Ideas Fest: AKA Glastonbury for Business

What Ideas Fest: AKA Glastonbury for Business does

Ideas Fest, operated by Ideas Forums Ltd (registered in Cardiff, Wales), is an annual two-day entrepreneurial festival held at Champneys Tring in Hertfordshire, UK. Marketed as 'The Glastonbury of business,' the event gathers 6,000+ founders, investors, operators, and creators across 200+ sessions, 200+ speakers, and 17 branded zones spanning the startup journey (StartUp Zone, Growth Village, Investment & Exits, Ideas By Her, Founder Recovery Zone, Dreamland). The core offering is tiered festival access via 1-day (£159), 2-day (£249), team (from £115 per person for 4+), and premium (£599) passes, with on-site accommodation ranging from tent pitches (£50) through luxury glamping (£2,400) to fully booked hotel rooms.

The underlying technology is light: the company does not operate a proprietary platform and relies on Ticket Tailor for ticketing, Stripe for payments, and standard website infrastructure, supplemented by a deterministic personalised experience builder. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability, in-house model, or data flywheel. Revenue mechanics come from three streams: ticket sales, on-site accommodation (glamping, camping, parking), and sponsor/trading packages (stalls from £1,750, sponsorships from £5,000), with named brand partners including Xero, Starling Bank, KitchenAid, Implement AI, Lawrence Stephens, Innovate UK, and HelpBnk.

Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, primarily through LinkedIn, email newsletter, and word-of-mouth within the UK entrepreneurial ecosystem, leveraging the broader Ideas Community parent brand. The team is very small (~5 employees) and operations rely heavily on volunteers. Customer segmentation is horizontal across founder stages (first-time founders, scale-up CEOs, exit founders, investors, women founders, bootstrappers) rather than vertical- or industry-based.

Name

Ideas Fest: AKA Glastonbury for Business

Legal name

Ideas Forums Ltd

Website

https://ideasfest.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ideas Fest is a UK annual two-day entrepreneurial festival at Champneys Tring that hosts 6,000+ founders, investors, and operators across 200+ sessions in 17 zones, monetising tickets, on-site accommodation, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Events & Festivals

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship, Business & Innovation Camps (EDAMALAL), Retail, Consumer Goods & Lifestyle Shows Organizers (THAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurial festivals
• Business networking events
• Founder conferences
• Startup community events
• Business leadership summits

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from festival tickets across multiple tiers: 1-day passes at £159, 2-day passes at £249, team passes from £115 per person (4+ people), and premium passes at £599. Additional revenue from accommodation bookings including glamping (£690-£2,400), camping (£50-£100), and hotel rooms (sold out).
2. Sponsorship & Trading: Revenue from brand partnerships including trading stalls (from £1,750), sponsorship opportunities (from £5,000), and bespoke brand activations. Partners include Xero, Starling Bank, KitchenAid, and other corporate sponsors across various festival zones.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ideas Fest is a two-day annual entrepreneurial festival held at Champneys Tring in Hertfordshire, delivering keynote talks, workshops, networking, and themed zones to 6,000+ founders, investors, and business leaders. The event combines business content with festival-style experiences including glamping, wellness (saunas, ice baths, breathwork), music, and a curated mix of 250+ speakers. Revenue is generated primarily through tiered ticket sales, with secondary revenue from sponsorship and trading/exhibition packages sold to brands.

