Bird & Bird x SXSW

Bird & Bird’s Entrepreneurial AM: from seed to scale and beyond

SXSW has helped launch global names like Twitter and Airbnb – so what does it take to scale a startup in the UK today? This fast-paced morning session will talk to the TMT industry on what it takes to grow and scale in the UK’s market. We’ll explore the UK’s place in the battle for access to capital, talent, markets, and liquidity. Focusing on funders, founders, and policy makers, who have eyes on what the UK needs to do to create a world-class environment for entrepreneurs, high growth, and innovation.  

Panel 1: What makes the UK a great place to set up a high-growth company (or what needs to change)? 

• Karim Palant, Director of External Affairs at the BVCA
• Glen Waters, Head of Early-Stage Tech & Life Sciences at HSBC Innovation Banking
• Emily Watts, Head of Corporate Development at Cavendish
• Neil Shah, Head of Tech & Tech-Enabled Sector, Primary Markets, London Stock Exchange
• Moderated by Mark Rundall, Partner, Bird & Bird

Panel 2: The jam in the ultimate sandwich: the entrepreneur’s perspective

A two-part look at:

(1) the experience of entrepreneurs raising investment, meeting financier’s expectations in volatile markets, and

(2) exploring the entrepreneurial mindset, and the experience of women and minority background entrepreneurs.

Speakers include:

• Matthew Dearden, CEO, Alight Media
• Juan Delgado, CEO, FootballCo
• Sebastian Lewis, CEO, Plucky and Founder, onetoten
• Chris Sahota, CEO, Ciesco
• Kelly Kehn, Co-founder, Defy the Odds
• Karolina Pelc, VP BeyondPlay;
• Moderated by Richard McMorris, Partner, Bird & Bird

Panel 3: “Fireside discussion” - Born in the UK, bred in the US? Does the US have to be the path to success?

• Xen Lategan, media-tech CTO, investor and advisor
• Gerald Janes, CTO, critical friend and board advisor
• Moderated by Roger Bickerstaff, Partner, Bird & Bird
  

14:00 - 16:30  

Games Growth Summit: Bite-sized @ SXSW with Bird & Bird & Games Growth Agency

Panel 1: Self-Publishing for Indies: Everything You Need to Know (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Join us for an action-packed afternoon of expert panels, real talk, and insider tips on how to publish your game, grow your studio, and navigate the indie grind like a pro.

• MJ Lewis, Producer, Kepler Interactive (Clair Obscur, PVKK, Rematch)
• Thomas Reisenegger, Future Friends (Exo One, The Cabin Factory, Gourdlets)
• Pietro de Grandi, Founder, Strelka & Funselektor (Golden Lap, Over the Hill)
• Anna Hollinrake, Creative Director and Co-Founder at Electric Saint, launching the KS for Crescent County
• Moderated by George Willard, Co-Founder & CEO of Secret Sauce

Panel 2: Beyond The Controller: Games as Multimedia Entertainment

With the likes of Minecraft, Super Mario, and The Last of Us seeing huge success on the big and small screens, investors, studios and broader media really are opening their eyes to the potential of games. But what is behind a successful transition of games into areas like cinema, TV, music, books, and live events? We’ll explore what works, what often goes wrong, and how to get it right.

• Bogac Erozan, EMEA Team Lead, Riot Games
• Gemma Cooper, Director of Gaming, DDA
• AJ Grand Scrutton, CEO, Dlala Studios
• Haley Uyrus, Marketing Creative Lead, Rovio
• David Braben, President & Founder, Frontier Developments
• Moderated by Will Deller, Partner, Bird & Bird

MediaWrites Party  

We’re closing the day with an evening panel and rooftop party. We’ll be talking to industry experts about how AI is reshaping the creative industries, what the current blockers are to adopting and deploying it, and how regulation might change the game. Join us for guaranteed sharp insight, good food, and a laid-back space to network with like-minded individuals.

• Krishna Sood, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft
• Rishi Coupland, Director of Research and Industry Innovation, BFI
• Matthew Drinkwater, Fashion Innovation Agency (London College of Fashion)
• Moderated by Toby Bond, Partner, Bird & Bird