Event summary

Do you have a plan to exit your business? It’s never too early to start! Business exit strategy experts Yellowyoyo have teamed up with Innovate UK EDGE (soon to be Innovate UK Business Growth) to deliver an essential event for founders that will set you on the road to maximising value, whether you plan to exit in five years or fifty years.

Do you plan to sell your business, pass it to your chosen successor, merge with another company or stay on in a new role? Whatever your preferred exit, the time to start preparing is now.

Yellowyoyo have decades of experience in the field of exit strategy and this event promises lively and engaging group discussions with peers, a Q&A with experts who have personal experience of exit, plus time for networking.

What will you learn?

· Why it’s important to have an exit strategy

· How to develop an exit strategy and its impact on overall strategy

· Different forms of exit

· The pitfalls of short-term focus

· Organisational structure, processes and investing in talent

· Scaling vs growth

· How strategic partnerships can deliver: the importance of an effective ecosystem

· The role of brand and marketing in maximising value

Speaker and Panellist biogs

Al Salehian, Managing Director, Yellowyoyo

Al has over 25 years’ experience as a senior business executive and strategist with a background in launching and leading global businesses. He has created high growth businesses and led international teams to take market share and increase revenue within a short period of time. Al has consulted for, and advised, companies and government departments on leadership, organisational development, and strategic digital transformation.

Al believes that SME businesses are the beating heart of an economy which is why he is passionate about helping this sector innovate, grow, and succeed. Al and his fellow director Bryan are Business Exit Strategists who help ambitious business owners to define and then deliver their perfect future.

Bryan Wright, Strategy and Legacy Director, Yellowyoyo

Bryan is a founder of Yellowyoyo with over 44 years of international experience working with brands and their development globally in all commercial sectors across all disciplines offered by the company. He has launched several high growth international businesses prior to Yellowyoyo, many of which had a future focus on technologies or processes especially regarding strategic digital transformation.

As Strategy and Legacy Director, Bryan concentrates on helping companies to define what their perfect future will look like, and then advises on the business, brand, marketing and exit strategies that will deliver the exit required.

Zak Ireson, Senior Innovation & Growth Specialist, Innovate UK Business Growth

Zak has enjoyed a varied career across publishing, design and digital marketing, working his way up from being a junior designer at some of London’s better agencies, to co-founding and managing his own digital marketing agency which grew to be recognised as one of Europe’s leading independents. In 2019 Zak completed the sale of the business to a global agency and sat on the Performance Marketing Board prior to completing his earn-out in 2021. Zak brings a wealth of real-world experience, with particular focus on leadership, strategy and planning for growth.

Agenda

3:00pm Arrival and coffee/tea

3:30pm Welcome and introduction from David Gill, CEO, St John's Innovation Centre

3:35pm Presentations, discussion and expert panel Q&A

5:15pm Refreshments and networking

6:15pm Event closes