Setting a new agenda for inclusive growth in entrepreneurship

Join us at Founderfest 2025, the UK’s premier inclusive startup event, designed to ignite innovation, build connections, and drive growth for your business.
21 June 2025, Convene 155 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3YD
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About
Speakers
Sponsors
Agenda
Tickets

What is Founderfest?

Launched in 2018, Founderfest is where visionaries, builders, and changemakers meet to create tomorrow’s businesses. From expert panels to hands-on workshops, Founderfest provides everything you need to level up your entrepreneurial journey.
With over 500 attendees and 50+ inspiring speakers, Founderfest is a powerhouse of innovation and collaboration. Attendees consistently praise the event, with 100% of surveyed participants recommending Founderfest. On average, each attendee leaves with 8 valuable new connections, making it a must-attend for entrepreneurs looking to expand their network and accelerate their growth.
Designed for every stage of your founder journey
A dedicated space for every founder—whether you're just starting out, scaling up, or ready to accelerate to the next level.

Start

Design your ultimate experience by handpicking your favourites from our dynamic line-up of panels and keynotes.

Grow

Discover how to harness new technologies, innovative funding, and inclusion to drive your business growth.

Amplify

Exceptional speakers, respected experts in their fields, eager to share insights, provide guidance, and mentor founders.

Our speakers

Founderfest 2025 offers an engaging agenda showcasing compelling debates, workshops, fireside chats, and presentations led by inspiring leaders in the entrepreneurial landscape. If you have an intriguing presentation topic or wish to contribute to a panel discussion, we welcome your application to speak at Founderfest 2025.
Babita Ambekar
Partner, CMS
David Fogel
Co-Founder, Alma Angels
Emma Rees
Executive Chair, Deployed
Florence Keelson-Anfu
Senior Manager - Private Markets, London Stock Exchange
Helen Oldham
Co-Founder, Lifted Ventures
Husayn Kassai
CEO & Founder, Quench.ai
Ifeoluwa Ogunbufunmi
Founder & Chief Strategist, SWIF
Jedidiah Ackah
Founder, Agenly
Jordan Schwarzenberger
Manager, The Sidemen
Lars Hagelmann
Head of Investment, Big Issue Invest

Pitch your business at Founderfest!

Are you an ambitious founder ready to take your business to the next level? The Founderfest 2025 Pitch Competition is your chance to showcase your startup in front of top investors, industry leaders, and an engaged audience of innovators.
Apply now
Panel sessions 2024
View more
How to Create Powerful Communities in the Startup Ecosystem
How Founders are Transforming the Food & Drink Industry
What Every Female Founder Needs to Know About Building a Lasting Brand
We would love to have you speak at Founderfest 2025
If you have an intriguing presentation topic or wish to contribute to a panel discussion, we welcome your application to speak at our event!
Become a speaker
What to Expect in 2025
 Inspirational keynotes from top entrepreneurs
Dynamic networking opportunities in an intimate setting
Hands-on workshops and skill-building masterclasses
Pitching competition with grant funding and media exposure on the line

Meet our 2025 sponsors

Interested in being a sponsor?
Register your interest

British Business Bank

We are working to ensure that people in smaller businesses have the same access to finance, no matter who they are or where in the UK they may be. People and communities are at the centre of our work on diversity and inclusion as we contribute to the ‘levelling up’ of the regions and nations of the UK. ‘Diversity and inclusion’ means many things for the Bank. Through the funds and schemes that we manage, it means ensuring that talented entrepreneurs have access to finance regardless of personal characteristics including social background, gender, ethnicity, disability or age. Across the UK, it means ensuring that the funding needs of very different businesses, in different locations, are being met. In the wider market, we deliver the Investing in Women Code* for venture capital firms, alongside other industry partners, giving the market the tools for transparency and showcasing the actions that increase investment in diverse entrepreneurs and business owners.
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CMS London

The CMS equIP programme is an accelerator that supports innovative start-ups with strong intellectual property assets by providing discounted full service legal support, mentorship, and access to CMS’s extensive international network of industry leaders, investors and like-minded entrepreneurs. In 2023, we officially launched the equIP embRace campaign which marks our continued commitment to fostering diversity within the entrepreneurial landscape. Our primary goal is to amplify opportunities for diverse entrepreneurs by increasing their representation in our programme. As with our #LeadHers campaign, equIP embRACE fosters partnerships with third parties with the same aim to do as much as we can to ensure equal opportunities for all founders. For more information, please contact us.
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Lloyds

For over 250 years, Lloyds has been providing expert support and guidance to households, business and communities of Britain. Our expertise and understanding is built on this experience, providing financial confidence, support and peace of mind for customers of every generation and every community. Lloyds are committed to supporting families and businesses, helping them to take the next step, whatever that may be. Lloyds, by your side. Find out more about the work we’re doing to create a more equitable landscape for Black entrepreneurs.
Black Business Support Hub
Black British in Business & Proud Report 2022
Lloyds Academy
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London Stock Exchange

