What 5x15 does

5x15 is a UK-based, privately-held event production and content distribution company founded in 2008 by Rosie Boycott, Daisy Leitch, and Eleanor O'Keeffe. It produces curated spoken-word events built around a signature format of five speakers delivering 15-minute talks each, hosted at premium London venues including Conway Hall, Cadogan Hall, the Emmanuel Centre, Union Chapel, and The Tabernacle, with regional UK activity in Brighton and Bristol. Beyond the standard five-speaker evening, the company runs premium one-to-one conversation events under the '5x15 Special' banner. Tickets are sold to the general public predominantly through Eventbrite, supplemented by venue box offices.

The company's broader business model combines consumer ticket revenue with B2B bespoke event production for corporate and institutional clients (including the World Bank, UNDP, Google, Wellcome Trust, Tate Britain, Selfridges, Rathbones, UBS, Amnesty International, Penguin, and Land Rover), podcast and YouTube content distribution (over 250 podcast episodes, distributed via iTunes, SoundCloud, Acast, RSS), and international franchise operations: 5x15 Italy (Milan, Circolo Filologico Milanese), 5x15 Amsterdam, and 5x15 Bristol, each operated by named local teams under licensing-style arrangements. The organization is founder-led and lean, with a core UK team of 1-10 employees plus named franchise producers across the international sites.

5x15 has featured over 1,200 speakers since inception, generated editorial coverage in The New York Times, Financial Times, The Telegraph, and The New Yorker, and during the 2020 pandemic pivot to virtual events distributed over 100,000 free tickets to a global online audience. There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is fundamentally a live-events and long-form audio/video content business, monetized through ticket transactions, B2B commissions, podcast sponsorship, and franchise revenue sharing. No funding rounds, M&A, or institutional investment structures have been disclosed, and the entity operates as 5x15 LTD, a UK private limited company.

Name

5x15

Legal name

5x15 LTD

Website

https://5x15.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

5x15 is a London-based, founder-led producer of curated spoken-word events using a signature five-speakers-15-minutes-each format, complemented by a podcast, YouTube channel, premium 'Special' events, corporate bespoke event commissions, and international franchise operations in Milan, Amsterdam, and Bristol.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Spoken-Word Events

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Motivational/Inspirational Talks (MPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Meetings & Conferences (Internal/External Business Events) (MPAGAHAA), Audiobook & Spoken-Word Streaming Platforms (MPAIADAE)

Keywords

• Live spoken-word events
• Curated talks series
• Event production services
• Corporate speaker events
• Podcast content distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Live event ticket sales: 5x15 generates revenue primarily through ticket sales for live in-person events at premium London venues (Conway Hall, Cadogan Hall, Emmanuel Centre, Union Chapel, The Tabernacle, The Old Market Brighton). Tickets are processed through Eventbrite.
2. Bespoke and corporate events: 5x15 produces commissioned events for corporate clients including World Bank, UNDP, Google, Amnesty International, Tate Britain, Wellcome Trust, Rathbones, and Selfridges, providing private or branded spoken-word evenings.
3. Podcast advertising and distribution: The 5x15 podcast is distributed via iTunes, SoundCloud, Acast, and RSS feeds, reaching tens of thousands of monthly listeners. Podcast content includes 15-minute individual talks and longer conversations. Revenue is generated through sponsorship and advertising.
4. Franchise and international licensing: 5x15 operates franchise arrangements internationally, including 5x15 Italy (Circolo Filologico Milanese, run by Leopoldo Zambeletti, Marilù Martelli, and Emma Gracis) and 5x15 Amsterdam (run by Hannah McDonald, Heloise Hooton, and Hannah Lack). These arrangements enable brand extension and revenue sharing in new markets.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

5x15 produces and curates live spoken-word events featuring five speakers delivering 15-minute talks each at premium London venues (Conway Hall, Cadogan Hall, Union Chapel, Emmanuel Centre, The Tabernacle), with content spanning arts, science, politics, media, and culture. The company distributes this content digitally through a podcast (250+ episodes on iTunes, SoundCloud, Acast, RSS) and a YouTube channel, and operates international franchise events in Italy (Milan), Amsterdam, and Bristol. 5x15 also produces bespoke commissioned events for corporate and institutional clients such as the World Bank, Google, Tate Britain, and Wellcome Trust.

