New Business Thinking.

Bristol. June 18-19 2025.

Delegate Passes

We connect, champion and inspire entrepreneurial thinkers from any discipline. The unexpected and remarkable occurs when new business thinkers share time and space.We connect, champion and inspire entrepreneurial thinkers from any discipline. The unexpected and remarkable occurs when new business thinkers share time and space.

2025 Speakers

Amy Golding

CEO • Steven Bartlett’s Private Office

Amy Golding, widely regarded as one of the UK’s most dynamic business leaders, made history as she reportedly become “the youngest female CEO of a $100 million turnover company”, when she took the helm at Opus Talent Solutions in 2017. Under her transformative leadership, the company soared to global prominence in technology and renewable energy recruitment, culminating in a high-value private equity sale in 2021. This milestone confirmed Amy’s exceptional talent for scaling and exiting market-leading businesses. As CEO of Steven Bartlett’s Private Office, she is responsible for overseeing the investment strategy across the portfolio, leveraging her expertise in tech, talent, and investment to drive sustainable growth. Amy is also on the Board of Flight Story, Bartlett’s media and investment company, where she acts as a link between Steven’s private office team and FlightStory leadership.

Christian Owens

Founder • Paddle

Christian Owens founded Paddle in 2012 when he was 18. He led Paddle as CEO for 11 years, scaling the business to 4,000 customers, completing a $200M acquisition of US-based ProfitWell, and a $1.4 billion valuation In addition to Paddle, Christian invests in 5-10 seed-stage startups per year. He's been named in the Forbes 30 Under 30, and is a Thiel Fellow. Since stepping down from Paddle in 2024, Christian has been working on a new company which is currently in stealth

Steve Hewitt

CEO • Gymshark

Steve will be talking about the inside story of one of the UK’s most successful-ever start-ups: Gymshark. In nine years as its CEO and Executive Chairman, he oversaw sales growth from £5m to £500m. Powerful entrepreneurial thinking – and learnings – throughout. Steve is the ex-EMEA Commercial Director of Reebok/Adidas; a Changemaker with BCH / Partner with St. Basils charity; and the Founder of Whanau – an advisory / investment organisation that supports the fast-growing SMEs. He's also a (very) proud Geordie.

Madelaine Thomas

Founder • Image Angel

Madelaine Thomas is the founder of Image Angel, a company dedicated to combating non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse online. In response to the prevalence of such abuses, Image Angel developed invisible watermarking technology that embeds unique, unremovable fingerprints into images. This innovation allows platforms to trace unauthorised sharing back to the perpetrator, enhancing user safety and platform accountability. This survivor-led deterrent has been recommended as best practice by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

James Courtney

Co-founder • LUX Rewards

Lux Rewards, a UK-based loyalty tech startup founded by University of Bath alumnus and current Executive MBA student James Courtney, has been acquired by global rewards giant Enigmatic Smile in an eight-figure deal. It’s a remarkable turnaround story—just a few years ago, the company was weeks away from shutting down. Now, it reaches over 105 million cardholders worldwide and is a leader in card-linked rewards This story may be particularly relevant, as James’ journey from growing up in Bristol to becoming a leading entrepreneur is truly inspiring. After excelling academically, he went on to win the University of Bath Business Plan Competition twice and was also recognised by winning the EntreConf Award— for his entrepreneurial achievements. He now leads one of the UK’s fastest-growing loyalty tech startups.

Zara Nanu

Founder • WorkVue & Gapsquare

Zara Nanu, MBE is an award-winning entrepreneur reimagining the future of work through innovation and inclusion. As founder of Gapsquare, she built pioneering tech that’s helped global companies close pay gaps and design fairer workplaces. Zara now leads WorkVue, shaping future-of-work strategies with a bold, data-driven lens. A member of the Harvard Kennedy School Women’s Leadership Board and advisor to CEOs, she’s a sought-after voice on equity, AI, and value in a changing world.

