11:00–11:30
Startup Day: Arrival & Registration
The Biscuit FactoryRegistration opens for Startup Day at The Biscuit Factory, grab your lanyard and a coffee as we get underway.
The Agenda
Download the agenda (PDF)A day dedicated to founders and operators where high signal keynotes meet deep dive roundtables, founder firesides and hours of networking with peers and industry experts.
11:00
11:30
11:30–11:40
Startup Day: Official Welcome & MC Remarks
The Biscuit FactoryA warm welcome from Turing Fest's CEO, Brian Corcoran and your emcee.
11:40
11:40–12:00
Becoming the Obvious Choice: Turning Customers Into Advocates
The Biscuit FactoryWinning customers is hard. Becoming the company they recommend is harder. Lets explore how early-stage B2B founders can create customer value that drives trust, retention, referrals, and expansion. It's time to become the obvious choice in your market.
12:00
12:00–12:35
Startup Roundtables: Session 1
The Biscuit FactoryJoin one of our Startup Roundtables to discuss and unpack the latest challenges and opportunities facing today's founders and operators.
10 roundtables to choose from
- 1 Building in Moments: Where Product, Brand & Marketing Meet
- 2 Should You Raise Now, Later, or Never?
- 3 How to Get Customers Without Asking What They Want
- 4 Pricing: What Should You Charge - And When Should You Change It?Host to be announced
- 5 Are You a Wrapper? The Honest Defensibility Test
- 6 How Many People Should You Hire - And Who Should They Be?
- 7 When Everyone Has the Same AI, What's Your Moat?
- 8 How Important Are Product Features in the Age of AI?
- 9 How to Avoid Burning Out When Everything is Changing
- 10 Message-Market-Fit: Reaching the Right Customers in a Crowded Market
12:05
12:05–12:35
Building Global From Day One: What Founders Get Right (and Wrong) When Going International
The Biscuit FactorySome founders are told to focus on their home market, but what if thinking globally from day one could change your trajectory? Darina Garland helped turn Ooni from a bootstrapped startup into a globally recognised brand by building international ambition into the business early. Darina unpacks the founder decisions that mattered most, the often-overlooked importance of culture, and her biggest lessons learned turning a home experiment into a global success story - plus live audience Q&A.
12:40
13:45
13:45–14:15
From Zero to Product-Market Fit: What Matters Most in the First 24 Months
The Biscuit FactoryFounder advice is everywhere - but progress comes from focusing on the right things. Ross co-founded Wordsmith AI in 2023, three years later and it's become one of Europe's standout AI companies. Drawing on real experience of scaling at speed, Ross breaks down a handful of founder-led decisions that matter most in the early stages. He shares what founders should obsess over, what they should ignore, and the signals that actually matter on the road to PMF. Ross unpacks the biggest insights from his founder journey and wraps things up with some live audience Q&A.
13:45–14:15
Startup Roundtables: Session 2
The Biscuit FactoryJoin one of our Startup Roundtables to discuss and unpack the latest challenges and opportunities facing today's founders and operators.
10 roundtables to choose from
- 1 Building in Moments: Where Product, Brand & Marketing Meet
- 2 Should You Raise Now, Later, or Never?
- 3 How to Get Customers Without Asking What They Want
- 4 Pricing: What Should You Charge - And When Should You Change It?Host to be announced
- 5 Are You a Wrapper? The Honest Defensibility Test
- 6 How Many People Should You Hire - And Who Should They Be?
- 7 When Everyone Has the Same AI, What's Your Moat?
- 8 How Important Are Product Features in the Age of AI?
- 9 How to Avoid Burning Out When Everything is Changing
- 10 Message-Market-Fit: Reaching the Right Customers in a Crowded Market
14:25
14:25–15:00
AI Experimentation
The Biscuit FactoryAI Experimentation is a practical look at how we are using AI inside Skyscanner to learn fast, ship faster, and make better decisions about where it genuinely adds value. Rather than treating AI as a single big transformation programme, we are testing it in the real world: in day-to-day engineering work, in team workflows, in frameworks, in forward-deployed engineers, and in how we think about productivity, quality, and cost.
14:25–15:00
AI Leadership & Integration: The Practical Playbook for Your Business
The Biscuit FactoryAI is reshaping how startups build, operate, and scale. Learn how leading founders are embedding AI into strategy and day-to-day operations, what investors expect from your AI roadmap, and how to build teams that scale responsibly.
14:25–15:00
What Founders Need to Know: Venture Trends, M&A & Dealmaking
The Biscuit FactoryThe startup market is changing. Capital is moving differently, AI is reshaping dealmaking, and acquisitions are back - but with new rules.It's no secret: founders build great companies through great strategy and decision-making. Since 2015, Orrick has overseen hundreds of deals and quickly become Europe's leading venture legal adviser. The playbook has changed and it's time to find out how.Market experts, Raphael Crouan and Shawn Atkinson join us to unpack what's really changing for today's founders. A session packed with experience and insights on market trends, and how to stay fundable and strategically valuable in a rapidly changing ecosystem.
