Drumroll please…. We’ve got some *big* news, which we’re so excited to share with you. It’s been a long time in the making – it involves learning, grafting and, obviously, free snacks.
After our sell-out event series, About Tomorrow, which explored the landscape of female entrepreneurship in the UK, the feedback we had was amazing. I mean, really amazing. We had women from all over the UK flocking to the capital to learn, share and grow together. But one of the biggest concerns these budding entrepreneurs had was how to get things off the ground. How do you launch a business? How do you just get started? What does the first year look like? The early days of a business are some of the most testing and our readers wanted for more advice on how to get going with their own venture. You spoke, and we listened….
Introducing About the Future: a new festival of entrepreneurship and business in London, which puts on the spotlight on the UK’s most prominent entrepreneurs, business owners and freelancers with 12 thought-provoking events throughout June and July 2018. The festival is dedicated to inspire your personal business journey – we’re all about empowering the next generation of UK entrepreneurs, creatives and self-starters, in a real and tangible way. New venues, new speakers, new sass. We couldn’t be more hyped for this festival.
This festival is dedicated to starting out; how a business first launches, thrives and builds over time. Spanning a range of industries, from food to fitness, we have something for every kind of entrepreneur this summer. We’re so excited to go on this journey with you and we hope you love the events we’ve created. Read on to discover more about the individual events, speakers and how to book About the Future:
CEO Stories: How to Launch, Build + Grow Your Own Business – 5th June 2018 at Jack Solomans Club
What: Thinking of starting your own business but not sure where to start? Already launched a venture and need some advice on how to grow your biz? Want to get inspired by successful young business owners? Just really love free wine? This event is for you. This special evening on the 5th June, at trendy speakeasy bar Jack Soloman’s in Soho, features insight from some very inspiring CEOs and business owners, who will be sharing their personal advice, experience and stories in an intimate, honest panel talk. You will learn how to take an idea into a reality in easy steps, how to add value to your product, speak to consumers and much more.
Speakers: Andrew Newland, Founder of Monty Bojangles, Stephanie Alys, Founder of MysteryVibe and Tamara Rajah, Founder of Live Better With. More speakers to be announced soon.
When: Tuesday 5th June – 6.30-8pm
Where: Jack Solomons Club, 41 Great Windmill Street, London, W1D 7NB, United Kingdom
Secrets of Success: How to Build a Brand You Believe In – 7th June 2018 at Battersea Power Station
What: Want to know the secrets of creating an amazing brand? Have an idea but not sure how to market it? Really need to up your Instagram game? This special evening on the 7th June, at the stunning space The View at Battersea Power Station, is for you. The panel talk features insight from some of the UK’s leading brands, across a range of industries – from food to co-working spaces – who have built their brands from scratch. The founders will be sharing their personal tips on branding in a one-off talk. Forget corporate jargon and lofty business talk, this talk is all about keeping it real – we’ll be discovering the secrets of success from brand owners who have been there and done it.
Speakers: Olivia Wollenberg, Founder of Livia’s Kitchen, Pippa Murray, Founder of Pip & Nut, David Kosky, Co-Founder of Work.Life, Steve Moore, Founder of Flight Club, Adam Sopher, Founder of Joe & Seph’s.
When: Thursday 7th June 2018 – 6.30-8pm
Where: The View, Battersea Power Station, London, SW8 5BW, United Kingdom
What: Thinking of launching a subscription-based business? Interested in how delivery businesses work? Want some inspiration from amazing UK entrepreneurs? Feel like meeting some like-minded creatives? Come along to this special evening on the 12th June, at uber-cool Detox Kitchen in Fitzrovia, which features insight from some fantastic CEOs and business owners who will be sharing their personal advice, experience and stories in a one-off panel talk. There will be snacks, of course.
Speakers: Lily Simpson, Co-Founder of Detox Kitchen, Max Head-Lee, Managing Director of Sourced Box, Laura Fullerton, Founder of Fitty London, Alex Petrides, Co-Founder of Allplants and Phil Burton, COO of Bloom and Wild.
When: Tuesday 12th June – 6.30-8pm
Where: Detox Kitchen, 10 Mortimer St, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 3JJ, United Kingdom
PR Strategy: How to Pitch Publications in the Digital Age – Tuesday 14th June 2018 at Mindspace Aldgate
What: It’s about time we were honest: journalists needs PRs as much as they need us – we rely on them for stories, information and lovely high-res images. So why do journos think that PR people are the enemy; constantly complaining about getting too many press releases, being bombarded with information and being chased about stories? The truth is, it’s about how we work together. And often PRs approach frazzled, deadline-looming writers in the wrong way. If you want a simple, clear, informative chat about what (and what not) to do from some of the UK’s brightest young writers, then we want to meet you. Because we love PRs. WeTransfer links make us happy. And PRs need, no, deserve, to get the most out of journalists. Come learn how to pitch perfect with us in this special PR-focused evening.
Speakers: Angelica Malin, Editor-in-Chief at About Time Magazine, Rebecca Reid, Emma Kane, Founder of Redleaf Communications, Jim Hawker, Co-Founder of Threepipe and Cass Horowitz, Co-Founder of The Clerkenwell Brothers.
