Interactive event for ambitious female founders ready to enter global markets, accelerate exports and scale beyond the UK.

Ready to take your business global?

Are you an ambitious female founder looking to grow your business internationally?

Perhaps you have already entered new markets and are ready to accelerate your progress. Or maybe you are beginning to explore exporting and want practical guidance on where to start.

Join UK Export Finance and Lifted Ventures at Nexus in Leeds for an interactive afternoon designed for female founders with global ambitions, alongside investors, advisers, export specialists and members of the wider business ecosystem supporting international growth.

This event will explore what it really takes to enter new markets, overcome the challenges of exporting and build a business that can scale beyond the UK.

Expect practical guidance, honest founder experiences and valuable opportunities to connect with the people who could support your next stage of growth.

You will hear directly from founders and experts who understand the opportunities and challenges of international expansion, with plenty of time to ask questions about your own plans.

One of the first keynote addresses at the event will come from Tim Reid, CEO UKEF who will share plans to work with other UK Government support organisations (PuFins) to accelerate UK growth.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin will disclose the importance of female-led exporting to the regional economy.

You'll also hear from:

Tayo Abedesi of Tilz

Sharon Jandhu of the NPH Ethnic Minority Business and Policy Forum

Sukhvinder Javeed fouder of SPHINX Tequila

Shireen Dhaliwal-Davies founder of Aunties sauces

Victoria Boldison from Bolst Global

Marie Hall from UKEF

Helen Oldham from Lifted Ventures

Jordan Dargue from Lifted Ventures

What will you take away?

By attending, you will:

Gain a clearer understanding of the steps involved in entering international markets

Learn about the funding, finance and support available to exporting businesses

Hear practical lessons from founders who have already expanded overseas

Better understand the risks and opportunities associated with global growth

Build connections with export experts, founders, advisers and ecosystem partners

Leave with practical ideas and next steps for progressing your own international growth plans

Launching Cohort 2

As part of the afternoon, we will officially launch Cohort 2 of the UKEF Female Founder Accelerator, delivered by Lifted Ventures.

Attendees will be among the first to hear more about the programme, who it is designed for and how to apply ahead of its planned start in January 2027.

The accelerator supports ambitious female founders who are ready to expand internationally, scale faster and access the knowledge, finance and connections needed to succeed in global markets.

What to expect

The afternoon will include:

Networking and lunch

A welcome from UK Export Finance and Lifted Ventures

Inspiring keynote speakers

A panel discussion exploring how businesses can successfully enter global markets

First-hand insights from founders who participated in Cohort 1

A live audience Q&A

An engaging fireside chat

Further opportunities to connect with founders, experts and ecosystem partners

This will be a highly interactive event, so come ready to ask questions, share experiences and explore the opportunities and challenges involved in international growth.

Who is this event for?

This event is for:

Any female founders who are already exporting or beginning to explore international markets

High-growth businesses with ambitions to expand beyond the UK

Founders looking for practical guidance on export finance, market entry and global growth

Investors, advisers and professional services supporting scaling businesses

Accelerators, incubators, universities and business support organisations

Export specialists, policymakers and wider ecosystem partners committed to helping female-founded businesses grow internationally

Event details

Date: Tuesday 22 September 2026

Time: 11:45am–2:15pm

Venue: Nexus, Leeds

Spaces are limited.

Register now to gain practical export insights, connect with experienced founders and ecosystem experts, and discover the support available to help your business scale beyond borders.

Agenda and programme details are subject to change.

Description supplied by the event organiser.