London is one of the world’s most entrepreneurial cities — with a buzzing ecosystem of investors looking for exciting companies to inject their cash, a community of successful founders willing to share advice, and a vast tech and talent base ready and waiting to support the right venture.
But where to find them all? Well, next week you can join them for free.
Taking place at Excel London on April 25 and 26, the Evening Standard’s two-day SME XPO will unite more than 5,000 entrepreneurs and senior business leaders, offering unprecedented opportunities to network, take steps on a fundraising journey and hear 60 founders — collectively worth hundreds of millions — talk about their failures and successes. Now in its second year, SME XPO will, once again, appear alongside a sister show, The Watercooler, where the focus will be on workplace well-being.
So, whether you’re starting-up, scaling-up or simply looking for ways to be a more inspirational boss, here’s why you cannot afford to miss next week’s event.
Hear Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs offer their advice
“Attending events like SME XPO is an extremely time-efficient way to meet a wide variety of people with whom you can share experience, garner intelligence, and of course, just make new friends and connections,” says Deborah Meaden, SME XPO keynote speaker and Dragons’ Den star.
She’s joined by numerous other successful founders and speakers including Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins (who is boldly inviting attendees to “ask me anything”), £30 million Reggae Reggae sauce creator Levi Roots, and Trinny London’s Trinny Woodall. Rapper and beauty business founder Krept, and fintech GoHenry’s Louise Hill are among the big names speaking across two days of advice and panels, workshops, and exhibitions.
Those hurling tough questions at them include Michael Hayman, head of entrepreneurs’ PR firm Seven Hills, the Stock Exchange’s head of private markets, Umerah Akram, and Richard Burge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce.
Do a year’s networking in a day (or two!)
“To find a forum like SME XPO where hundreds of like-minded people can meet, share and learn from one another is about as valuable as it gets,” says Wilfred Emmanuel Jones, SME XPO speaker and founder of meat brand The Black Farmer.
The opportunity to look other entrepreneurs, investors and execs in the eye or shake their hand as you seek help for the next big step for your business is invaluable.
But what to say to them? “The best question is ‘where are you in the life of your business?,’” Deborah Meaden says. “It’s a good, open question and brings forward the most important bits opening them up for further conversation.”
Next week’s event also provides the chance to introduce your small business to global corporations and bodies including Google’s Chrome OS, Salesforce, Intel, Sodexo and ScaleUp Institute, while computing giant Dell will be hosting speed-networking events to help scale up your business fast.
And don’t miss the VIP party on the evening of April 25 at the Google-sponsored Scale-Up Lounge, where you’ll be able to meet and greet business stars, speakers and VIPs over a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne.
Access the experts to take your business to its next level
SME XPO offers a huge array of excellent training opportunities.
More than 30 workshops are running across the two days, including sessions by AXA on How to Nail your Elevator Pitch, by Barclays on growth-stage financing, and by the Intellectual Property Office, on understanding your IP.
Other focus areas include tax credits for SMEs, workplace well-being, supporting neurodiverse staff and cash-flow management tips, while back in the main theatres, experienced recruiters, including LHi Group’s Tom Glanfield and Audeliss’s Suki Sandhu will offer their advice on the hiring side of scaling up your business.
Navigate the tough economic environment like a pro
Inflation, recession, and war in Ukraine have swirled into a very tough economic environment for scaling firms. One of the best reasons to come to SME XPO is the huge practical financing advice and info, including from veterans of successful crowdfunding campaigns like JustPark founder Anthony Eskinazi and Von Sy, of Nimble eco cleaning products.
“It’s a game of numbers,” Sy explains ahead of his crowdfunding talk at the event. “The more people you approach, the more success you’ll get. You’ll find someone who believes in your vision. And to those people who say no — ask for introductions.”
SME XPO gives you the chance to pick up tips on controlling costs and financially flourishing from founders of booming consumer businesses including luxury gifting firm Biscuiteers and magic company Marvin’s Magic, from Julia Elliott Brown, specialist coach behind Enter the Arena, and from former Dragons’ Den investor Piers Linney.
Speaking of which, bring your funding pitchdeck to SME XPO: top VCs who are attending include Phoenix Court Group’s Saul Klein, one of Europe’s most successful entrepreneurs, Harry Briggs, managing partner at Canadian giant OMERS Ventures and Gregory Dewerpe at A/O Proptech, to discuss the tech of the future.
Bring out the best in your people
“The workplace post-Covid needs to be different,” says Dame Carol Black, a well-being expert who advises the Government. “It must, in a joined-up, holistic way, meet the mental, physical, financial, social and environmental needs of the workers, as well as the purposes of the organisation.”
Black is one of 100 top speakers at The Watercooler, a one-of-a-kind workplace wellbeing event running alongside SME XPO that will be focusing on the latest HR, mental health and employee culture issues.
The Watercooler hosts mental health campaigners Keegan Hirst, the professional rugby player, and Clarke Carlisle, the former Premier League footballer, as well as leaders in their field including the BBC’s head of cognitive design, energy giant Centrica’s diversity and inclusion lead and the head of employee health and well-being at GSK. There will also be dozens of workshops with the latest advice on workplace matters including how the cost of living crisis is shaping HR.
“The Watercooler is the ground-breaking event drawing the roadmap for shifting workplace culture,” says David Skinner, of PIB Employee Benefits. Grab the opportunity to transform your employees’ well-being and workplace culture.
Master the latest digital trends
It’s hard to keep on top of all the fast-moving digital developments as a busy founder — but SME XPO will give you the latest insight into how to build and secure your business’s digital life.
Cyber experts including Cynance’s CEO Stav Pischits as well as tech entrepreneurs Charles Delingpole, founder of The Student Room, and Venetia Archer of beauty business Ruuby will tackle the tech trends that you need to know about, including the fast-changing developments in AI.
Digital marketers, including Sedge Beswick, who built Asos’s influencer network and now runs her SEEN Connects agency, and Ed East, founder of marketing agency Billion Dollar Boy, will be joined by entrepreneurs Steph Douglas, who credits Instagram with helping to build her Don’t Buy Her Flowers gifting company, and Greg Marsh, founder of OneFineStay, who now runs cost-of-living start-up Nous.