Product overview

5x15 is a UK-based spoken-word events company producing live events and digital content. The core offering consists of live events featuring five speakers delivering 15-minute talks (the 5x15 format), supported by a podcast with 250+ episodes, a YouTube video channel, and special ticketed events with prominent speakers. The company operates international branches in Italy, Amsterdam, and Bristol, and offers corporate/bespoke event services for organizations. Founded in 2008 by Rosie Boycott, Daisy Leitch, and Eleanor O'Keeffe, the platform has featured over 1,200 world-class speakers reaching millions globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 5x15 Live Events In-person ticketed spoken-word events featuring five speakers each delivering 15-minute talks, covering arts, science, politics, culture, and current affairs. Held at prestigious London venues and aimed at general audiences seeking curated intellectual content.
• 5x15 Podcast

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,200 world-class speakers have appeared on the 5x15 stage since 2008
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Tate BritaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTate Britain is a key cultural partner of 5x15, hosting or collaborating on events featuring art and cultural speakers. The partnership brings together two leading UK cultural institutions for curated spoken-word events.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe World Bank partners with 5x15 to present events of ideas and insight for its staff, stakeholders, and the public, leveraging 5x15's curation expertise and speaker network.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP collaborates with 5x15 on events focused on global development, sustainability, and human progress topics, aligning with its mission to share knowledge and ideas with broad audiences.
• GooglemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle is a corporate client and partner of 5x15, engaging the platform for thought leadership events and employee programming.
• Amnesty InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmnesty International partners with 5x15 for events focused on human rights, justice, and advocacy topics, leveraging 5x15's speaker platform and audience reach.
• Wellcome TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellcome Trust collaborates with 5x15 on science, health, and research-focused events, bringing leading scientists and researchers to the 5x15 stage.
• Hay FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership between 5x15 and Hay Festival for co-produced literary and cultural events. 5x15 co-founder Daisy Leitch is also Vice President at Hay Festival.
• SelfridgesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSelfridges partners with 5x15 for retail and cultural programming, combining luxury retail with cultural events to engage premium audiences.
• RathbonesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRathbones sponsors and partners with 5x15 for literary and cultural events, including the Rathbones Folio Prize Writing Masterclasses co-produced with 5x15.
• LRB (London Review of Books)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLRB is a partner organization for 5x15 events, bringing literary criticism and intellectual content to the 5x15 platform.
• British LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe British Library partners with 5x15 for events at its Euston Road venue, combining the Library's scholarly resources with 5x15's speaker curation for events such as 'Have We Got News For You' featuring journalists and commentators.
• Chelsea Arts FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner5x15 partnered with Chelsea Arts Festival for the Susie Cave in conversation with Bella Freud event at Cadogan Hall, expanding reach to the festival's arts-oriented audience.
• EventbritemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEventbrite serves as the primary ticketing platform for 5x15 public events. Online payments are processed securely by Eventbrite. The partnership enables broad ticket distribution and purchase convenience for event attendees.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, KewminorStrategic or Co-development Partner5x15 collaborated with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on a special event about botanic gardens, past and future, featuring Sathnam Sanghera and Andrea Wulf.
• Keystone Positive ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner5x15 partnered with Keystone Positive Change for the 'Six Ideas to Change the World' series, including a panel on climate migration featuring Gaia Vince.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• How to Academy: London-based producer of curated live talks, masterclasses, and intellectual events featuring high-profile speakers — directly competes with 5x15 for the same discerning London audience and speaker talent in the same venue tier.
• Intelligence Squared: Long-running UK organizer of live debates, talks, and panel events featuring leading thinkers and public figures — overlapping format, audience, and blue-chip corporate sponsorship model with 5x15.
• The Moth: Global live storytelling platform featuring curated personal stories on stage with a podcast and digital ecosystem — comparable as a premium spoken-word live-event brand with international franchise/licensing structure.

Broad incumbents

• TED: The dominant global brand for curated short-form talks with massive digital distribution and a TEDx licensing network — overlaps with 5x15 on format and audience, but operates at a far larger scale and broader scope.
• Talks at Google: Google's internal speaker series turned public content franchise featuring leading authors and thinkers — overlaps with 5x15's corporate-client bespoke event work and digital podcast/video distribution.
• The School of Life: London-founded intellectual-wellness brand offering live talks, classes, and content on culture, ideas, and self-knowledge — comparable premium live-talk format and audience, with broader educational offering.

Regional players

• WOW (Women of the World) Festival: Southbank Centre-founded global festival of talks, panels, and live events for women, with international franchises — directly comparable as a curated live spoken-word brand with a network of localized editions, akin to 5x15's Italy/Amsterdam/Bristol model.
• London Review of Books Bookshop Events: LRB's longstanding programme of live author talks and literary events in London — a named partner of 5x15 and a competing venue for the same literary and intellectual audience in London.

Emerging players

• IdeaFestival: Multi-day festival of ideas featuring thinkers, artists, and innovators in live spoken-word and panel formats — comparable to 5x15's Special events as a curated intellectual gathering with corporate sponsorship structure.

Others

• Penguin Live: Penguin's branded live author events and touring series — a publisher-led parallel initiative that competes for the same author-talent pool and London intellectual audience, with Penguin listed as a 5x15 partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/5x15stories
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcaAl6eorhw7rcHYABbIQ1g
• Facebookfacebook.com/5x15stories
• Instagraminstagram.com/5x15stories
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5x15

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 5x15