Meet the Investors: Birmingham

Meet the Investors is a series of events helping UK tech SMEs navigate scale-up finance. Each event connects SMEs with investors and experts to share insights, funding tips, and networking opportunities.

Other events in the series:

• Meet the Investors: Manchester - 1 April

• Meet the Investors: Glasgow - 17 June

• Meet the Investors: Leeds - Coming Soon!

 📍Birmingham

Meet the Investors: Birmingham

In Conversation with Steve Rigby, Co-CEO Rigby Group

SMEs networking with investors

We are delighted to host our Meet the Investors: Birmingham event as part of UK Tech Week, and in partnership with TechWM. 

In October 2024, techUK published its UK Tech SMEs: Driving Economic Growth and Innovation report, highlighting the importance of SMEs to the UK economy and the challenges they face in achieving their growth ambitions.

Meet the Investors: Birmingham will look to address one of the key challenges identified in the report – access to scale-up finance. Through keynotes addresses and a panel discussion, you will hear from a number of investors who work in and around the West Midlands area, and have the opportunity to ask them questions.

Event details

Date and Time: 18 March, 15:00-18:00

Cost: Free

Location: Birmingham

Why you should attend

• Hear about current investment trends and future opportunities

• Learn what investors are looking for when they are approached by businesses seeking investment

• Get tips on securing investment

• Connect with peers and investors during the networking drinks reception

Who should attend

If you are a tech SME looking to raise investment to scale your business, come along and hear from investors as they discuss the finance ecosystem in the West Midlands and top tips for accessing scale-up finance. 

Speakers

Agenda

15.00 - 15.05 | Introduction

15.05 - 15.10 | Overview of the regional context and the importance of the tech scale-up ecosystem
 


 Ashlene Smith, Innovation and Scale-up Manager, West Midlands Growth Company

15.10 - 15.15 | Overview of the business finance landscape and opportunities and challenges for tech scale-ups


Yiannis Maos, Founder & Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, TechWM

15.15 - 15.25 | Scaling female-founded business


Tara Attfield-Tomes, Co-Chair, Lifted Project Birmingham

15.25 - 15.35 | Scale-up story


Tony Summers, CEO, Civiteq

15.35 - 15.45 | Q&A

15.45 - 15.50 | Break

15.50 - 16.10 | Matt Evans in conversation with . . .


Steve Rigby, Co-CEO, Rigby Group

16.10 - 17.00 | Panel discussion


Tracy Sherratt, West Midlands Senior Manager, British Business Bank (Chair)
Carl Bergholtz, Director of Venture and Growth Finance, Natwest
Aaron Baker, Investor, BGF
Stephen Windsor, Investment Director, Mercia Ventures

17.00 - 18.00 | Networking and Drinks


Yiannis Maos, Founder & Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, TechWM
Anna Heyes, Founder of Tech Climbers and CEO at Active Profile

techUK events at UK Tech Week 2025: