YCF CONFERENCE 2026: VALUATIONS

YCF CONFERENCE 2026: VALUATIONS

Agenda

7am – 9am – Showcase and sponsor banner-stand set-up

9am – 9:30am – Registration and networking

9:30am – 9:40am: A welcome from our conference chairs, Bob Hair, Head of UK Regions, and Sandra Dailidyte, Portfolio Manager, both of Cazenove Capital

9.40am- 9.50am – Mr Tom Arthur, Minister for Business and Fair Work, will give the opening address

9:50am – 10am: Newcomer investors to the Scottish market – Alison Grieve, editor-in-chief, YCF

10am – 10:20am: Conviction Before Consensus –  Gerard Cunningham, Global Scot, AI & deep tech in regulated markets since 1986, with 6 exits, 2 unicorns, Silicon Valley – Scotland

10:20am – 10:40am: Beyond the Product: How IP Creates Company Value – Noelle Pearson and David Murray of Marks and Clerk will be joined by Steve Smith-Hay, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Vault City Brewing for a fireside chat.

10:40am – 11am: BUILT TO LAST: What actually keeps teams together – Ewan Anderson of Eden Scott TalentSpark will host a panel on culture, retention and future-proofing teams, featuring Kirsty Bathgate, founder of Bravyn, Paul Reid, founder of Aptiq Works, and Natalie O’Hare, HR Director (People Consulting) at AAB.

11am – 11:30am – Refreshments with the Showcase Companies

11:30am – 11.55am: Derek Shaw, director of investment and Entrepreneurship at Scottish Enterprise will provide an overview of the Scottish market, including themes emerging from H1 2026, followed by a panel with Stuart Bain (ex-CEO of Design LED) and Niki McKenzie of Archangels.

11:55am – 12:00pm: The Value of Community: Claudia Cavalluzzo, Director, the Venture Cafe Edinburgh

12:00pm – 12:20pm: Modwenna Rees-Mogg CEO and cofounder of Athla Capital Management and Claire Withers CTA, senior associate at Burges Salmon LLP will discuss incentivising and retaining talent in scaling businesses, and the role valuations can play in that process.

12:20pm – 12:40pm: Professor Lynne Cadenhead will provide an overview of a new initiative for angels investing in the film industry – Lights, Camera, Capital – and will be joined by Michiel Smith of Apollo Informal Investments and BAFTA nominated writer and director Ryan Hendrick of Magic Monkey Films

12:40pm – 13:00pm: Understanding Brand Value –  Elizabeth Fairly, COO and cofounder of Talking Medicines joins Ross Macdonald, creative strategist at Frame for a fireside chat.

13:00pm – 14:00pm: Lunch with Showcase Companies

14:00pm – 14:10: Sandra Dailidyte and Bob Hair will provide an overview of Invest2Scale’s new programme of Masterclasses for supporting scaling companies in Scotland

14:10pm – 15:10pm: QUESTION TIME: Founders question funders

FUNDER PANEL

Emily Macdonald, Head of Investments at Firstport (Venture Catalyst Fund)

Alex Lusty, Gatekeeper, Gabriel Investment Syndicate

Jane Reoch, Executive Director, Scottish National Investment Bank

Gerard Cunningham, Silicon Valley VC

FOUNDERS

Each will provide a 5 minute overview of their company at the lectern followed by a question to the panel, related in some way to valuations.

Professor Ed Craig, President, Carbogenics

Kayleigh McAllister and Shaun McAllister, cofounders at Bloom Box

Ahmed Suliman, founder, Volkcell

Jessica-Rose Watson, cofounder and CEO, GLORIAH

15:10pm – 15:30pm: A journey through time, from pre-seed to exit… and beyond. A fireside chat with Daniel Rodgers founder of QikServe (acquired by Access Group)

15.30 – 15:40pm – Closing remarks from Bob Hair and Sandra Dailidyte

15:40pm – 16:30pm: Networking with Showcase Companies

17:00pm – The Evening Gathering @ Venture Cafe Edinburgh, Edinburgh Futures Institute. Sign up for a ticket to the evening gathering here: https://community.venturecafeedinburgh.org/events/29?lang=en