Alex Lloyd

Partner • Burges Salmon

Alex is a partner in the firm’s Corporate and M&A team, working in all areas of corporate finance, and is also a member of the firm’s Technology sector group. Alex has a particular focus on technology sector M&A, venture capital and private equity and leads the firm’s Emerging Companies practice at the firm, supporting high-growth businesses and their investors.

Andy Salmon

Pro-Vice Chancellor External Affairs • Bath Spa University

Professor Andy Salmon, moved to Bath four years ago from Cambridge, currently focusing on regeneration, social cohesion, place making, and the development of human and social value through the ISTART and other projects. Roles include: pro vice chancellor External Bath Spa University, chair of corporation at Bath College, director of the London Film Academy, tutor for the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education.

Bob Mytton

Founder • Mytton Williams

Bob co-founded Mytton Williams, a strategic, creative studio, in 1996. Projects have encompassed all aspects of branding, working with global brands to ambitious SMEs. His work has been recognised in national and international design awards and publications. Client experience includes: Clarks, Millfield, National Trust, ReMind UK, Thermae Bath Spa and Waitrose. He is an Associate Lecturer at Bath Spa University and co-founder of: West of England Design Forum; Werkhouse, an industry-led design education programme; and Bath Unlimited, an initiative to promote Bath businesses. He also wrote and designed a book and exhibition called ‘Made in Bath’, celebrating makers and craftsmanship, which led to the ‘Meet the Maker’ podcast.

Bruno Oliveira

Director of the MSc in Entrepreneurship • University of Bath

Bruno, a serial entrepreneur and Director of the MSc in Entrepreneurship at the University of Bath, researches how AI transforms venture creation, growth, and scaling. He empowers entrepreneurs and business professionals with actionable, tech-driven strategies, blending academic insight with cutting-edge AI tools for real-world business success.

Richard Spilsbury

Founder & CEO • Link Stone Advisory

Richard founded Link Stone Advisory to deliver integrated corporate development to support growth and value creation. The practice now has a multidisciplinary team of experts who collaborate to deliver more impactful solutions for clients. Richard previously worked for Future Plc, PlaySports Group and PwC.

Nathan Baranowski

CEO & Founder • Digital Wonderlab

As Co-CEO of Digital Wonderlab, Nathan is passionate about harnessing technology to fuel creativity, efficiency, and growth. A serial entrepreneur, he thrives on building businesses and helping others leverage tech to do more, faster, and smarter. With over two decades of experience working with startups, enterprises, and not-for-profits, Nathan specialises in making the complex simple—using AI and digital innovation to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive real impact. Under his leadership, Digital Wonderlab helps businesses harness the power of AI and digital solutions to work smarter, innovate faster, and achieve more.

Matt Chandler

Partner • Albert Goodman

Matt is a Partner based in Taunton, specialising in aspects of corporate finance such as company sales, valuations, and financial due diligence as well as the audit of corporate entities. Matt joined the firm after finishing university, initially training within the corporate services team, and becoming the lead manager for many of the firm’s medium and large groups, developing extensive audit, accountancy, and business advisory skills. Pursuing his interest in helping business owners achieve their exit goals Matt joined our corporate finance team and is now one of our corporate finance specialists. Matt is able to draw upon his commercial and technical knowledge gained from each of these specialisms to ensure clients achieve the best outcome. Matt is also part of Taunton Round Table, which raises money for local charities. In his spare time, he is a keen hockey player, and undertakes the occasional long distance endurance event. He also spends plenty of time catering to his reactive dog’s rather specific behavioural needs.

View previous speakers

EntreConf Partners

Headline Partners

Keynote Partners

Content Partners

Panel Partners

Associate Partners

Jun 18. 09:00 - 17:00

Buy Tickets Buy Tickets

09:00 - 09:30

EntreConversations...

Join us for the start of EntreConf. Registrations will be open from this point. Join us for networking and get ready for the day ahead!