15:05
15:40
15:40–16:00
The New GTM Playbook: Aligning and Accelerating Your Revenue
The Biscuit FactoryThe rules of go-to-market have changed. Learn how early-stage B2B founders can build a winning GTM strategy from day one, from positioning and customer acquisition to AI-powered sales, distribution, and repeatable growth.
16:05
16:05–16:25
Building an Agent-Powered Startup: A Practical Toolkit for Ambitious Founders
The Biscuit FactoryWhat does it take to build an agent-first startup? Explore how AI agents will reshape products, teams, and operations and what ambitious founders need to build now to stay competitive and scale smarter.
16:25
16:25–16:30
Startup Day: MC Closing Remarks
The Biscuit FactoryA brief summary and wrap-up from your emcee.
17:10
17:10–17:55
Happy Hour
The Biscuit FactoryHappy hour gets underway - grab a drink on us and mix with your peers after the content has finished.
18:15
18:15–20:45
Founder Dinners
Intimate dinners with a small number of founders and operators, hosted at restaurants across Edinburgh. An evening spent with peers in an informal setting because sometimes the best networking happens outside of office hours.
21:00
21:00–23:00
Opening Party
EveThe Opening Party takes place at Eve, music venue at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, bringing founders, investors, and operators together in a relaxed setting after the day’s sessions. The first round is on us, with a VIP lounge area and a live vinyl DJ until 11pm.
RSVP coming soon!
An investor-only day where market intel, deal flow and new opportunities are uncovered. Expect tactical keynotes, peer-to-peer roundtables and some serious networking.
12:00
12:00–13:30
VC Deal Exchange
Investor ticket and participation must be confirmed.
New for 2026, a VC-only side event taking place before Investor Day. Limited to just 20 investors, this is a genuine deal flow platform. Each investor must bring one investable company to gain entry. In return, you'll access 19 additional opportunities already backed by another VC's interest and initial diligence. Hosted under the Chatham House Rule, VC Deal Exchange transforms networking into measurable pipeline development. Bring one deal, get access to nineteen.
13:30
13:30–14:00
Investor Day: Arrival & Registration
Edinburgh Futures InstituteRegistration opens for Investor Day, join us at the Edinburgh Futures Institute to grab your lanyard and a coffee as we get underway.
14:00
14:00–14:10
Investor Day: Official Welcome & MC Remarks
Edinburgh Futures InstituteA warm welcome to Investor Day from Turing Fest's CEO, Brian Corcoran and your emcee.
14:10
14:10–14:30
The VC Playbook is Dead - What Happens Next?
Edinburgh Futures InstituteThe old VC playbook no longer guarantees returns. As AI, market shifts, and founder expectations reshape venture, how should B2B investors adapt? Explore the new strategies for sourcing, diligence, portfolio support, and winning in a changing market.
14:35
14:35–15:05
Investor Roundtables: Session 1
Edinburgh Futures InstituteJoin one of our seven Investor Roundtables as we dive into the most pressing topics in today's market.
7 roundtables to choose from
- 1 The Exit Gap - What Happens in the Midst of a Quiet M&A Market
- 2 How to Find Deals in a World of AI Outbound
- 3 Which Categories Are Still Wide Open for VC - And Which Are Too Crowded?EV Esha Vatsa
- 4 How AI Has Changed What it Means to Add Real Value
- 5 The New Founder Profile: What Earns a Term Sheet in 2026?
- 6 How Investors are Selecting Startups in an AI World
- 7 Price vs Conviction: How to Win Deals Without Overpaying
15:10
15:10–15:45
The AI-Native GTM Team: What the Hiring Data Tells Us
Edinburgh Futures InstituteComing soon!
15:10–15:45
What Investors Really Want From Founders Today
Edinburgh Futures InstituteWhat makes a business investable in today’s market? Hear from Barclays on the signals that matter most from AI readiness and leadership to scalability, execution, and the qualities that separate standout founders from the rest.
15:50
16:25
16:25–16:55
Investor Roundtables: Session 2
Edinburgh Futures InstituteJoin a new Investor Roundtable and discuss a second hot topic from today's investment market.
7 roundtables to choose from
- 1 The Exit Gap - What Happens in the Midst of a Quiet M&A Market
- 2 How to Find Deals in a World of AI Outbound
- 3 Which Categories Are Still Wide Open for VC - And Which Are Too Crowded?EV Esha Vatsa
- 4 How AI Has Changed What it Means to Add Real Value
- 5 The New Founder Profile: What Earns a Term Sheet in 2026?
- 6 How Investors are Selecting Startups in an AI World
- 7 Price vs Conviction: How to Win Deals Without Overpaying
16:55
16:55–17:00
Investor Day: MC Closing Remarks
Edinburgh Futures InstituteA brief summary and wrap-up from your emcee.
17:35
17:35–18:20
Happy Hour
Edinburgh Futures InstituteHappy hour gets underway - grab a drink on us and mix with your peers after the content has finished.
18:45
18:45–21:15
Investor Dinner
Edinburgh CastleThe Investor Dinner takes place at the historic Edinburgh Castle. This is where Europe’s leading early-stage VCs and investors will gather for an evening of great food, great company and great conversation, all taking place right before the Summit Day.
