MK Tech Week presents: The Commercialisation Gap
About this Event
The UK is home to world-class innovation. Yet many promising technology businesses never achieve the commercial success their ideas deserve.
The challenge isn't always the technology.
It's finding the first customers, validating the market, building repeatable revenue, making the right commercial decisions, building strategic partnerships, and knowing when, and how, to scale.
The Commercialisation Gap brings together an exceptional panel of founders, commercial leaders and strategic advisers who have helped innovative businesses navigate exactly these challenges. Between them, they have founded and scaled companies, commercialised breakthrough technologies, built strategic partnerships, secured investment, and advised hundreds of ambitious SMEs across multiple sectors.
Rather than discussing commercialisation in theory, this interactive panel will explore the realities of turning innovation into sustainable growth. Expect practical lessons, honest reflections and real-world experiences covering everything from early customer conversations and product-market fit to funding, governance, partnerships and scaling.
Whether you're building your first product, preparing for growth or supporting innovative businesses, you'll leave with practical ideas, fresh perspectives and actionable insights from people who have successfully navigated the journey themselves.
Meet the Panel
Host
Talitha Heaton
Group Partnerships & Business Development Manager, MPA Group
Working across the innovation ecosystem with founders, investors, universities, banks and professional advisers, Talitha brings together diverse perspectives to facilitate practical discussions that help innovative businesses navigate commercial growth.
Panellists
Mike Price
Founder & Managing Director, MPA Group
Over two decades advising ambitious SMEs on growth, funding and commercial strategy.
George Hunter
Head of Sales, Carnot
Leading the commercialisation of breakthrough clean technology, taking pioneering engineering into global markets.
Joanna Holt
Co-founder, Everoze | Non-Executive Director
Founder, board adviser and energy transition specialist with extensive experience helping innovative businesses scale, secure investment and build strategic partnerships.
Who should attend?
This session is designed for:
- Founders and entrepreneurs
- Technology and innovation businesses
- Scale-ups preparing for growth
- Investors and advisers
- University spin-outs
What you'll take away
- Why great technology alone rarely builds a successful business
- The commercial decisions that have the biggest impact on growth
- Lessons from founders and commercial leaders who have successfully commercialised innovation
- Practical insights into customer acquisition, partnerships, funding and scaling
- Honest reflections on what they'd do differently if starting again
- Opportunities to connect with fellow founders, investors and ecosystem partners
Continue your Founder Journey
This session forms part of a founder-focused programme running throughout the day as part of Milton Keynes Tech Week.
12:00–1:00pm
Investor Ready: What Investors Really Look For (Hosted by ThatRound)
Discover the difference between being investible and investor-ready, hear directly from investors and founders who have successfully raised funding, and learn how to prepare your business for investment.
➡️ Book here: (link TBC)
1:30-4:00pm
Founders' Lounge (Hosted by Central Arc Angels)
Continue the conversation with investors, experienced founders and expert advisers in a relaxed, confidential environment. Whether you're looking for feedback, introductions or guidance on your next steps, this is an opportunity to have meaningful one-to-one conversations with people who can help move your business forward.
➡️ Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/founders-lounge-mk-tech-week-tickets-1999758112346
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00
