2pm – 5pm30 September 2025
Leeds
KPMG, 1 Sovereign Square, Sovereign Street, LS1 4DA
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.
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: Leeds 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 Leeds area, and have the opportunity to ask them questions.
techUK is hosting this event as part of Business Finance Week, an annual campaign led by the British Business Bank. The campaign features a wide range of events across the UK including in-person sessions and webinars designed to help smaller businesses explore the various finance options available to support their unique needs. Learn more at british-business-bank.co.uk/bfw
Event details
Date and Time: 30 September, 14.00 - 17.00
Cost: Free
Location: Leeds
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 allocated networking time
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 Leeds and top tips for accessing scale-up finance.
Please note: The views expressed by event participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of techUK or the British Business Bank. Always seek independent, professional advice tailored to your individual circumstances.
Overview of the region’s tech ecosystem and challenges/opportunities for growth
Stuart Clarke, Founder, Leeds Digital Festival
14.10 - 14.15
Overview of the investment landscape in the region and opportunities/areas of focus
Jane Green, Strategic Lead – Emerging Tech, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
14.15 - 14.25
Scaling female-founded businesses
Jordan Dargue, Co-Founder, Lifted Ventures
14.25 - 14.35
Scale-up story
Liz Whitefield, Co-founder and Director, Hippo Digital
14.35 - 14.55
Q&A
14.55 - 15.10
Break
15.10 - 16.00
Panel discussion
Cat Smith, Senior Manager - Yorkshire and The Humber, British Business Bank (Chair)
Kelly Watson, Business Development Director - North East and Yorkshire, Santander
Dr Elizabeth Young, Investment Manager, Par Equity
Mattia Scalabrin, Investor, Mercia Ventures
Linda Nguyenova, Investor and Deal Origination Lead, BGF
16.00 - 17.00
Networking
Ed Bevan
Head of SME Engagement, techUK
Ed Bevan
Head of SME Engagement, techUK
Ed is Head of SME Engagement and is responsible for shaping techUK’s proposition to our SMEs across the country, ensuring our policy work, market access activity and services benefit the SME community.
Prior to working at techUK, Ed worked in the at the Department for International Trade, engaging with a variety of businesses, particularly SMEs, to understand the benefits of Free Trade Agreements and act as case studies in press and social media. Ed has also worked in policy and public affairs within the voluntary sector, namely the Alzheimer’s Society and the Men’s Health Forum.
Ed holds a MA in International Relations from Leiden University, and in his spare time enjoys spending time with his son, travelling, and visiting historical sites.
Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK
Stephanie Barr
Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK
Stephanie is the Programme Manager for SME Engagement and Nations & Regions at techUK.
Working across the two programmes, Stephanie develops activities to support the growth and development of tech SMEs and engages with members and stakeholders more broadly to help strengthen regional tech economies.
Prior to joining techUK, Stephanie worked for a political events company and as a Senior Caseworker for an MP. She holds an MA (HONS) in Politics from the University of Glasgow.
Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys travelling, climbing and playing squash.
UK Tech SMEs: Driving Economic Growth and Innovation
This report illustrates the critical impact of tech SMEs across the nations and regions. techUK has combined quantitative data from Beauhurst with interviews from tech SMEs to provide both the current macroeconomic picture of tech SMEs, but also the economic and social impact made by individual tech SMEs.
Do you have a trailblazer in your team?
Do you work with an innovator or a problem solver?
Do you have an inspirational colleague who deserves the spotlight for their work? The President’s Awards are back for 2025 and open for nominations. All techUK members are encouraged to nominate one colleague.
Jordan is one of the UK’s most passionate and respected advocates for female founders and diversity in the investment eco-system. As Co-Founder of Lifted Ventures, she’s working to increase the flow of early stage capital to female founders and promote the significant business benefits of backing women.
Jordan is an angel investor and experienced NED, previously she was co-leader and Board Director of multi award winning NorthInvest, and in 2020 she co-founded Fund Her North and Women Angels of the North, a collective of women in VCs and Angel investors who support female founders to get equal access to finance.
