The Agenda

Our team is currently liaising with a number of scale-up businesses, inviting only the best to attend a full day of showcases, networking and discussions at Greyfriars Hall, Virgin Hotel, Edinburgh on 30th September.

Timings.

Investors and scale ups will be given the chance to connect during networking sessions throughout the day, and further discussions can continue at our drinks reception after the formal proceedings.

Agenda - 30 September, 2025

08:45 – 09:45

Registration, Coffee & Networking

Welcome and Introduction

09:45 – 10:00

10:00 – 10:30

Doing the deal: What are the stats for scale-up investments and exits?

This session takes a data-driven look at the state of scale-up investment in the UK over the past year. We’ll explore the volume, size, sector focus and structure of deals, as well as patterns in exits — from M&A activity to IPOs. With a particular focus on the Scottish market, the analysis will ask whether there's a growing gap in late-stage funding, and what this means for ambitious founders and active investors alike. Are Scotland’s high-growth companies getting the capital they need to scale — or are they hitting a ceiling? Join us to unpack the trends, pressure points, and opportunities shaping the current deal landscape

10:30 -11:00

The Scale Up Journey

Federico Charosky is the Founder & CEO of Quorum Cyber. Founded in Edinburgh in 2016, Quorum began as a boutique cybersecurity services firm focused on Microsoft-based managed detection and response. In 2020, Livingbridge made an investment, providing growth capital to scale capabilities in sales, marketing, and service delivery. Quorum quadrupled both its ARR and headcount, and made key hires (e.g., Chairman, Finance Director) and began expansion into the U.S. market. In June 2024, U.S. private equity firm Charlesbank Capital Partners invested as a growth partner, joining Livingbridge and Golding Capital.

Today the firm has over 300 employees across the UK, Canada, and U.S., serving 150–160 recurring clients globally. The firm was recently named Microsoft Security Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) of the Year.

Aiming for Unicorn status, we’ll hear from Federico about the journey so far, and what’s next.

Networking Session

11:00 - 11:45

11:45 - 12:45

Scale up Showcase - AI

According to UK government statistics released in January, an average of £200 million in private sector investment has been funnelled into the UK’s world leading AI sector every day since summer 2024. Scotland is due to be home to the UK’s most powerful supercomputer, thanks to a £750 million investment.

In this showcase, we’ll meet some of the leading scale ups in the space and discuss how AI is impacting the flow of investment monies and how Scotland can take advantage of AI opportunities and how it might impact the economy going forward

12:45 - 13:45

Lunch

13:45 - 14:15

Acquiring for Scale

As businesses mature and markets evolve, acquisition becomes a critical lever for scaling fast and efficiently. We’ll bring together experienced investors and founders to explore how strategic M&A can unlock growth, expand capabilities, and create long-term value.

  • When to Buy vs. Build: Key indicators that signal acquisition is the right path to scale.

  • Investor Perspective: How investors evaluate acquisition strategies in portfolio companies.

  • Integration Playbooks: Lessons learned from successful (and failed) post-acquisition integrations.

  • Cultural Fit & Leadership Continuity: Navigating people dynamics during acquisitions.

Funding our Scale Ups

In this candid, investor-only panel, leading VCs and growth equity partners share how they evaluate and support companies at the scale-up stage — when capital efficiency, sustainable growth, and strategic clarity matter most. Hear what top investors are looking for now, how they think about follow-on capital, and what it really takes to raise in a market that demands both discipline and ambition.

  • What Justifies the Next Round?: Metrics, milestones, and signals that a company is ready to scale.

  • Capital Efficiency vs. Growth at All Costs: The new investor calculus post-2023.

  • How Investors Evaluate Scale-Up Teams: Leadership, depth, and organizational scalability.

  • Fundraising in Today's Market: How capital stacks are changing — from venture to growth equity to alternative financing.

  • Sector Outlooks: Where capital is flowing, and what areas are being deprioritized.

  • Boardroom Dynamics: How investor roles shift as companies mature.

  • Secondaries, Recaps & Extensions: Navigating complex funding scenarios in uncertain markets.

  • Lessons from Downturns: What scale-up investors have learned from market cycles.

14:15 - 15:00

15:00 - 15:45

Networking Session

Building a successful scale-up board

This session will explore the critical role of a board in scaling a business, and how to build the right board at the right time. Our panelists will share real-world experiences, lessons learned, and practical advice on:

  • Identifying the right board composition for different growth stages

  • Balancing governance with entrepreneurial agility

  • Navigating founder dynamics and investor expectations

  • Leveraging board expertise to unlock strategic growth

15:45 - 16:15

Keynote Speaker - TBA

16:15 - 17:00

Wrap Up

17:00 - 17:15

Drinks Reception

We invite attendees to join your colleagues to relax after a high-octane day with some drinks and nibbles in the Courtyard.

Agenda topics and timing are subject to change