Product overview

Ideas Fest is a two-day entrepreneurial festival positioning itself as 'The Glastonbury of business.' The core product is the festival event itself, offered through tiered ticket passes (1-Day, 2-Day, Team, and Premium) that provide access to 200+ sessions across 17 zones and stages. The event takes place at Champneys, Tring with accommodation add-ons including onsite glamping (Standard Bell to Luxury Yurt), camping/campervan pitches, and hotel rooms. The festival comprises multiple branded zones: the StartUp Zone (powered by BBX) for early-stage founders, Growth Village for scaling businesses, Investment & Exits for fundraising conversations, Ideas By Her (sponsored by Starling Bank) for women founders, the Founder Recovery Zone (sponsored by JD & Co) with wellness experiences, and Dreamland (sponsored by HelpBnk) for aspirational founders. Additional offerings include trading/exhibition packages, sponsorship opportunities, a volunteer program, and a personalized experience builder tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ideas Fest Festival Tickets Two-day access pass to the annual Ideas Fest entrepreneurial festival at Champneys Tring, Hertfordshire. Available in 1-day, 2-day, team (4+ people save 10%), and premium tiers. Includes access to keynote talks, workshops, themed zones, networking, and festival experiences for entrepreneurs, founders, C-suite executives, and investors aged 18-70.
• Onsite Glamping Accommodation Onsite glamping accommodation at the festival venue, with tent setup included and options for king or twin bed configurations. Sold as an add-on to festival tickets for attendees who want the full immersive festival experience.
• Onsite Camping & Campervan Pitch Bring-your-own tent camping and campervan pitch accommodation at the festival venue for the full event duration. Aimed at attendees seeking a more affordable onsite accommodation option.
• Onsite Parking Pass Onsite parking pass for festival attendees at Champneys Tring, available for the festival duration.
• Trading & Exhibition Packages Branding and exhibition packages for brands and organizations to trade or exhibit at the festival, providing access to 6,000+ business decision-makers. Includes branded space, signage, and lead generation opportunities.
• Sponsorship Packages Multi-tier sponsorship packages for brands seeking headline or significant presence at Ideas Fest, including stage branding, audience engagement, and high-visibility placement across the festival.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000+ entrepreneurs in attendance annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered primary zone partner, primary zone sponsor, secondary sponsor, zone partner, secondary partner, core venue, infrastructure partner, event partner and parent organization.

• BBXprimary zone partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBBX is the zone power partner for The StartUp Zone at Ideas Fest, supporting early-stage founders with practical help, honest advice, and real momentum for their business journey.
• Xeroprimary zone sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerXero sponsors The Xero Stage focused on 'Digital confidence for modern founders' - covering habits, tools, and expert support for founders to feel in control of their numbers.
• IronMarketprimary zone sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerIronMarket sponsors the IronMarket Finance & Growth Tent in Growth Village, hosting straight-talking sessions on funding routes and growth strategies for founders.
• Implement AIprimary zone sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerImplement AI sponsors The AI Den - practical sessions, live demos, and honest conversations for founders on applying AI in their businesses.
• Lawrence Stephensprimary zone sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerLawrence Stephens powers The Fineprint stage - legal, commercial, and human realities of building a business including panels, networking, and bookable legal clinics.
• The Grafterprimary zone partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Grafter is in partnership with the Exit Lounge stage for honest stories about exits, what they cost, and what comes next.
• KitchenAidsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerKitchenAid provides the KitchenAid Airstream & Lounge - a vintage Airstream and lounge with proper coffee and soft seating for founders.
• Starling Bankzone partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerStarling Bank sponsors the Ideas By Her zone, supporting programming and experiences designed specifically for women building businesses.
• Women Are Good Businesszone partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen Are Good Business sponsors the Women Are Good Business Pavilion - the hero stage for female-founded business and the capital that should follow it.
• Eva Wealthsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerEva Wealth sponsors The Wealth Vault in the Ideas By Her zone - honest conversations about money, investing, and building real wealth as a woman.
• JD & Cozone partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerJD & Co sponsors The Founder Recovery Zone where founders can access saunas, ice baths, and recovery experiences.
• Zoky Saunascapesecondary partnerOthersZoky Saunascape provides wood-fired barrel saunas and chilled plunge pools for The Founder Recovery Zone.
• IV Wetroomsecondary partnerOthersIV Wetroom provides on-site vitamin and hydration drips for the Founder Recovery Zone.
• Human Regenerator Jetsecondary partnerOthersHuman Regenerator Jet provides advanced cellular regeneration technology using cold atmospheric plasma for The Founder Recovery Zone.
• Sober AFsecondary partnerOthersSober AF provides The Sober Bar - alcohol-free drinks done properly for the Founder Recovery Zone.
• Artisan Collectivesecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerArtisan Collective is the Sculptural Partner, bringing curated British sculpture across key zones and gathering spaces throughout the festival.
• The HoLTsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe HoLT is a community space where founders can find their people, swap what's working, and connect with others building businesses.
• British Franchise Association (BFA) + Elite Franchisesecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe BFA and Elite Franchise bring The Franchise Space for honest conversations about scaling through franchise.
• Lodestar Accountingsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerLodestar Accounting sponsors The Purpose Pavilion for sessions on impact, mission, and businesses that are good to work with.
• MicDropsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerMicDrop curates The Think Tank - ideas that don't fit a founder story but shift perspectives on trends and technologies.
• Join Talentsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoin Talent brings The Magic Teapot - small, curated conversations over tea for honest exchanges between founders.
• The Big Festoonsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Big Festoon presents a 2-day all-you-can-eat buffet of business and personal development for attendees.
• It Takes Twosecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerIt Takes Two hosts a space for founders and their right-hand people to tackle real bottlenecks, sharing decisions and delegating properly.
• Supplied x IF Globalsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupplied and IF Global present The Full Package on getting products made, packaged, and moving from first sample to international shelves.
• Innovate UKsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovate UK brings The Innovation Lounge for founders building the next wave of UK innovation, covering grants and R&D support.
• Under The Canvassecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnder The Canvas provides The Pod - intimate pod space for small-room conversations and curated line-ups.
• Thrivesecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrive powers The Founder Coaching Room where inspiring founders have conversations about doubt, difficult decisions, and leadership.
• SAMA of Lovesecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAMA of Love provides a softer, more soulful corner of the festival with conversations, rituals, and moments to reconnect.
• HelpBnkzone partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerHelpBnk sponsors Dreamland - the corner of Ideas Fest built around the question 'what's your dream?' including Simon Squibb's Doorbell of Dreams.
• Self Revolutionsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerSelf Revolution drives The Self Revolution Love Bus - a bus turned safe space for coaching and honest conversation.
• Curl Jarsecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerCurl Jar provides the salon-in-a-tent for curls, coils, and honest chats between chairs.
• Peachaussecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerPeachaus provides bra fitting services at Ideas Fest, on a mission to fit over 1 million women in the next 5 years.
• She Starts Smart + Woman Whosecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerShe Starts Smart and Woman Who present practical sessions and networking for women turning ideas into real businesses.
• Stoneway x Knotel x Greenwoodssecondary sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerStoneway Workspace Hub, powered by Knotel in partnership with Greenwoods, provides a calm, well-equipped space for focused work and meetings.
• Champneyscore venueOthersChampneys Tring is the festival venue - a luxury spa and resort in Hertfordshire hosting Ideas Fest.
• Ticket Tailorinfrastructure partnerTechnology or IntegrationTicket Tailor provides secure checkout for Ideas Fest ticket purchases.
• UK StartUp Awardsevent partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerUK StartUp Awards Final 2026 will be held at Ideas Fest, celebrating the best new businesses in the UK.
• The Ideas Communityparent organizationStrategic or Co-development PartnerIdeas Fest is part of The Ideas Community, a broader ecosystem of entrepreneurs and business events including Ideas Forums.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• TechCrunch Disrupt: Iconic global startup conference with startup battlefield pitch competition. Comparable pitch-competition and founder-networking core, but operates as a multi-city traditional conference rather than field-festival format.
• Cannes Lions: Global flagship creative and marketing industry festival. Comparable 'festival-meets-business-content' positioning at a much larger scale, with similar premium experience, accommodation bundled offers, and zone-based sponsorship.
• Web Summit: Global mega-conference for the tech and startup ecosystem. Far larger and more generalist, but competes for the same sponsor and investor attention and is the benchmark for category scale in the founder-events space.

