Regional Ecosystems That Work: Connecting Founders, Funders and Place Leaders (Opening Ceremony Day Two)

Strong regional ecosystems are built through trust, collaboration and clear leadership. This session explores how regions can connect founders, funders and place leaders more effectively to create better routes to support, capital and growth. 

Strong regional ecosystems do not happen by accident. They are built through trust, shared ambition, visible leadership and practical collaboration between founders, funders, universities, corporates, local government and support organisations. 

Across the UK, combined authorities and regional leaders are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the conditions for business growth. But the most successful ecosystems are not built by one organisation working alone. They are built when the right people connect around clear regional strengths, founder needs, investment opportunities and long-term economic priorities. 

This session brings together key voices from combined authorities and regional innovation ecosystems to explore how places can work better together to support high-growth businesses, attract investment, retain talent and create stronger routes between founders, funders and markets. 

Who should attend 

This session is for combined authority and local authority leaders involved in economic growth, innovation, investment, skills or business support, as well as ecosystem builders working with startups, scaleups, universities, investors and corporate partners. 

It will also be relevant for founders looking to access regional support, networks and funding; funders and investors engaging with high-growth businesses outside London; universities, accelerators, incubators and innovation hubs; business support organisations; professional services firms; corporates interested in regional innovation and supply chains; and policy, place and economic development professionals focused on practical ecosystem building. 

Why it’s relevant 

The UK has strong regional assets: ambitious founders, research-intensive universities, specialist clusters, sector strengths, corporate anchors, skilled workforces and active local leadership. Too often, however, these assets are fragmented. 

Founders may not know where to find the right support. Investors may struggle to navigate regional deal flow. Public sector programmes may not always connect fully with private sector needs. Ecosystem builders may be doing valuable work, but without enough coordination, visibility or shared direction. 

At a time when growth, productivity, innovation and investment are central priorities for regions across the UK, collaboration is no longer optional. It is essential. For combined authorities, this is about building ecosystems that deliver economic impact. For founders, it is about better access to the people, capital and opportunities they need to grow. For funders, it is about understanding where credible regional opportunities are emerging. 

What you’ll take away

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what makes a regional ecosystem work, and the role combined authorities can play in supporting founders, funders and growth businesses. 

The session will provide practical examples of collaboration between public sector, private sector, investors and ecosystem organisations, along with ideas for making regions easier for founders and investors to navigate. 

You will also gain a stronger understanding of what founders need from regional ecosystems, what funders need to see before engaging more actively with regional opportunities, and how regions can improve connectivity between local strengths, business support, investment and market opportunities.