Held at ExCeL London, SME XPO 2024 brought together entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and industry experts, providing a platform for SMEs, Scaleups, and Startups to network and connect.

Jack Lefley, Editor of the Evening Standard, reflected on the event's success, stating: " SMEs are the engine room of this city, providing jobs and opportunities, bringing Londoners together. This event the SME XPO 2024 celebrates Londoners, but also provides them with the connections and the networking opportunities they need to take their business to the next level.”

Lefley gave an inspiring welcome to the SME XPO, adding: “My biggest takeaway from this year is witnessing the event's evolution. It's growing every year, attracting more brands and companies. Walking through the venue, you can feel the energy of networking and connections being made. People are leveraging SME XPO to expand their businesses and forge new partnerships."

Lets dive into the highlights from this year!

Speed Networking Sessions – Attendees had the opportunity to engage in rapid-fire networking sessions, where they connected with 60 new contacts within 60 minutes! Sponsored by Dell Technologies in association with Intel.

Member's Meetups – Exclusive meetups for visitors with an interest in Retail or AI provided attendees with valuable networking opportunities, fostering a sense of community among like-minded entrepreneurs.

Informative Workshops – A series of workshops covering a range of topics from Starting up to Scaling up, Future Tech and Money Talks, equipped attendees with practical insights and tools to enhance their business operations. With so many workshops for attendees to choose from, visitors were spoilt for choice. Dell Technologies brought the AI-focused workshop “Bring AI to your data” and returning to the SME XPO once again this year AXA’s workshop “Pitch perfect: how to elevate your business to new heights.”

Diverse Speaker Line-up – Renowned speakers shared their expertise and insights on industry trends, challenges, and opportunities, inspiring attendees to innovate and grow their businesses. SME XPO will featured over 60 esteemed speakers. The lineup consisted of keynote Speakers Tim Martin and Charlie Bigham, Rochelle Humes, Founder of My Little Coco were among the fantastic speakers. Additionally, Theo Paphitis, who was interviewed by Evening Standard editor-in-chief Dylan Jones. The retail tycoon stated that the SME XPO 2024 was “inspirational and essential”.

Meet the Investors – Entrepreneurs had the chance to pitch their ideas and connect with potential investors, laying the groundwork for future partnerships and funding opportunities. With every session packed out, attendees had the opportunity to meet investors including Symvan Capital, Committed Capital, Hambro Perks, and Guinness Ventures, and other business owners on a similar journey to them as part of their visit to SME XPO. Created in partnership with EISA, who help thousands of Small Businesses access the successful SEIS and EIS initiatives every year.

Exciting Exhibitors – Visitors got the opportunity to engage with a huge variety of exhibitors offering attendees exclusive offers and opportunities to explore innovative range of products, services, and solutions tailored to the needs of SMEs. The exhibition floor featured a diverse range of exhibitors, including AXA who were offering an exclusive competition, the AXA Startup Angels.

Reflecting on the growth and impact of SME XPO, William Fowler, Event Director shared: “We are pleased to announce that the SME XPO this year was again a huge success. Turnout was high and everyone's excitement and energy made it an event to remember. Attendees of this year’s show got to hear first-hand from some business greats, such as Theo Paphitis, Vivien Wong, Tim Martin and Charlie Bigham, whilst also having the opportunity to grow their business networks and engage with suppliers who can help them to scale and grow. We would like to express our gratitude to all of the sponsors, partners, and participants who helped make this year’s SME XPO the best one yet. We ‘re looking forward to building on the success of this year’s show when we welcome the SME and scaleup community back to ExCeL London on 8th & 9th April 2025.”

SME XPO 2024 received overwhelming praise from participants, exhibitors, and sponsors alike, underscoring its role as a vital catalyst for SME growth and prosperity among Londoners. As SME XPO looks ahead to its fourth year in 2025, scheduled for April 8-9, the anticipation is palpable among participants eager to build on the momentum generated by this year's event.