ClimbUK, the UK’s only festival of business growth connecting scaling companies with international investors, innovators, and collaborators, returns to Leeds on 2–3 July 2025 to once again spark innovation in the North.
Now in its third year and titled Climb25, the event is expected to draw over 4,000 attendees from various sectors.
Confirmed investors attending in 2025 include deep tech entrepreneur-led venture capitalist Sure Valley Ventures, consumer tech-focused Eka Ventures, Channel 4 Ventures, and Puma Growth Partners, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.
Over 400 certified investors are expected to take part, alongside delegations from the US, Baltics, Asia and the Middle East. Last year’s event welcomed representatives from over 150 international businesses.
Among this year’s headline speakers is Jennifer Byrne, former CTO of Microsoft, who joins a diverse lineup of global leaders in tech, sustainability, and innovation.
Gordon Bateman, founder of ClimbUK and InvestorLadder, said: “People come here not just to listen, but to participate. You’ll find students alongside global CEOs, scientists alongside policymakers, all collaborating in an atmosphere that’s energising, diverse and genuinely inclusive.”
Bateman added: “Leeds is the perfect home, a city that represents everything exciting about the North’s future.”
More than 1,500 UK businesses have taken part of ClimbUK since 2023, with many going on to secure funding, expand internationally, or sign major contracts.
The event is supported by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, with additional backing from regional leaders across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and beyond.
US government officials including representatives from California and Georgia will also attend to explore UK investment partnerships.