Entrepreneurship was the topic of discussion for the skilled panel of experts and more than 60 guests who came together at Merchants’ Hall to explore the entrepreneurial journey from start-up to scale-up, and the conditions needed to support long-term growth in our region.
The panel featured three experienced and innovative leaders:
Harry Destecroix MBE, founder of Ziylo and Science Creates, now Managing Partner at SCVC, spoke about his experience building deep tech companies in Bristol and what helped and hindered that journey.
Fiona Pollard CBE, Chair of Monument Bank, shared her experience launching a regulated challenger bank from concept through to success.
Charles Mindenhall CBE, co-founder of Blenheim Chalcot, reflected on lessons from building multiple high-growth ventures and helping transform London’s White City into a thriving innovation district.
Valuable insights shared included:
- Early-stage risk and what helps founders, and funders, take the leap.
- The realities of scaling and what often gets overlooked.
- The invaluable role of mentors, boards, long-term investment and integrity.
- What we can learn from other ecosystems, and the emerging opportunities in our region.
- How successful businesses can give back to the community and support others.
The event chair, Heather Frankham, linked the conversation to the ambition of the West of England Regional Growth Plan that aims to make this one of the best regions in the UK for innovation and enterprise. She asked the panel to share their thoughts on what’s needed to create an environment where innovative businesses can not only start but stay and grow.
Highlights included:
- The difference between struggling and thriving comes down to having the right people, the right support and the right networks.
- Failures are the lessons learned on the pathway to success.
- Collaboration is vital – become part of an ecosystem and build the infrastructure together.
The event brought together business entrepreneurs and leaders who are helping to drive innovation and enterprise, highlighting the importance of shared knowledge, long-term thinking and a collective commitment to building a thriving future for the region.
It was a powerful reminder that while the entrepreneurial journey is rarely straightforward, the right environment that fosters collaboration, champions innovation and invests in people, can make all the difference.