When: Tuesday 14th June 2018 – 6.30-8pm
Where: Mindspace, 114 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 7PT, United Kingdom
The Flipside: How to Build a Street Food Business – 19th June 2018 at Mindspace Aldgate
What: Thinking of launching your own street food business? Want to know what it takes to make a street food business a success? Have an idea you’ve been cooking up for a while? Just want some free wine? We’ve got just the ticket for you. This special evening on the 19th June, at trendy co-working hotspot Mindspace, features insight from some of the UK’s top street food companies. The passionate foodies will be sharing their personal tips on building a street food company – a must-book event for any budding food entrepreneurs.
Speakers: Grace Regan, Founder of Spice Box, Rotsen Ibarra, Co-Founder of Petare, Rachel Hugh, Co-Founder of The Vurger Co., Paul Ambrose, Founder of Krapow London and Steve Byrne, Co-Founder of White Men Can’t Jerk.
When: Tuesday 19th June – 6.30-8pm
Where: Mindspace, 114 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 7PT, United Kingdom
Sweatworking: How to Build a Health + Fitness Brand – Thursday 21st June at Mindspace
What: Thinking about launching your own health and fitness brand? Inspired to go it alone? Need guidance on how to build an incredible fitness brand? We’ve got just the event for you this… This special evening on the 21st June, at trendy co-working hotspot Mindspace, features insight from some of the UK’s biggest health and fitness brand. We’ll be learning about what it takes to make it in the fitness industry, with brands who have successful broke into a competitive industry themselves. Get ready to learn with us.
Speakers: Ludovic Rossignol-Isanovic, Founder of Balance Festival, James Gibbor, Founder and Head Trainer F45Liverpool Street, Rachel and Chesea, Co-Founders of BE:FIT London, Leyla Cooper, Founder of Pretty Athletic and Ian McCaig, Founder of FIIT.
When: Thursday 21st June – 6.30-8pm
Where: Mindspace, 114 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 7PT, United Kingdom
Sweet Spot: How to Create + Build a Confectionery Brand – Thursday 28th June 2018 at Cookery School at Little Portland Street
What: Thinking about launching your own company? Want to break into the confectionery industry? Got a business idea that’s hitting a sweet spot? Want free marshmallows? This special evening on the 26th June, at the lovely Cookery School at Little Portland Street, features insight from some of the UK’s most-loved confectionery brands. From marshmallow makes to chocolate entrepreneurs, the super-sweet founders will be sharing their personal tips on building a confectionery brand in an intimate, honest panel talk. We’ll be discovering the secrets of success from the brands who have been there and done it.
Speakers: James Cadbury, Founder of Love Cocoa, Lizzie Bartholomew, Marketing Director at Peppersmith, Harriot Pleydell-Bouverie, Founder of Mallow & Marsh and Paul Eagles, Founder of Kokoa Collection.
When: Thursday 28th June – 6.30-8pm
Where: 15 Little Portland St, Marylebone, London W1W 8BW, UK
Write On: How to Break into Digital Journalism – Sunday 1st July
What: Imagine an editorial space where anything is possible. No idea too wild. No writer too inexperienced. One day, we decided to put 30 aspiring journalists, lots of snacks, pens, paper and ideas together in the room. The result was rather beautiful. After hours of chatting, networking and brainstorming, the result was fantastic editorial ideas, tons of energy and a seriously inspiring day of creative writing. Now About Time Magazine regularly hosts journalism masterclasses – a chance for aspiring journalists to gain one day work experience in a real magazine environment and hear from special speakers on their own journalism careers. Come learn from some of the UK’s top journalists on how to break into the digital media space.
Speakers: Angelica Malin, Editor-in-Chief at About Time Magazine, Ellie Austin, Assistant Editor at the Sunday Times and Lily Niu, Senior Commissioning Editor at Culture Trip.
When: Sunday 1st July 2018 – 10:30-13pm
Where: Central London Location
What: Thinking about launching your own venture? Inspired to go it alone? Need guidance on how to build an incredible brand? This special evening on the 3rd July, at amazing venue The View at Battersea Power Station, will reveal everything you need to know about being a woman in business. These amazing female entrepreneurs will be sharing their personal tips on building a successful company in unique, frank panel talk. We’ll be discovering the secrets of success from the founders themselves – from marketing to brand growth, this talk will be a whirlwind crash-course in how to make your venture a success.
Speakers: Camilla Barnard, Co-Founder of Rude Health, Charli Cohen, Founder of Charli Cohen, Alex Head, Founder of Social Pantry, Hilary Rowland, Co-Founder of BOOM Cycle, April Jackson, Founder of Three Little Birds and Saskia Nelson, Founder of Hey Saturday.
When: Tuesday 3rd July – 6.30-8pm
Where: The View, Battersea Power Station, London, SW8 5BW, United Kingdom
What: Fancy making new freelance friends in London? Thinking about going freelance but not sure where to start? Want to play a round of darts in a fun setting? Introducing: Young, Wild & Freelance, the hottest new community for freelancers in London. We know it can be hard and lonely at times to be freelance, and what we really need is people around you, to support and encourage you. But finding those people can be more trickier than you imagine, and we want to make it even easier to connect with other creative minds, freelancer and self-employed professionals in London. And hey, we don’t discriminate if you have a 9-5 too, we’re happy for anyone who has a creative side project or passion to join the fun. This month’s event is all about taking the plunge – how to follow a path and career you really love, for life.
Speakers: Angelica Malin, Mel Wells and Caroline O’Donoghue
When: Sunday 8th July – 10.30-1pm
Where: Flight Club Bloomsbury, 55 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1BS, United Kingdom