The top 5 startup events for founders to attend in 2025

Starting a new business can be exciting, but it can also be tough. You’re going to need a lot of information, advice and support, as well as that all-important funding. You’ll also need to be making connections to find new clients and partners, and help your startup grow.

This is why it’s a good idea for startup founders to attend industry events, but which are the best ones to be adding to your calendar?

Read on for a rundown of all the top startup events for founders to attend in the last part of 2025, and into 2026.This includes networking events, conferences and industry-specific events, some of which are free to attend.

And if you’re exploring financial solutions for your startup, make sure to check out Wise Business. It’s ideal for companies of all sizes, especially if you have big plans to go global

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5 startup events to sign up to today

As the founder of a startup, your time is precious. This means that if you’re taking time out to attend an industry event, it needs to be worth your while.

However, attending business events can potentially be a springboard to something bigger for your startup - whether it’s a valuable new contact, a lead on funding or advice and support from industry experts who’ve been in your shoes.

Let’s take a look at some of the best startup events founders to attend in late 2025 and early 2026, so that you can plan your calendar.

Slush

Date: 19th to 20th November 2025 - Helsinki, Finland

Run by the non-profit organisation the Startup Foundation, Slush is a leading annual startup event - with a particular focus on tech. The event is attended by over 13,000 people each year and brings together founders and investors, as well as other key players in the European startup ecosystem.²

The event may only last 2 days, but it packs in a lot - including 600+ side events, 1,000+ pre-scheduled meetings per hour and over 150 world-class speakers. ²Plus, a startup-investor matchmaking service.

It’s ideal for tech startups looking to learn, share ideas and make valuable connections within Europe and the Nordic region - as well as those hoping to start the process of securing funding.

North West Expo

Date: 20th November 2025 - Manchester

Held in Manchester’s Etihad Stadium, North West Expo is a fantastic event for entrepreneurs and founders based in the North of England.

It offers everything you’d expect from a major B2B business conference and networking event, including keynote speakers, exhibitors, workshops and learning opportunities. It’s the ideal opportunity for startups to connect with other businesses in the region.

Keynote speakers confirmed so far for the 2025 event include:

• Rob Curtis - an award-winning digital market strategist and entrepreneur
• Errol Lawson - entrepreneur and author of five books on leadership, entrepreneurship and personal development
• Paul Day - business leader, managing director of Filestream Limited and UK data and cybersecurity expert.

Tokenize: LDN and FinTech Connect

Dates: 2nd to 3rd December, London

If your startup operates in or adjacent to the finance sector, these twin events held at Excel London are well worth attending.
Tokenize: LDN focuses on showcasing technologies, platforms, and investment strategies unlocking institutional adoption of tokenized RWAs.

It brings together institutional investors, blockchain developers and Web3 founders, banks, fintechs, venture capitalists and early stage accelerators all under one roof.

It runs alongside FinTech Connect, which in 2025 celebrates its 10th anniversary. The event has become known as a flagship fintech event for the UK, and one of the most powerful hubs for financial and asset innovation in Europe.

sTARTUp Day 2026

Date - 28th to 30th January, Tartu, Estonia

If you fancy starting 2026 with a trip to Estonia’s second largest city of Tartu, you might want to snap up tickets for sTARTUp Day 2026. It’s described as a startup-minded business festival, which brings together 3,000+ companies, startups, investors and speakers.⁴ In 2026, the focus is squarely on early-stage startups.

It’s a great chance to fundraise, meet other founders, recruit tech talent and learn from sector experts. The program across the event is packed with talks, workshops, meetings and side events including a VIP reception and tours of the city.

There’s the sTARTUp Pitching competition, a lively sTARTUp Night Afterparty and many more events.

Network One: Entrepreneurs & Business Builders Meetup

Multiple dates and venues: UK

Business networking and startup events organiser Network One runs a series of events in major cities across the UK, with regular events throughout the year. You’ll find them in London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds and many other locations.

Held in local venues, each event lasts around 3 hours and is designed to bring together local entrepreneurs, business owners and freelancers in a relaxed setting. It’s a chance to exchange ideas, make contacts and build relationships.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite and are relatively inexpensive, often costing around £15 (with promotions and discounts often available).⁵

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Researching funding options for your startup? You’ll also want to make sure you’re set up with the right business account.

Open a Wise Business account and you can hold and exchange 40+ at once.

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• No ongoing fees, minimum balance requirements or foreign transaction fees
• Debit and expense cards for you and your team, which you can use in 150+
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• Integrate with your favourite cloud accounting solutions
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• Take advantage of Wise Interest to make your funds work harder when you’re not using them (capital at risk).

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Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 22-Oct-2025

Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QuickPay QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.