraising to creating and marketing an MVP, this not-to-be-missed event will educate and inspire you. Hear from entrepreneurs and experts who have been there, done that, and in most cases, made and sold the T-shirt!

Start/ Scale/ Succeed

Three Growth Zones

The Summit has three zones, specifically designed to give your business relevant support to aid your growth aspirations.

Startup Zone

A zone deigned specifically for early-stage tech startups and startups not yet at Series A.

Scaleup Zone

A zone deigned specifically for scaling tech companies who have already raised their Series A.

Investment Zone

A zone designed for tech companies thinking about or currently raising.

Our Speakers

Henrietta Brealey
CEO

Deirdre Bounds
Founder

Melissa Snover
Founder

 

Irene Graham OBE
CEO

Satvir Bungar
MD

 

Mike Latimer
CEO

Tim Davis
Regional Head – Primary Markets

 

Chris Blackwell
Chief People and Performance Officer

 

Dr Abena F. Dadze-Arthur
Founder & CEO

Yvonne Thompson
Founder & CEO

 

Marcus Stuttard
Head of Primary Markets

Ellie Wyburd-Edwards
Vice President

 

Emmie Cooney
Revenue Operations Director

 

Vita Woods
Innovation Manager

Geoff Turral
Co-founder

 

Louise Campton
Founder & Interim CEO

Jof Walters
CEO

 

Jason Sahota
Chairman

Elizabeth Gooch MBE
Founder & CEO

 

Suzie Archer
Director of Customer & Employee Experience

Anushka Malhotra
Head of Marketing

Davie Okeowo
Business Finance Specialist

Johnathan Dudley
Partner National Head of Corporate SME Business

Philip Cupitt
Partner

Paul Collins
Co-founder & NED

Kyle Long
Partner

Guillaume Black
CEO and co-founder

Bethan Bannister
Senior Investment Manager

David Bell
Director

Jody Tableporter
Director, Nations and Regions Investment Funds

Jakubbily White
Head of Business Development

Hilary Smyth-Allen
Executive Director

Andrea Tittel
Director of Innovation, Customer and Propositions

Charlotte Holloway
Policy Associate

Dan Carins
Finance and Productivity Lead

George Hall
Marketing Manager

Timothy Williamson
Sales Director

Agenda

08:00-09:00 - Registration & Exhibition

An opportunity to network to explore the exhibition arena

09:00-09:30 - Opening Remarks and Welcome

Welcome from Naomi Nash, Head of Community and Collaboration at TechWM and Harris Beider, BCU Pro Vice Chancellor Engagement, Enterprise and Innovation

09:30-09:50 - Shaping a New Era: Scaling UK Tech Firms for the Future

Join the Future Governance Forum, in partnership with Boardwave, as they present insights from their upcoming new research, exploring strategies to accelerate growth for UK tech firms under the new Government.

Agenda: StartUp Zone

10:00-10:45 - Barclays Eagle Labs - Founder focus – off script: Navigating the messy middle from startup to scaleup

Are you an entrepreneur seeking fresh perspectives? If so, this is the session you’ve been waiting for, where in this unique event, you—the audience—will lead the conversation.

Come prepared for a dynamic discussion hosted by Barclays Eagle Labs, with founders who’ve navigated the rollercoaster from startup to scaleup, delving into the real challenges and mindset shift to balance the growth with the grind of building a successful business.

This session provides no-nonsense advice on overcoming roadblocks, managing burnout, securing funding, scaling successful teams and mastering the balance between ambition and execution.

This isn’t your typical fireside chat. We’re ditching the script, and nothing is off-limits in this founder-first session with tips that could help you on your journey to the next big breakthrough.

10:45-11:00 - Coffee Break

Grab a coffee and have a chat

11:00-12:30 - Scaling Up in Createch

Join the West Midlands Combined Authority, Create Central, Creative UK and Invest Coventry & Warwickshire are collaborating to deliver an inspiring and informative event focussing on helping your creative business grow and thrive.

12:30-13:30 - Lunch

Opportunity to network over lunch and discuss startup journey with your peers

13:30-14:30 - Panel : Startup Priorities

Hear from experts on startup topics such as People, MVP, Legal, Sales and Marketing, and the importance of your network.

14:30-15:00 - CLIC4WM Ambition : Establishing the Centre for Challenge-Led Innovation for the region

Join Vita Woods, Innovation Manager at STEAMhouse as she unveils the exciting CLIC4WM Ambition—empowering businesses to innovate with AI, digital solutions, and tackle regulatory hurdles through the Challenge-Led Innovation (CLI) approach.

15:00-15:15 - Coffee Break & Networking

Grab a coffee and have a chat

15:15-16:00 - Fireside Chat with Nourish3d

Lessons from a Scaleup. Head from West Midlands-based Scaleup Nourished on their incredible journey, lessons learned and best practices to grow your business successfully.

