01.10.2026
Birmingham
Festival of Entrepreneurs 2026
3–4 November 2026 | NEC Birmingham
The Festival of Entrepreneurs brings together founders, business owners, investors, business leaders and growth-focused companies for two days at the NEC Birmingham.
This is an event built around the people actually building businesses.
Across five stages, more than 200 speakers will tackle the decisions facing entrepreneurs now — how to grow, raise finance, use AI, win customers, build stronger teams, enter new markets and create businesses that can scale.
The speaker line-up includes entrepreneurs behind some of Britain’s best-known brands, high-growth businesses and major exits, alongside investors, operators and specialists working with ambitious companies every day.
Hear from entrepreneurs who have built it
The Festival brings together founders and business leaders including:
Sir Richard Harpin — Founder, HomeServe
Ray Kelvin CBE — Founder, Ted Baker
Juliet Barratt — Founder, Grenade
Thomas Robson-Kanu — Co-Founder, The Turmeric Co.
Sunna Van Kampen — Founder, Tonic Health
Piers Linney MBE — Co-Founder, Implement AI
Alla Ouvarova — Co-Founder, Two Chicks
Heba Bevan OBE — Founder & CEO, UtterBerry
Dominic McGregor — Co-Founder, Social Chain
Tre Lowe — Founder, SOBO Club
…alongside scores of other founders, co-founders, investors and business leaders.
Five stages. Two days.
The programme runs across:
Keynote Stage
Big founder stories, major business conversations and some of the Festival’s best-known speakers.
Tech, AI & Marketing
AI, automation, customer acquisition, sales, brand, content, social media and the technology changing how businesses grow.
People & Leadership
Leadership, culture, talent, high-performing teams, decision-making and the challenges that come with scaling a business.
Funding & Finance
Investment, debt, growth capital, investor readiness, acquisitions, exits and building business value.
Leaders in Strategy
Focused sessions covering business planning, positioning, marketing, operations, customer experience and growth.
There are also live demonstrations, workshops, founder fireside interviews, investor panels and live business pitches throughout both days.
Meet investors and funders
The Festival brings together VCs, investors, lenders, advisers and funding organisations across the Funding & Finance programme.
Sessions cover what investors look for, getting investment-ready, choosing between debt and equity, Midlands funding, acquisition finance and preparing for exit.
Networking throughout the Festival
Networking runs throughout both days.
Festival partners and business communities will host dedicated meet-ups inside the event, bringing together their members, customers and wider networks.
Participating communities include organisations such as BNI, FSB, Enterprise Nation, WIBN, Buzz Networks, Business Leader, Creative UK, HelpBnk and others.
Whether you arrive with an existing network or come looking to build one, there are opportunities to meet founders, suppliers, investors and potential partners throughout the event.
Meet exhibitors and growth partners
The exhibition brings together companies working across technology, finance, marketing, professional services, business support, software, people, operations and other areas important to growing businesses.
Visitors can meet suppliers, explore new technology, compare solutions and speak directly with organisations that work with entrepreneurs and SMEs.
Visitor tickets are free.
Why attend?
Two days. Five stages. Hundreds of entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors in one place.
Come for the speakers. Stay for the conversations, introductions and opportunities that happen around them.
Register free to attend the Festival of Entrepreneurs at the NEC Birmingham, 3–4 November 2026.
I’m the founder and organiser of the Festival of Entrepreneurs, a national event bringing together business owners, founders, investors and growth-focused companies at the NEC Birmingham on 3 - 4 November 2026. My background is in building and running businesses, events and commercial partnerships,…
