Connecting Startups and Policymakers: Inside the Enterprise Accelerators Festival 2025
Enterprise Accelerators is a UK-based organisation dedicated to catalysing entrepreneurship.
By supporting and connecting leaders from government, business, education, and the non-profit sector, it works to amplify the impact of those helping build the entrepreneurial economy.
Through events, networking, and cross-sector knowledge sharing, Enterprise Accelerators strengthens the collective mission to incubate and accelerate enterprise growth across the UK and beyond.
From 12–16 May 2025, the organisation will host its flagship event, the Enterprise Accelerators Festival, a week-long online conference that brings together changemakers from across various sectors. The Festival features 13 expert-led lectures and panel discussions, offering practical insights and real-world inspiration from individuals who have shaped the future of entrepreneurship.
Key Themes of the Festival
Throughout the week, the Festival will explore five strategic themes:
- Fundraising for Growth
How startups and support organisations can access funding, with expert insights into seed capital, venture capital, and schemes like SEIS. - Hacking Business Incubation
Practical sessions on designing effective accelerator and incubation programmes that drive meaningful outcomes. - Cross-Sector Collaboration
How public and private organisations, universities, and charities are working together to build sustainable startup ecosystems. - Social Entrepreneurship & Inclusion
Discussions on how to support underrepresented founders and build mission-driven enterprises with social impact. - Government & Policy Innovation
Exploring the role of local and national government in shaping entrepreneurial environments.
Featured Speakers
The Festival welcomes a diverse mix of thought leaders, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs. Highlights include:
- Anthony Rose – Serial entrepreneur and CEO of SeedLegals, the UK’s leading legal platform for startups. Known for his previous role launching the BBC iPlayer, Rose is a key figure in the UK startup ecosystem.
- Gerard Grech CBE – Managing Director of Founders at the University of Cambridge, and former CEO of Tech Nation. He’s played a pivotal role in shaping UK tech policy and ecosystem development.
- Warren Ralls – Managing Director of the UK Network at the British Business Bank, overseeing regional delivery of access to finance programmes for SMEs and startups.
- Claire Dove CBE – Crown Representative for the VCSE (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise) sector. A champion of social enterprise and public procurement reform.
- Vanesa Pazos – Partner at NoBa Capital, an investment firm focused on early-stage and growth equity across Europe. She brings insight from both institutional and impact investing.
- Dr Simon Hepworth – Director of Enterprise at Imperial College London, leading innovation and commercialisation efforts at one of the UK’s top science and technology universities.
- Dirk Bischof – CEO and Founder of Hatch Enterprise, a leading UK incubator supporting underrepresented founders and social enterprises.
Additional speakers include respected figures from Oxford, BDO, NatWest, Big Issue Invest, and pioneering entrepreneurs sharing candid stories of growth, investment, and failure.
Agenda Highlights: What to Expect Each Day
The Festival features 13 sessions across five days, including panel discussions, expert talks, and interactive formats. Here are some key highlights:
🗓 Monday 12 May
- Launch Event: What Can Governments Do to Foster Entrepreneurship?
- Inside the Minds of Investors – With speakers from Big Issue Invest, Pontaq, NoBa Capital and more
- The Mistakes I Made Along the Way – Honest founder stories with Anthony Rose, Eric Collins, and others
🗓 Tuesday 13 May
- What Sorcery Is This? How Universities Turn Students into Entrepreneurs – With academics from Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and Derby
- Helping Entrepreneurs Access Capital – A practical session led by Warren Ralls (British Business Bank)
- Supporting Under-Represented Entrepreneurs – Exploring inclusive entrepreneurship
🗓 Wednesday 14 May
- Dear Dragon: Get Help with Your Enterprise Support Issue – A live advice session for programme leaders and enterprise professionals
- Understanding SEIS – Essential insights into the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme with BDO’s David Brookes
- Creating Effective Incubators and Accelerators – With NatWest, Hatch Enterprise, University of Exeter and ESCP
🗓 Thursday 15 May
- Creating Social Entrepreneurs and Incubating Social Enterprises – Featuring Ashoka, Queen Mary Innovation and Goldsmiths
- My Investment Journey – With the founders of Open Sponsorship and Tapoly
- Work Together to Support Entrepreneurs – Informal networking and collaboration session
🗓 Friday 16 May
- Closing Event: How Universities Help Incubate Unicorns – A future-focused session on how higher education powers high-growth startups
📝 For the full agenda and speaker bios, visit the official Eventbrite page.
How to Take Part
The Festival offers a flexible, online format, making it accessible to participants across the UK and internationally.
- Standard pass: £160
- Group discounts: From £66 per person
This event is ideal for professionals supporting enterprise, from policymakers and investors to founders, academics, and social impact leaders, looking to share, learn and collaborate.
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