Agenda: ScaleUp Zone

10:00-10:45 - Mindsets Matter: The Human Factor in Scaling Up

CEO of Mindset Dynamics, an Operating Division of the University of Birmingham shares insights into the way we think and how to scale your people as well as your bottom line.

10:45-11:00 - Coffee Break

Grab a coffee and have a chat

11:00-11:45 - Tackling ScaleUp Challenges: Money; Markets; People

Hear from London Stock Exchange and Scaleup Institute on how to manage money, markets and people.

11:45-12:30 - Talent at Scale Panel Discussion

Hosted by SF Recruitment, join the discussion with scaleups on how to grow, train and retain your senior leadership teams.

12:30-13:30 - Lunch

Opportunity to network over lunch and discuss the journey of scaling business with peers

13:30-14:30 - Scaling Smart: 5 Key Lessons from 12 Months of Growth

George Hall, Marketing Manager at Good Growth, will share five critical lessons learned from a year of rapid expansion, during which they nearly doubled their headcount, refined their proposition, and delivered remarkable results for clients.

14:30-15:15 - Keynote - Founder Resilience

Join Louise Campton, Founder CEO at Primary Goal, as she shares the enormous ups and downs that come with scaling a business and how she has tackled some seemingly impossible challenges.

15:15-16:00 - Fireside Chat with Crowe

Speak with the National Head of Corporate SME Business of Crowe who has 40 years of experience supporting companies through their growth journeys.

Agenda: Workshop Zone

10:30-11:00 - ICON: Selling Your Tech Business - Planning for Success

For a tech founder, there are few challenges that compare to selling your business.

Whilst the weight of an M&A process can feel somewhat overwhelming, planning for a successful exit can begin long before the start of a formal transaction – and make life easier further down the line.

As part of Birmingham Tech Week’s ScaleUp Summit, ICON’s Simon Moynagh will share his insight and practical steps for tech leaders to get their business in deal-ready shape – from executing against a solid strategy to establishing effective processes.

Click here to register

11:45-12:30 - BDO: Are you ready for Exit? Maximise value before and after a transaction.

Join industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs as they delve into strategies for maximising business value at every stage of the transaction process. This panel event will cover essential topics such as preparing your business for sale, identifying potential risks and pitfalls, optimising operational efficiency, and ensuring a smooth transition post-transaction.

Whether you are contemplating an exit or actively planning one, this event is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to succeed. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the best and network with peers who are on the same journey.

Spaces are limited for this event so please use the form to express your interest in attending and a member of our team will be in touch.

Click here to register

13:15-14:00 - Barclays Eagle Labs: Female Founder Focus- Navigating the Roller Coaster from Startup to Scaleup

Calling all female founders in tech! Are you looking for some fresh perspectives on growth for your business? If so, this is the workshop you’ve been waiting for.

Join us for a dynamic, interactive session hosted by Barclays Eagle Labs and AccelerateHER where you—the audience—will lead the conversation. Whether you’re looking to launch, or on the rollercoaster of navigating the scale up journey – with live problem solving and interactive discussions, nothing is off-limits in this founder first session.

We know the power of networks and so as part of this immersive workshop, you’ll also have the chance to connect with fellow founders, exchange ideas, and build relationships that could lead to your next big breakthrough.

Sign up now to secure your spot and come ready to engage, challenge and learn.

Click here to register

14:15-15:00 - rbl Agency: Telling brand stories that succeed in the most human of ways

Join an engaging and interactive brand workshop, where you’ll explore how RBL shaped the narrative for the tech ecosystem in the West Midlands – ‘making tech succeed in the most human of places’ – and how you can connect and capitalise on this.

Through practical tools and techniques you’ll be empowered to go beyond product and harness the power of brand to build a compelling and authentic story for your organisation that will drive growth and future success.

Click here to register

Agenda: Investment Zone

10:00-10:45 - Lessons from raising $60m... How do you spend money wisely?

Hear from West Midlands-based scaleup AutoGen AI who have successfully raised $60m in VC funding, how to manage finances, investors and rapid growth.

10:45-11:00 - Coffee Break

Grab a coffee and have a chat

11:00-12:30 - The Pros and Cons of Fundraising Keynote and Panel

Wondering what type of investment is best for your business, if any at all? Hear from experts on the pros and cons of raising funds for your startup.

12:30-13:30 - Lunch

An opportunity to network over lunch and discuss the investment landscape with your peers

13:30-14:30 - How businesses secure funding for growth?

The £400m Midlands Engine Investment Fund II offers a range of commercial finance options with debt finance from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million. The fund covers the whole of Midlands, including the West Midlands, East Midlands and South East Midlands.

A panel session providing an opportunity to hear directly from the fund’s appointed fund managers and two businesses, Neupulse and Mechatronic, who have recently received investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II. There will also be an opportunity for the audience to ask the panellists questions.

14:30-15:15 - Keynote: Deirdre Bounds - Founder, Moonrise

How I started up a business from a bedsit and turned it into the world’s biggest gap year travel company