The event for Ecosystem Builders

Over the course of our first two-day conference, participants meet, talk, and connect with people who are creating and nurturing ecosystems where new and growing businesses can thrive.

Join us at Ecosystem Exchange 2025 as we discuss and challenge three key areas of ecosystem building:

Ecosystem Builders & the Future of UK Tech: AI powers 85% of today’s innovation, but the UK’s tech future depends on more than AI. We’ll explore how to support AI-native startups, update outdated frameworks, and strengthen the wider ecosystem.
Universities as Engines of Innovation: From research labs to venture builders, are universities evolving fast enough? One of our sessions will take a close look at how academia can drive talent, policy, and commercial impact while maximizing the use of limited resources.
Building a Cohesive National Tech Strategy: Are the UK’s innovation goals fit for reality? We’ll compare the national agenda against what’s happening on the ground and explore how to align funding, talent, and governance for long-term success, while keeping an eye internationally.

Share your experiences, thoughts, insights and questions

Meet and talk with fellow ecosystem builders

Discuss the big topics affecting the UK tech ecosystem and find collaborative solutions

2025 Agenda

Thursday 13th November
10:00 - 10:40	Arrival & registration
10:40 - 10:50	Opening remarks by Ana Stewart, Scottish Government
10:50 - 11:00	Setting the scene, Steven Drost, CodeBase
Ecosystem Builders & the Future of UK Tech	AI powers 85% of today’s innovation, but the UK’s tech future depends on more than AI alone. We’ll explore how to support AI-native startups, update outdated frameworks, and strengthen the wider ecosystem.
11:00 - 11:30	Keynote - Rob Kenedi, Decelerator with Rob Kenedi
11:35 - 12:20	Interactive Session led by Natalia Loza, Connected.Ventures
AI-Native, Not AI-Enabled	This session defines the strategic, technical, and structural implications of building truly AI-native solutions. It introduces frameworks for redesigning infrastructure support models around data, computational scaling, and algorithmic trust. The session further explores practical tools for the audience to assess readiness and architect infrastructures capable of supporting algorithmic-first products.
12:25 - 13:10	Diamond 1 panel moderated by Steve Brown, Barclays: Andy Elphick, Anglia Ruskin University; Elizabeth Scott, Turing Innovation Catalyst Manchester; Steven Roberts, Conception X
13:15 - 14:15	Lunch
Universities as Engines of Innovation	From research labs to venture builders, are universities evolving fast enough? This session looks at how academia can drive talent, policy, and commercial impact while making limited resources go further.
14:20 - 14:50	Keynote - Dr Olga Kozlova, University of Oxford
14:55 - 15:40	Interactive Session led by Sarah Barratt Ball, Mimesis Innovation
Optimising the UK innovation ecosystem	If Universities are the engines of innovation beyond research endeavours, how do we optimize funding channels, build effective support programmes, and collaborate our efforts to prevent siloed, unsustainable approaches? What lessons can be learned from within our ecosystem and how can we draw on best practices globally?
15:45 - 16:00	Break
16:00 - 16:45	Diamond 2 Panel moderated by Sarah Barratt Ball, Mimesis Innovation: Adam French, Antler; Andrea Taylor, Edinburgh Innovations; Andrew Parfery, CodeBase; Emma Osman, Google; Michael Rovatsos, University of Edinburgh
16:50 - 17:15	End of Day 1 Reflections with Rob Kenedi, Decelerator with Rob Kenedi
17:30 - 19:30	Networking at The Bayes Centre
Friday 14th November
10:00 - 10:30	Arrival & Registration
10:30 - 10:40	Welcome remarks
Building a Cohesive National Tech Strategy	Are the UK’s innovation goals fit for reality? We’ll compare the national agenda against what’s happening on the ground and explore how to align funding, talent, and governance for long-term success, while keeping an eye internationally.
10:45 - 11:05	Keynote - Chris Neumann, Creative Destruction Lab - Yes, and. How startup ecosystems can learn from, connect with, and leverage Silicon Valley.
11:10 - 11:40	Fireside chat hosted by Jennifer Forbes Iannolo, CodeBase with Sarita Runeberg, Maria 01 & Nadine 'Noodles' Groves, Natural Velocity
11:45 - 12:30	Interactive Session led by Emilio Cuevas, Innovate UK
Understanding the UK's Innovation Ecosystem	This interactive session invites participants to share their experiences and perspectives on how the national innovation agenda connects with on-the-ground realities. Together, we’ll explore examples of effective collaboration and discuss what support ecosystems need to deliver lasting impact.
12:30 - 13:15	Diamond 3 Panel moderated by Stephen Coleman, CodeBase: Andrew Roughan, Plexal; David Herbada, Fikra Ventures; Jennifer Craw, Opportunity North East; Mike Jackson, Venture Cafe
13:15 - 13:30	Closing remarks by Dr Steven Roberts, Conception X
13:30 - 14:00	Light lunch
14:00 - 14:30	Event ends

Learning from diversity

We know that no two ecosystems are the same, and each has different challenges, successes and insights depending on geography, industry sector, local politics, and many more factors. We believe in learning from this diversity and from each other, sharing experiences and successes to grow and get better.

Working together to build and grow

There’s an untapped knowledge and experience base out there that can be shared and leveraged to help all of us move forward. This event will encourage sharing and working together outside our own “silos”, to make us stronger together, and help inform groups leading on policy development and lobbying.

Register Now!

Be part of a national gathering for those who build, fund and support startup programmes, a space for open dialogue, meaningful connections, and shared learning to shape a stronger, more ambitious UK startup ecosystem.

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Ecosystem Exchange 2024 Recap

Ecosystem Exchange 2024 brought together the people powering the UK's startup landscape. From universities to investors, government to innovation hubs, it was a space to connect, share and challenge ideas.

Not a conference for startups, but for those who build for them.

A bold first step in reimagining how we grow ecosystems — together.

180+ Attendees from across the UK
108 Organisations across sectors & specialisms
Powerful Panels on role of ecosystem players, competition, unicorns and more
Voices from the Ecosystem consisting of incubators, accelerators, policymakers, universities, investors & more