ASCENT: Financing your way to £1m revenue

Getting to £1m revenue takes more than ambition.

For many entrepreneurs, one of the biggest decisions is how to fund the journey. Do you bootstrap and grow carefully? Do you raise investment and move faster? Do you use debt or external finance to support expansion? And how do those decisions shape the business you are building?

This ASCENT Founder Event will explore the different ways entrepreneurs finance growth, and what you need to consider as you work towards £1m revenue.

Hosted by Kari Owers, founder of O.Agency, the conversation brings together entrepreneurs who have taken different routes to funding growth, from organic expansion to raising investment and using finance to support scale.

Amy Mooney, co-founder of Unwritten Creative and Mutha Cuva, will share her experience of bootstrapping a creative agency and raising finance for her latest venture.

David Blair, co-founder of Blair West, will reflect on growing his recruitment business from a two-person start-up into a team of 17, while raising investment from Northstar Ventures and recently securing a seven-figure investment from Frontier Development Capital to support future growth.

Louis Freeman, director at family-run LeisureSpace, brings the perspective of a business that has grown organically, opening sites in Stockton, Hartlepool and Newcastle under the Jump360 brand without taking on any external finance.

Taking questions throughout, together they will share what different funding routes look like in practice, the trade-offs involved, and how entrepreneurs can make better decisions about financing growth.

The Conversation
We’ll explore questions including:

•         What are the different ways to finance growth towards £1m revenue?
•         When does bootstrapping make sense, and what discipline does it require?
•         When might external investment help a business move faster?
•         What should you understand before taking on finance?
•         What can organically funded businesses teach others about sustainable growth?
•      How do you choose the right route for the business you are trying to build?
  
  

What You’ll Take Away
You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the funding options available to grow your business, the practical realities behind the different routes, and how those choices can shape your business. You’ll hear honest experience from entrepreneurs who have made different funding decisions, giving you a rounded view of what it takes to finance growth towards £1m revenue.

The Small Print
This event is open to all members and partners of the Forum. Guest places are available to founders you believe would benefit from becoming part of the first ASCENT cohort. Places are limited.

To ensure you have a great experience, please let us know in advance if you have any dietary or accessibility requirements. If you need to cancel or amend your booking, please notify us as soon as possible.

Please be aware that your name, job title and company may be shared with our Forum partners and event attendees for event‑related purposes. Should you wish to remove yourself from any delegate lists, please let us know.