Regional players

• SaaStock: European SaaS founder conference with strong sponsor and ticketing model. Comparable niche vertical event targeting a specific founder segment, with similar tiered ticketing and substantial sponsorship revenue.
• The Business Show: UK-focused B2B exhibition and conference for SMEs and entrepreneurs. Comparable UK attendee base and exhibition/trading-stall revenue model, with annual events in London targeting small business owners.
• Sifted Summit: Sifted's flagship UK/European startup event targeting founders, investors, and operators. Overlapping target audience and sponsor pool, with comparable content tracks (growth, funding, AI) targeting the same UK founder demographic.
• The Great British Entrepreneur Awards: Annual UK entrepreneur recognition event and awards programme. Comparable UK regional event competing for sponsors and entrepreneur mindshare, with a similar mix of regional ceremonies and a flagship event.

Direct peers

• Summit Series: US-based festival-format gathering for entrepreneurs, investors, and creators. Closest global analogue to Ideas Fest: combines talks, networking, and festival-style experiences targeted at founders and operators, with similar premium sponsorship and tiered-ticket model.
• Founders Forum: UK-based invite-driven community and event series for tech founders and investors. Direct competitor in the UK entrepreneur gathering space, with overlapping attendee base of scale-up CEOs and capital allocators.

Emerging players

• Hay Festival: UK festival of literature and ideas held in field settings. Comparable cultural-festival format and brand DNA (Ideas Fest explicitly riffs on the festival-meets-substance positioning), though Ideas Fest is business-focused rather than literary.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ideas-fest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ideas Fest: AKA Glastonbury for Business