Boardwave breakfast - The Code to Scale: How UK software scale-ups can scale effectively

Hosts

Rishi Khosla, CEO, OakNorth 

Phill Robinson, Co-Founder & CEO, Boardwave

Sponsor: OakNorth

This roundtable discussion is specifically designed for leaders in the software industry with an ARR of £10-50 million.

What To Expect At A Boardwave Breakfast

The secret sauce to a really great networking breakfast is the calibre of people you meet, the quality of the discussion, which is interesting and thought-provoking and finally the dining experience, whether it's at a smart venue, or Michelin Star restaurant. If you bring all these things together everyone has a great time, learns a little and meets new friends and colleagues.

The Code to Scale: How UK Software Scale-Ups Can Scale Effectively

Recent research has revealed that while UK scale-ups make up just 1% of SMEs, they have an outsized impact on the UK economy, accounting for 22% of all SME turnover (£497b), as well as 8% of all SME employment. 

The opportunities are clear, but what are the barriers software founders and CEOs face when it comes to growing a business, from start-up to scale-up and beyond? And how can we create the right conditions in the UK and Europe to support scaling businesses to thrive on a global scale?

Rishi Khosla OBE is a champion of entrepreneurs. He is both thoughtful and passionate about transforming the UK start-up economy, so each company can scale and achieve their true potential. A mission that is aligned with Boardwave’s goals related to our 1,000 UK Software Founder and CEO members. 

At this Chatham House roundtable discussion during London Tech Week, we will cover the conditions needed for UK software scale-up success, and how to break the growth “glass ceiling”. We will draw on Rishi's own “scaling” experience and from OakNorth’s recent report "The Scale of the Opportunity" and Boardwave’s White Paper “How the UK & Europe Can Lead The Global Software Industry by 2034”.

Join us over breakfast where we will be discussing strategies and tangible solutions around the following:

Overcoming talent & innovation barriers:

What innovative approaches can software scale-ups adopt to enhance talent attraction and retention in the UK and Europe’s competitive landscape? How do we overcome the digital skills gap when it comes to AI talent?

Financing growth amid changing landscapes:

How can we ensure scale-ups get the financial backing they need to thrive? In the still evolving financial climate post-SVB collapse, what strategies should software scale-ups pursue to secure growth financing without compromising independence?

Navigating the liquidity maze & looking ahead to IPOs:

Explore how different capital market structures can offer software founders better options for growth without premature sell-offs. We’ll consider the broader implications for retaining company control and fostering long-term development.

Cultural shifts for sustaining innovation:

How can European software companies foster a culture that supports entrepreneurship and mitigates the fear of failure? Should we look to and learn from the US when it comes to developing an entrepreneurial mindset? Should enterprise education be added to the school curriculum?