BESA x Bett: Empowering EdTech Innovators 2025

Events

When

Thursday, 25 September 1:30pm - 6:30pm

Where

Hyve Group, 2 Kingdom Street, London

Price

Free to Attend

This event is organised in partnership with Bett.

This event brings together leading investors, successful start-up founders, and industry experts to explore investment opportunities, share success stories, and discuss the future of education.

Organised in partnership with Bett, this event is specifically designed to support Launchpad companies. BESA works to support new and emerging companies serving the education sector, ensuring they have the resources and connections needed to succeed.

Key Takeaways:

Insights into Investment Opportunities: Learn from seasoned investors about current trends and opportunities in education.
Success Stories from Start-ups: Gain inspiration and practical advice from successful start-up founders who have navigated challenges in the education space.
Understanding Sector Challenges: Explore the significant challenges and changes influencing the education industry today.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry leaders, potential investors, and like-minded professionals during dedicated networking sessions and over drinks.

Agenda

1:30pm
Arrivals, coffee and tea

2:00pm
Welcome Address by Duncan Verry, Portfolio Director, Bett

2:10pm
Session 1: In conversation – EdTech Founder Conor O’Sullivan, CEO at Adaptemy, in conversation with Duncan Verry, Portfolio Director, Bett

2:45pm
Session 2: Investment Insights Panel Discussion chaired by Hege Tollerud, Head of Community, Brighteye Ventures

Panellists:
– Mark Hanley-Browne, Venture Partner, Emerge Education
– Helen Gironi, Director of Ventures, Ufi VocTech Trust

3:30pm
Coffee Break

3:45pm
Session 3: Challenges and Changes Shaping Education chaired by Caroline Wright, Director General, BESA

Panellists:
– Nicola Allen, Managing Director, Educake
– Dawn Hallybone, Chief Operating Officer, 2Simple
– Dr Jon Chippindall, CEO and Co-founder, Teachmate

4:15pm
Session 4: Accelerating Growth, Building Trust and Efficacy on a Global Scale with Thea Wiltshire, EdTech, Schools, Early Years and SEND Specialist, Department for Business and Trade

4:45pm
Closing Remarks and How Start-ups Can Take Part in Bett Start-up Area

5:00pm
Networking Drinks

6:30pm
Event Close

Guest Speakers

Duncan Verry, Portfolio Director,Bett and Conor O’Sullivan, CEO, Adaptemy

Duncan is the Director of the Bett global series of events, comprising Bett Asia, Bett UK and Bett Brasil. He previously launched his own EdTech marketplace, exiting to Twinkl. Prior to this, he was a Director at Tes Global and Times Higher Education, responsible for the growth of the World University Rankings and launching the rankings for Asia and setting up the THE World Academic Summits, starting in Singapore in 2012.

Conor O’Sullivan, CEO, Adaptemy

Conor founded Adaptemy in 2015, raising €4m with the ambition to harness adaptive learning technologies to provide educational publishers with a new generation of digital learning platform. After some successes but turbulent early years, the business pivoted in 2019, and has grown strongly and profitably since. Its customers now include educational ministries, publishers, edtech companies, universities and corporate training across the globe. Adaptemy’s technology integrates with our partners’ learning platforms, analysing data streams to build a deep understanding of each learner through research-based modelling techniques. AI has transformed our capabilities, enabling partners to craft highly personalised learning experiences that are engaging and measurably effective.

Mark Hanley-Browne, Venture Partner, Emerge Education

25+ years in senior leadership positions including the CEO of the Alpha Plus Group, a £140m turnover Education business with around 900 employees. APG was acquired by Inspired Education in October 2023, a global educational group which owns and operates over 100 schools in 24 countries. When the acquisition completed I spent the next few months as Senior Advisor as we entered into the important transition and integration phase. Now focused on NED and business advisory work, one of my current roles is as a Director of Abbey DLD Colleges Ltd. The company owns and operates three colleges in the UK: Abbey College Cambridge, Abbey College Manchester and DLD College, London.

