MoneyFest
Join us for MoneyFest 2025!
MoneyFest is a collaborative festival of all things funding and finance for SME’s in and around Milton Keynes
Now in it’s fourth year, it includes a day of 30 min microtalks to inform and upskill; panel sessions, keynotes and signposting.
It also includes an informal exhibition area of providers in the money space; from grants to investment – a one stop shop for all things financially focussed.
Themes of the microtalks are as follows and will be no more than 30minutes starting at 10am and on each hour thereafter:
- Alternative Funding
- Start Up & Early Lending
- Equity & Angel Funding
- Innovation
- Grants
Session 1 – 10:00 – 10:30am, hosted by Debbie Lewis NatWest
Lesser known funding alternatives: In today’s fast paced world, accessing funding through traditional routes isn’t the only option. During this panel hear from the experts in Asset finance, Invoice finance, Crowdfunding, Brokerage and R&D Tax Credits
Panellists:
| Phil Milton, Lombard |
| James Bowers, RBSi |
| Simon deverell, Crowdfunder |
| Sanjay Majithia, Finance.House |
| Sam Wildman, MPA
|
Session 2 11:00 – 11:30am, hosted by Vicky Mears British Business Bank
Start Up / Early Lending: The British Business Bank brings expertise and capital to the smaller business finance markets. The Bank continues to deploy the vast majority of its finance outside of the largest UK banks. So, who are these other lenders – these alternative lenders? And how can they help your business to grow?
Panellists:
| Tracey Kilty, Start Up Loans
Danielle Davis, First Enterprise (Recipient Companies) |
Session 3 12:00-12:30pm, hosted by Lewis Stringer British Business Bank
Equity / Angels: For newer or smaller businesses, accessing debt finance can be difficult. This is especially true if your business is pre-revenue, pre-profit, requires a lot of initial capital to develop a prototype, or doesn’t possess a strong credit history. Fortunately, there are alternatives to debt finance for newer or smaller business. Angel or other equity investors are the largest source of investment in start-ups and early-stage businesses looking to grow in the UK. But who are they and how do you access this type of investor?
Panellists:
Central Arc Angels
Simon Emary, Growthdeck
Dr Sandy Reid, Mercia Ventures
(Recipient Companies)
Session 4 1:00 – 1:30pm, hosted by Kristian Mackie, MK:U
Panellists:
InnovateUK Business Growth
(Recipient Companies)
Session 5 2:00 – 2:30pm, hosted by Ruth Roan South Midlands Growth Hub
Grant funding – the landscape across the South Midlands and how you can access support: The grant funding landscape can be a complex and confusing one to navigate alone trying to establish what’s out there and if your business is eligible. The team at The South Midlands Growth Hub make it their mission to take some of these barriers away, simplifying the process for you as a business owner. We will share some of the current grant programmes available across the South Midlands, some of the key eligibility criteria and some common routes to securing the match funding usually required. We will also have some real life examples of businesses that have been successful to showcase the process and how it’s not as complex as you may think!
Panellists:
Ruth Roan, South Midlands Growth Hub
Kelly Griffiths, South Midlands Growth Hub
(Recipient Companies)
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact our Partnerships & Events Manager, Samantha Hunter: Samantha.Hunter@southmidlands.org.uk
** Please note that we may share your personal data as appropriate with event partners and that by registering for this event you are agreeing to your information being shared with our event partners, NatWest and British Business Bank
The personal data shared is as follows – Name/Email/Phone
Should you not want your personal data to be shared, please email Samantha.Hunter@southmidlands.org.uk