10:00 - 10:30

Keynote: Christian Owens, Paddle

In this session, Christian will share insights on: - The founding and evolution of Paddle: The story behind the company’s success. - Scaling a business: Key challenges, decisions, and the rationale behind growth strategies. - Leading a team: Navigating the changing role of the entrepreneur as a company grows. - Lessons learned: The key takeaways from building and scaling a global business. - His second venture: The journey of starting, fundraising, and putting his next project on hold. - What’s next: Christian’s future plans and vision for the entrepreneurial landscape. - The motivations that drive entrepreneurs: Understanding what fuels the passion for innovation. This talk is a must for aspiring entrepreneurs, startup founders, and anyone interested in the dynamics of building a successful tech company from the ground up.

11:30 - 12:00

EntreConversations...

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12:30 - 13:00

Team building with entrepreneurs

How do entrepreneurs work with other entrepreneurs to create optimal teams? Are entrepreneurs always the best people to lead companies? And what diagnostic tools can be created and used to find and assess the right people? This and much, much more will be discussed by Amy Golding. Amy is the CEO of Steven Bartlett’s business, managing over 50 companies, including Bartlett’s personal investment and business strategy ventures. Amy was the UK’s youngest female CEO of a £100m turnover business. She also founded her own business.

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch

Join us for lunch provided by Eat a Pitta, plus more EntreConversations...

14:30 - 15:00

Ai and scaling businesses with Bruno Oliveira, University of Bath

15:00 - 15:30

EntreConversations...

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15:30 - 16:55

The EntreConf PitchCase

We’re excited to partner with techSPARK’s Silicon Gorge to present EntreConf’s inaugural PitchCase. At this year’s EntreConf, we’ll be spotlighting four of Silicon Gorge’s top winners, who will have the unique opportunity to pitch live to a panel of investors on June 18.

Jun 19. 09:00 - 17:00

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09:00 - 09:30

EntreConversations...

Get ready for the start of EntreConf Day 2!

10:00 - 10:30

We Go Again, with Zara Nanu WorkVue & Gapsquare

11:00 - 11:30

Entrepreneurs and AI

11:30 - 12:00

EntreConversations...

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12:30 - 13:00

The Leverage Effect: how great branding adds value to launches, funding rounds and exits

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch

Join us for lunch provided by Eat a Pitta, plus more EntreConversations...

02:00 - 02:30

Entrepreneur's Tales with Madelaine Thomas, Image Angel

14:30 - 15:15

Keynote: Steve Hewitt, Gymshark

In this dynamic conversation, we’ll explore the incredible journey of Gymshark through the eyes of Steve Hewitt, the company's key strategic partner and one of its driving forces behind its explosive growth. Steve will share his experiences working closely with founder Ben Francis and the Gymshark team, providing a behind-the-scenes look at: - Gymshark’s meteoric rise: The strategies, challenges, and pivotal moments that fueled the company's growth from a startup to a global brand. - Leadership in hypergrowth: Insights into the evolving role of a leader in a rapidly scaling business, and how Steve navigated the complexities of leading and supporting the team through rapid change. - Building and nurturing a culture: How Gymshark developed its strong, purpose-driven culture, and the structures that supported its rapid expansion. Beyond Gymshark’s success, Steve will delve into his broader entrepreneurial philosophy and values, including: - Whatnau and the types of businesses Steve works with: The importance of finding companies that align with your vision and values, and why Steve chooses to partner with certain businesses. - The power of giving back: Steve’s commitment to supporting underdogs, helping others succeed, and creating opportunities for growth. - Team-building and leadership principles: How to cultivate high-performing teams and a culture of innovation. This talk will be an interactive and engaging conversation, offering both the story of Gymshark’s rise and actionable insights for entrepreneurs looking to navigate the challenges of scaling their own ventures.

15:30 - 16:00

EntreConversations...

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17:00 - 17:30

EntreConversations...

Join us for more EntreConversations and to reflect on a fantastic two days of inspirational insights!