Helen Gironi, Director of Ventures, Ufi VocTech Trust

Helen serves as Director of Ventures at Ufi, working with early-stage technology companies focused on the future of work and skills and sits on the board of Learnerbly, Learning Labs and Data Literacy Academy. Helen has been investing in early-stage ventures since 2002 and early-stage impact ventures since 2016. Helen was previously Investment Director at Nesta Impact Investments, where she led several investments in high-growth businesses (Applied, Third Space Learning and Oomph) and managed successful exits for the fund (Applied and Reconnections).

Hege Tollerud, Head of Community, Brighteye Ventures

More than 15 years of experience in communications, media relations, journalism, community building, business development and international profiling. Hold two masters degrees in Global Media and Communication, one at the LSE in London, one at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, and a BA (Hons) in International Journalism from Liverpool, UK. Have worked in Norway, the UK and China – in addition to campaigns and projects globally.

Caroline Wright, Director General, BESA

Caroline had a distinguished career in the UK Civil Service prior to joining BESA in 2012, leading communications teams at the Department for Education, Ofsted, Partnerships for Schools, Cabinet Office, and the Department of Trade and Industry. Caroline is actively involved in various government and sector advisory boards and has received numerous accolades, including Education Investor’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to Education’ award. Caroline is a frequent contributor to charitable educational activities, reflecting her commitment to the education sector.

Nicola Allen, Managing Director, Educake

As Managing Director at Educake, I’m dedicated to easing the pressure on teachers and helping students thrive. A parent of teenage children, I understand the challenges schools face. I lead our high-achieving teams by staying hands-on, supporting growth, and keeping our mission at the forefront of my mind. Every September, I return to sales support to stay close to teachers’ needs. My earlier career in invoice finance provided a solid foundation in managing people, risk, and client relationships — an experience I now use to empower my teams to deliver real value to schools.

Dawn Hallybone, Chief Operating Officer, 2Simple

Dawn is COO at 2Simple and works across multiple teams, helping schools maximise the benefits of online technologies to advance approaches to both teaching and learning. Offering strategic advice and educational insight to ensure content and messaging that’s produced is what the sector needs in order to provide their learners with the best possible resources. Dawn comes from a Teaching background, working in schools for 24 years holding leadership positions as well as acting as an associate consultant or Computing. She has also worked with multiple start ups and SMEs advising them on selling and marketing to schools.

Dr Jon Chippindall, CEO and Co-founder, Teachmate

Jon is the co-founder and CEO of Teachmate, with over 10 years’ experience as a primary teacher and senior leader in Greater Manchester. He leads the Primary Computing PGCE at The University of Manchester, and was formerly Director of Computing at School, the UK’s subject association for computing. He’s also an author and has worked with schools worldwide to improve digital teaching and learning. Jon is passionate about helping educators use AI to enhance learning and reduce workload.

Thea Wiltshire, EdTech, Schools, Early Years and SEND Specialist, Department for Business and Trade

Having studied at the University of Oxford and University College London, Thea has worked in the education sector for nearly a decade. Before moving into the public sector, she worked as an independent school’s consultant, helping families and students from overseas navigate the UK school system before moving into the EdTech space. Working in high-growth companies servicing schools, Higher Education institutions, and workplace upskilling, Thea worked on partnership development, curriculum development, and educational program planning in the UK, USA, North Africa, and the Middle East. Personally, she brings a desire to champion educational innovation and a commitment to amplifying the excellence of the UK educational offering.

Bett UK is back 21-23 January 2026 and set to be bolder than ever. Join 35,000+ trailblazers from across the globe, from visionary educators and EdTech pioneers to policy powerhouses, charities and over 3,000 bright young minds. With 400+ world-class speakers and the energy of our global education community all under one roof, join us as we continue to drive better education globally.

If you’re a BESA Member planning to exhibit at Bett next year, make sure to utilise the 5% discount on stand prices available exclusively as part of your membership when booking your space on uk.bettshow.com.

In addition, BESA members can enjoy a 10% discount on entry fees for the prestigious Bett Awards – widely regarded as the most esteemed accolade in the education technology industry. Entries are now open, find out more on bettawards.com.

To ask any questions, please email eventsteam@besa.org.uk.

We look forward to having you join us for an enlightening and enriching experience!

About BESA.