Jordan's transformative influence is evident through her leadership in orchestrating multi-million equity-based investment rounds, cultivating award-winning investor networks, and offering unwavering support to thousands of SMEs on their journey toward expansion and investment.
Jordan is known as a change-maker and a leader, championing for inclusive investment across the regions.
Strategic Lead – Emerging Tech, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Jane has worked for West Yorkshire Combined Authority for 8 years moving from skills support to managing the Trade and Investment team before recently leading on the Emerging Tech Sector. HealthTech is a key focus for the West Yorkshire region and Jane regularly welcomes international delegations to the region.
The Combined Authority wants to create an environment where it is easy to start, innovate and grow a business. Our international partnerships, working the UK government, encourage collaboration with regions including Nashville, Boston and Baden Württemberg.
Jane previously spent 10 years working in the private sector as a Strategic Merchandiser focused on the international retail sector with TK Maxx (part of TJX), Habitat and fashion brands duty free buying and merchandising.
Linda Nguyenova is an Investor & Deal Origination Lead at BGF in Yorkshire & the North East, backing ambitious entrepreneurs on their scale up journey. BGF is the most active minority private equity investor in the UK, having deployed £4bn+ of growth capital across more than 600 high growth businesses.
Prior to BGF, Linda spent almost four years on the investment team at Endless, a leading transformational private equity firm. Linda gained her ACA qualification at PwC where she spent four years across Assurance, Consulting and Deals.
Linda is passionate about driving change and improving diversity and inclusion in the industry. She was recognised as one of the Future 40 Diversity and Inclusion Leaders by Real Deals and was also shortlisted for Changemaker of the Year at the BusinessDesk.com Rainmaker Awards in 2024.
Mattia is a Venture Capital investor with a background in Life Sciences and Medicine. After earning a PhD at the University of Liverpool and conducting research at the University of Leeds, he transitioned into technology commercialization, supporting Life Science, Medtech, DeepTech, FoodTech and AgriTech ventures. Now at Mercia Ventures, Mattia backs ambitious founders, driving innovation and unlocking entrepreneurial potential in the North of the UK to create lasting, positive societal impact.
Senior Manager - Yorkshire & The Humber, British Business Bank
Representing the British Business Bank across Yorkshire and Humber, Cat works closely with funding delivery partners, innovation specialists and business support organisations across the SME finance ecosystem to improve access to financial support for small businesses.
Cat has previously worked for West Yorkshire Combined Authority, where she was innovation growth manager, and has over 10 years’ experience across Yorkshire and the Humber supporting businesses to upskill, access finance and develop innovation and strategic partnerships.
Her experience has spanned senior roles at Calderdale College, Construction Industry Training Board and Combined Authority, supporting the growth of a diverse range of businesses and sectors.
Liz is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Hippo, where she has been instrumental in driving client growth and success since its inception. With over 30 years of experience in public sector delivery and digital transformation, she is a recognized leader in her field.Liz is also passionate about promoting the strength of the UK technology sector, particularly the West Yorkshire ecosystem, engaging both nationally and internationally. She is dedicated to building long-term delivery partnerships, working closely with clients to help them achieve their goals. Additionally, Liz is committed to developing the Hippo team, ensuring every member has the opportunity to reach their full potential.Her leadership has been key to establishing Hippo as a trusted industry partner and a strong ambassador for regional tech talent.
Lizzy is responsible for deal origination, investment appraisal, due diligence, fundraising, investment execution, and managing follow-on funding for portfolio companies – specialising in deepTech and healthTech.
She previously worked at ACF Investors, a sector-agnostic UK-wide co-investment Fund. Lizzy has a PhD in Medical Engineering from the University of Leeds, where she researched spinal cord injury and worked on a digital health startup secondment. She also contributed to the Creator Fund, supporting the Northern pre-seed ecosystem for students and spinouts.
Join us to hear The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, this year’s keynote speaker at Building the Smarter State Conference!
