Investing in tech – gold mine or money pit?

Technology businesses offer the intriguing possibility of exponential growth and global scale, sometimes dressed up in the cliché of “find the next Facebook”.

But with such a disruptive landscape and costs of gaining traction, how do investors balance the potential rewards with the very real costs and competitive risks?

Those are the key questions we’ll be discussing with an experienced panel at our 2025 Rainmakers conference.

So save the date for Rainmakers 2025 –  Wednesday 26 March, 2025 – and secure your place today. 

The Point, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester.

The 2025 Rainmakers Conference is being supported by BGF, Dow Schofield Watts, NorthEdge, Palatine, Shawbrook, Squire Patton Boggs, while PHD Industrial Holdings is a breakout room partner.

Joining us will be Helen Oldham from Lifted Ventures, Kit Muir-Rogers from GigPig, Pat Molyneux from KPMG Acceleris, Cheshire Business Board Steve Purdham who successfully built and sold Surf Control, and David Richards of Yorkshire AI Labs.

David Richards, Managing Partner, Yorkshire AI Labs David, a software industry veteran with 25+ years of executive experience, is a visionary leader and stalwart supporter of British technology. As the founder and former CEO of WANdisco, a global powerhouse in distributed computing and big data, he’s left an indelible mark on the industry. He is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Yorkshire AI Labs – a revolutionary approach to venture capital based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Kit Muir-Rogers, co-founder, GigPig brings vast operational hospitality experience to his role at GigPig, where he leads a team responsible for establishing and expanding relationships with bars, clubs and restaurants across the UK and helps nurture talent to become successful gigging artists, helping them navigate pitfalls and challenges which often prompt musicians to leave the industry. 

Steve Purdham, is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with a distinguished career in technology and innovation. He co-founded SurfControl Plc, a pioneering cybersecurity firm that grew into a FTSE250 company, valued at over £1 billion, before its sale for $400 million in 2007. His entrepreneurial ventures continued with WE7, a music streaming service launched alongside Peter Gabriel, which attracted over 3 million UK users and was later sold to Tesco.

Helen Oldham is Co Founder of Lifted Ventures, an early stage investment connector which makes regional funding accessible to all, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, neuro or physical diversity. Lifted has an angel network at its core alongside education, community and consultancy. In 2020 she founded Fund Her North, a collective of women in VCs who support female founders to get equal access to finance.

Patrick Molyneux is a Partner at KPMG Acceleris, focused on venture capital fundraising advisory. Patrick combines extensive professional services expertise with entrepreneurial experience, having spent his early career at a high-growth technology startup. Patrick’s experience on both sides of the table ensures Patrick is well placed to partner with early-stage high-growth companies when navigating their capital strategy. Recent deals include advising on a £20m Series A fundraise in Agtech and a £6m fundraise in Cleantech. Further experience includes working on transactions from pre-seed through to pre- IPO and IPO transactions. Patrick is a Member of the ICAEW, having secured the Corporate Finance Qualification, sits on the advisory committee of the EIS Association and is part of the Mayor of the City of London’s international Fintech delegation.

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So save the date for Rainmakers 2025 –  Wednesday 26 March, 2025 – and secure your place today. 

The Point, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester.

The 2025 Rainmakers Conference is being supported by BGF, Dow Schofield Watts, NorthEdge, Palatine, Shawbrook, Squire Patton Boggs, while PHD Industrial Holdings is a breakout room partner.

Michael Taylor, editor at TheBusinessDesk.com said: “A great deal has been done behind the scenes to ensure the Rainmakers community – investors and advisors – continue to contribute to the prosperity of the North, under a new government.

“We have also developed our dedicated Rainmakers platform to bring lively commentary, investigations and exclusive interviews.

“This has been a game changer in shaping the level and quality of the conversation around the challenges and opportunities, and has given a voice to this community.

“In March 2025 TheBusinessDesk.com is returning with Rainmakers 2025 which promises to bring more opportunities to network, more amazing speakers, more candid debate, more inspiring entrepreneurs, but also a chance discuss the challenges of value creation.”

The first Rainmakers Conference this March sold out, with more than 400 people attending to hear the insights and perspectives from entrepreneurs, investors and advisors, and to network with senior figures from across the corporate finance community.

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Tickets:

Standard Ticket | £199
For finance professionals shaping deals, investments, and strategies in the corporate finance sector.

Industry Leader Ticket | £125 + VAT
For CEOs, CFOs, and senior management driving financial success in their industries.

Book your tickets today at www.rainmakersconference.co.uk