London Stock Exchange is proud to set the stage for your success, where ideas meet capital and become reality. We connect companies, countries, and investors in the real world to make measurable and positive differences across the globe. Customers look to us for broad access to capital markets and liquidity across multiple asset classes. We deliver a broad range of international equity, fixed income, exchange-traded funds, investment vehicles and foreign exchange markets. Customers can choose from our capital formation and execution venues, London Stock Exchange, AIM and Turquoise. Having contributed to supporting the financial stability and growth of communities and economies globally for more than 300 years, London Stock Exchange is proud to be a catalyst for opportunity.
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Big Issue Invest

Big Issue Invest invests in Social Enterprises, Social-Purpose Businesses and Charities creating core solutions to end poverty in the UK. Founded by impact entrepreneurs John Bird and Nigel Kershaw, from the Big Issue Group, we are one of the leaders in social impact investing. Since 2005, we have invested £90m across more than 600 investments, all sharing the Big Issue Group’s mission – to create innovative solutions through enterprise and unlock social and economic opportunity for people affected by poverty.
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Agenda
09:00 - 10:00
Registration
10:00 - 10:30
Welcome to Founderfest
Amplify Stage — Welcome Speeches
                              Keynote Presentation: Bolder Ambition
10:40 - 11:25
Panel, Workshop & Presentation
Amplify Stage — Changing the Game: The Future of UK Investment (Panel)
Start Stage — From Burnout to Breakthrough: Mental Health Strategies for Founders (Workshop)
Growth Stage — Building Your Financial Health: Smart Money Moves for Founders (Fireside Chat)
11:25 - 11:45
Break & Networking
11:45 - 12:30
Panel & Presentation
Amplify Stage — Breaking Borders: Unlocking Global Growth for Tech Founders (Panel)
Start Stage — From 5-to-9 to Founder: Growing your Business While Working Full-Time (Presentation)
Growth Stage — The Rise of the AI Agent: How to Grow your Business Exponentially using AI (Presentation)
12:30 - 13:15
Panel, Workshop & Presentation
Amplify Stage — Adapt or Get Left Behind: How AI is Redefining the Next Era of Technology (Panel)
Start Stage — Building Better Customer Experiences using AI Agents (Workshop)
Growth Stage — Meet the Founders using AI for Start-up Growth (Panel)
13:15 - 14:00
Lunch & Networking Break
14:00 - 14:40
Pitching Competition, Panel & Keynote
Amplify Stage — Angels in our Midst: Investing in a New Generation of Angel Investors
Start Stage — Lunch break continues
Growth Stage — Lunch break continues
14:40 - 15:15
Pitching Competition, Panel & Mentoring Clinic
Amplify Stage — Pitching Competition
Start Stage — Want to Launch your Digital Product Idea? (Panel)
Growth Stage — Leadership – How to Land your Next Big Board Role (Keynote)
15:15 - 15:40
Pitching Competition, Panel & Mentoring Clinic
Amplify Stage — Pitching Competition continues
Start Stage — Unstoppable: Female Founders Navigating Business and Caregiving (Panel)
Growth Stage — CMS Mentoring Clinic
15:40 - 16:55
Pitching Competition, Panel & Mentoring Clinic
Amplify Stage — Pitching Competition continues
Start Stage — Future of Brand Experience: Creating Brands That are Lived, Felt, and Shared (Panel)
Growth Stage — CMS Mentoring Clinic
16:55 - 17:10
Founderfest Closing
Amplify Stage — Pitching Winner Announcement, Closing remarks.

Tickets for Founderfest 2025

Tickets give you full access to the conference sessions, competitions with prizes up to £1000, and a goodie bag!
The panel sessions, each and every one of them left me feeling more inspired, educated and encouraged to do more for my business.
Sarah Oladokun, Digital Content Creator & Creative Consultant
Khalia Immerse Programme

Meet the incredible organisations that continuously support Founderfest

Founderfest 2024 in numbers

509
Registered attendees
61%
Female attendees
19
Industries represented including tech, FMCG & Healthcare
38
Expert speakers
49%
Revenue generating businesses

Founderfest went viral on social..

All you need to know
Who is this event for?
Founderfest is perfect for anyone scaling, starting, or exploring the idea of launching a business. We pride ourselves on creating an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere, especially for those who often feel overlooked in traditional business events.
What can I expect on the day?
A packed schedule of keynotes, panels, and workshops tailored to the challenges and opportunities in startups and small business. Engage with like-minded entrepreneurs and industry experts in spaces designed to foster connections and opportunities.
What’s included in my ticket price?
Your ticket includes full-day access to all sessions and workshops, a curated Founderfest goodie bag, and the opportunity to apply for our on-stage pitching competition. Terms apply – pitching applications must be submitted before the event.