Panel Talk: Financing Your Business

Are you a food or drink founder navigating the world of finance? Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale, understanding how to fund your business can be one of the most critical—and confusing—parts of the journey.

Join us for an insightful evening designed for founders, professionals, and curious minds working across the food and drink sector. This panel talk will unpack the key funding options available, from bootstrapping to venture capital, with honest insights from founders and experts who’ve been through it themselves.

Expect practical advice, real-world stories, and the chance to get your burning finance questions answered.

‍

Topics the panelists will be covering:

• The main funding routes available and what makes each one tick
• Real pros and cons of bootstrapping, investment, crowdfunding, and loans
• What makes a business attractive to funders—and how to get “finance-ready”
• How to choose the right option for your goals, values, and growth stage

‍

ABOUT THE PANELLISTS:

Thea Brook (Chair)- Founder, Coach & Expert in Residence

Phil Hails-Smith - Managing Partner at Joelson

Christian Pankui - Senior Account Executive at Crowdcube

Sophie Luck - Investor at JamJar Investments

‍

About these Panel Talks:

Join us for some lively discussion about the highs and lows of making it in the food business world.

At these talks, the UK's leading voices will be sharing their food business stories, and some of the expertise and valuable lessons they learned along the way.

This is an open session for aspiring food and drink founders where we encourage participants to get involved, ask questions and apply ideas to their own projects and businesses.

Ticket includes access to the panel talk, networking and post-panel food and drink.

Please note that this is an in-person event.

‍

‍

‍