Brought to you by: Orrick & Barclays.
Invite only.
21:00
21:00–23:00
Opening Party
EveThe Opening Party takes place at Eve, music venue at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, bringing founders, investors, and operators together in a relaxed setting after the day’s sessions. The first round is on us, with a VIP lounge area and a live vinyl DJ until 11pm.
RSVP coming soon!
Where founders, operators and investors come together. The ultimate mix of high level keynotes, in-depth roundtable conversations and 1:1 meetings with key decision makers.
07:00
07:00–07:45
5k Run
Start your day right. We're hosting a 5k run before Summit Day kicks off, so whether you're an avid runner or just want to see Edinburgh at pace, we'll be gathering a group of founders, operators, and investors to join you. Get the miles in before the meetings.
08:30
08:30–09:30
Summit Day: Arrival & Registration
The Biscuit FactoryRegistration opens for Summit Day at The Biscuit Factory.
09:30
09:30–09:40
Summit Day: Official Welcome & MC Remarks
The Biscuit FactoryA warm welcome from Turing Fest's CEO, Brian Corcoran and your emcee.
09:42
09:42–10:05
Positioning in the Age of AI
The Biscuit FactoryWorld-class positioning expert, April Dunford, takes the main stage to unpack how AI is reshaping B2B positioning. Grab a seat to learn how to sharpen your messaging, stand out in crowded markets, and position your product around customer value, not features, in an era where every company claims to be “AI-powered.”
10:07
10:35
10:35–10:55
Networking Break / Speaker Q&A Roundtables
The Biscuit FactoryNetworking break along with speaker circles - roundtables facilitated by our morning speakers to give you the chance to ask those important questions.
11:00
11:00–11:40
Summit Roundtables
The Biscuit FactoryJoin one of eight Summit Roundtables as we unpack the most pressing topics in today's market.
8 roundtables to choose from
- 1 Building AI-Native GTM: How to Get it Right
- 2 How to Build Your First B2B Marketing Engine (Before Increasing Headcount)
- 3 AI Agent Architectures: What Will Matter in 2027?
- 4 What Enterprise Buyers Actually Want Right Now
- 5 How to Make Your GTM Hires a Success
- 6 What Happens When Your Model Provider Changes the RulesHost to be announced
- 7 What Marketing Still Works in the AI Era?
- 8 How to Build Traction Without Burning Cash
11:45
11:45–12:25
Summit Roundtables
The Biscuit FactoryJoin a new Summit Roundtable as we unpack the most pressing topics in today's market.
8 roundtables to choose from
- 1 Build or Buy - How to Make the Right Decision
- 2 How to Get Your Pricing Right - And Why it Matters
- 3 How Early Should You Think Global?
- 4 AI, Agents & Sales: What's Actually Working (and What's Just GTM Hype?)Host to be announced
- 5 What Earns a Term Sheet Today?
- 6 From Small Deals to Big Logos: Moving Upmarket to Land Bigger Customers
- 7 Fundraising: What Attracts Investors in Today's Market?
- 8 The Hardest AI Decision You’ve Made This Year
12:30
12:45
12:45–13:15
Live Podcast: Pathfounders with Mike Butcher
The Biscuit FactoryA live podcast on the main stage hosted by Mike Butcher, Founder & Editor of Pathfounders.
13:30
13:30–14:10
Summit Roundtables
The Biscuit FactoryJoin a new Summit Roundtable as we unpack the most pressing topics in today's market.
8 roundtables to choose from
- 1 Building AI-Native GTM: How to Get it Right
- 2 How to Build Your First B2B Marketing Engine (Before Increasing Headcount)
- 3 AI Agent Architectures: What Will Matter in 2027?
- 4 What Enterprise Buyers Actually Want Right Now
- 5 How to Make Your GTM Hires a Success
- 6 What Happens When Your Model Provider Changes the RulesHost to be announced
- 7 What Marketing Still Works in the AI Era?
- 8 How to Build Traction Without Burning Cash
14:15
14:15–14:55
Summit Roundtables
The Biscuit FactoryJoin a new Summit Roundtable as we unpack the most pressing topics in today's market.
8 roundtables to choose from
- 1 Build or Buy - How to Make the Right Decision
- 2 How to Get Your Pricing Right - And Why it Matters
- 3 How Early Should You Think Global?
- 4 AI, Agents & Sales: What's Actually Working (and What's Just GTM Hype?)Host to be announced
- 5 What Earns a Term Sheet Today?
- 6 From Small Deals to Big Logos: Moving Upmarket to Land Bigger Customers
- 7 Fundraising: What Attracts Investors in Today's Market?
- 8 The Hardest AI Decision You’ve Made This Year
15:00
15:30
15:30–15:55
What's Making AI Deployment Work vs Not
The Biscuit FactoryEveryone is building with AI, but few are deploying it successfully. Join Husayn Kassai, Founder & CEO of Ollo, for an inside look at what separates AI products that deliver real business impact from those that never make it past the hype.
16:00
16:25
16:25–16:30
Summit Day: MC Closing Remarks
The Biscuit FactoryA brief summary and wrap-up from your emcee of Summit Day.